“I still can’t believe this thing was brought home without a group discussion,” Zayden growled, handing Goose to Jude like a football.
Jude grinned. “Admit it. You secretly love him.”
“Where’s Kai?” Zayden growled, checking his watch.Again.
“Still asleep,” Sonnet said. “He told me he’s not going to yourmeeting.”
She put‘meeting’ in air quotes, which made Jude laugh. She was a smart cookie and caught on pretty quickly that whatever the boys were up to, it wasn’t related to music. But she was also very patient, understanding, and never asked for the details. He loved that about her. She could be so sassy, quick-tempered, and yet managed to balance it with kindness.
He couldn’t help it. He had to kiss her.
Sonnet’s face turned red like a tomato, but she didn’t pull away. She leaned into the kiss before playfully smacking him on the shoulder.
Jude laughed as he charged down the hallway with Goose in hand.
Kai, baby, here I come!
He threw the guest bedroom door open, and just as Kai was about to throw a pillow, he held out Goose, and with one little bark, the little puppy was already in Kai’s arms.
If Jude knew a puppy was what would make Kai finally smile after all this time, he would have brought one home a long time ago.
“Boss man says we need to get going.”
Kai quickly scowled. “Count me out.”
“Nope, sorry.” Jude took Goose back and held him as leverage. “Listen, man, I could send Sonnet in here to kick your butt out the door. SON—”
“Shut up!” Kai hissed.
Jude had never seen him put on clothes and shoes so quickly. He combed through his hair, reapplied his piercings, stole Goose from Jude’s arms, and then they were finally in the living room. Felix and Zayden were already in the car, so Jude quickly gave Sonnet a hug goodbye before getting ready to drag Kai out with him.
Instead, Jude’s jaw hit the floor as he watched Kai willingly approach Sonnet, handing her Goose, and letting her kiss him on the cheek.
Shekissedhim.
Cheek or not, Jude was ticked.
Why didn’t she kiss my cheek!?
We kissed her too many times. We pushed our luck!
DAMMIT.
Chapter 33
Through this process, I’ve discovered I have a habit of digging my issues in a deep hole, but it’s not a proper burial. There’s no headstone, no funeral, no parting words. I’m letting myself be haunted, yet I carry the illusion that I am perfect, content, and satisfied. If Sonnet or my brothers could only see the ghosts I carry, how would they treat me?
Dr. Burdough meant business, and she was not willing to let any of them half-ass their way out of the mess they’d created. Felix felt like applauding her for her intelligence and blunt execution,but he was also caught in her determined stare, and a lump was beginning to form in the back of his throat.
Felix clutched his journal tightly. He was slightly embarrassed by how many pages he had managed to fill, some insightful, others metaphorical, and others ending in the middle of a thought. Writing had always been a more soothing way to work through his inner issues, but now he couldn’t hide behind his pen and paper.
Dr. Burdough cleared her throat, ending the painfully long stretch of silence. “I’ve gone over all my notes concerning each of your individual meetings for our first week together, and I must say, I see a very hopeful and clear path forward. Each of you has been very vulnerable, and I am thankful. I’d now like to push on that vulnerability and create a space for honesty and openness. I’d like to talk about Juliana.”
All four of them looked at each other, and Felix wondered if they were even half as annoyed as he was to hear her name. He was ready to bury it and walk away for good.
“I’ve discovered that each of you has interpreted Juliana as the destruction of your relationship. However, I have a different perspective, which is that she may have caused the crack, but deeper problems solidified your issues.” Dr. Burdough fixed her notepad on her lap and sighed. “I’d like us all to walk through the Juliana situation together, so that later we may leave her behind and walk forward into the real, raw issues keeping your pack from coming together.”
She’s caught us.
