“You aren’t letting our mate eat, Brother,” Remy says, and I turn my head.
“Nope,” Lawson says, and I feel his lips curve against my skin.
“I had some,” I say.
“Not enough,” Lawson hums, straightening. “It’s cold. I’ll get you more.”
“You don’t have to.” However, I don’t remember if I ate anything else today.
“I do.” He pushes on my hips, and I fall to the seat beside him. “Stay with Remy.” He smiles softly, picks up the container, and slaps Remy on the back on the way by him.
“Did you need to escape?” I ask as Remy enters the gazebo.
“Yes.” He tilts his head, smirking. “I didn’t want to interrupt, but they are mixing drinks.” He slides onto the bench. “I have visions of margaritas on my ceiling and cupboards.”
I laugh. “Then it’s a good thing you left.” He glides his arm underneath my legs and swings them over his thighs.
“My shirt looks good on you,” he says.
“I’m afraid you won’t be getting it back,” I say.
“I won’t be sad.” He rubs his palm over my leg. “Are you warm?”
“Yes.” I lean against the wall and stare at his handsome face. “Between your sweater and Lawson’s kiss, I’m hot.”
He laughs. “Good.” He turns slightly, moves his arm behind me, and pulls me closer. “Rylee is eating something. It’s a good sign.”
“I’m relieved,” I sigh.
“I'm grateful to her.” He shakes his head. “She’s tough, and she’s been through enough shit in her life. If she hadn’t been here, we could have lost you.”
“But you didn’t,” I say softly.
“Doesn’t mean the reality of it hasn’t hit all of us,” he says.
“I don’t know if it’s sunk in,” I mumble, leaning my head on his shoulder. “All I was concerned about was Rylee. As it was happening, it was as if I were floating above, observing it. I neverknew what Jenica looked like when we wrote to each other. Her appearance in my life was short, and through the eyes of a teenager. I didn’t think about her much after she disappeared.”
“You have nothing to feel guilty about,” he rumbles.
“I know,” I sigh. “I don’t, yet I couldn’t help feeling sorry for her. Her life was sad, and I hate that I could have been a little part of her misery.”
“Look at us,” he says, and I raise my head. “We grew up in different ways, yet no less painful. Our demons are many, but we have found a way to move past them in varying degrees and strive to be better than the people who raised us. Jenica had a sad past. I agree. I don’t mean to be insensitive, but she made choices that led to her death. Perhaps she needed more help than her chosen mother wanted to admit. Sometimes, murderers are just that: people who enjoy killing. She felt enough rage to kill her mom, cover it up, and find you to step into your life. She made those choices, and it’s hard for me to feel anything but anger at her. She came here to kill you. It doesn’t matter that you lied about your life. People do it all the time. You were kids. I’m not sad she's gone.”
“You’re right. She made up a world in her head. I told her she could have my father and Brian,” I grumble.
“You can’t reason with people like that.”
“Like Vivian,” I murmur.
“Yes.” He brushes my hair over my shoulder. “I could have turned out just like her. She groomed me to be her puppet.”
“You wouldn’t,” I protest, and he grins.
“It would have been easier to fall in line,” he whispers, tilting his head. “I chose to go a different direction and reunite with my brothers, to share you. The bond shows us what is possible, but I chose to love you. I will start every day focused on loving you.”
I inhale sharply. I never thought I could love more than one man at the same time.
My mates make it easy.
