And it wasn’t just those two harpies spitting their venomous bullshit and lies. It was my father, the last time I saw him before he stepped out of my life. My mother, as she selfishly faded from my memory, forgetting that I ever existed. And it was the back of Theodore’s head when he exited my front door for the last fucking time…
Don’t let your emotions get the better of you.
Warm hands snaked around my waist on either side, and for the first time, I could identify them just by their touch. Levi, with his reassuring squeeze, and Lucas, with the light graze from his thumb as he dragged it in an undulating motion.
“You’ve got this, babygirl.”
“Send him to hell, princess.”
There’s no coming back from this…
Bang…
Ittookdaysforme to emotionally recover from what I’d done. I didn’t speak, and my husbands took care of me in shifts. When one had to leave for the show or the club, the other didn’t leave my side. I guess that was another one of those wonderful perks that came with sharing brothers; I was never alone. They were always right there.
Around the fourth day, I finally managed to drag myself out of Levi’s bed and into the living room, curling up beside him on the couch as he scrolled through channels for something to watch.
“How are you feeling?” His voice was a low, comforting rumble as he pulled my body into his lap, wrapping me in his embrace.
“Better… I still can’t get the sight out of my head, but the guilt has subsided.” My shot wasn’t perfect by any means. I had never handled a gun before, real or prop, only watching actors from afar using them on set in a simulated capacity. But it’d hit where it mattered most. Lucas said he was dead in an instant, and I believed him.I had to.
I never asked either of them what the man’s crime was, the reason for his death, and truthfully, I didn’t want to know…What if he had a wife? A family?
“Make some room!” Lucas chanted as he hopped the back of the couch with a bowl of popcorn, spilling half of its contents over Levi and me.
“Seriously, Luke?” His brother snarled, pulling me even closer as if Lucas would steal me away from him within a matter of seconds.
“What are we watching?” Lucas spoke through a half-chewed mouthful as he ignored Levi and made himself comfortable beside us.
“Wearen’t watching anything right now.Weare having an intimate conversation that you are rudely interrupting.” There was a playfulness to Levi’s agitation. Like he was mad, but wasn’t at the same time.
“Right,” Lucas droned, dragging out the word for as long as he could. “Then hand over the remote and have yourintimate momentin the bedroom because there’s a new series I want to watch full of mindfuckery and murder.”
“Murder?…” Levi scowled with a slight growling undertone that vibrated from his throat as he massaged his temples with the thumb and forefinger of his free hand. “Read the room, Luke.”
“What? She said she was over it. You’re over it, right, princess?” Lucas smirked at me with charming sarcasm and his dimples that I loved so much. “Besides, I think thinking about what happened at Luminary in fictional terms might make it easier to accept.”
“How, exactly? Please, enlighten us with your wisdom on healing through trash TV.”
“Well, first of all—”
“No… You know what, I think he makes a valid point.” I chimed in before their disagreement escalated to a level that might force me back into hiding for another week. “I think I need the brain rot right now. Something to pull me out of this headspace.”
“I’ve got a head I’d like to pull out of you.”
“Luke!” Levi barked, smacking Lucas upside his head, and I couldn’t resist the laughter that bubbled up from my chest at the sight. I loved their banter and bickering. Always a refreshing sight, especially when—
“Okay, okay, Jesus fuck, calm down.”
“Too far, brother.”
“Too far or too deep? Because I know that my girl likes it when she can feel it right up against her—”
“You!” Levi set my body aside just before launching himself at Lucas, who knew exactly what was coming and had already made a move of his own, hopping further down the sectional before flying over the back and taking off toward the bedroom with his brother hot on his heels.
Wrapping a blanket around me, I giggled as I sank further into the cushions, a smile on my face that pulled so hard my cheeks started to hurt. I was beginning to forget why I felt so gloomy to begin with.
This was everything I’d ever wanted for my future.
Life. Love.
Lucas and Levi.
