Page 39 of Liberating Water

Nodding my head, I started in on my soup and gave a soft moan at how good it tasted. Before I knew it, I was done and pouting that it was gone. Brayden laughed at me and snagged the bowl. “Let me get you another helping. It has been a day and a half since you’ve eaten anything. Not surprised you’re hungry.”

I finished the second bowl at a slower, more normal pace, and my warm, full tummy made me sleepy once again.

“Why don’t we go up and watch a movie? Or would you rather take a nap?” Hudson suggested, seeing me fighting against my eyes drooping.

“A movie sounds nice. I don’t want to get back in bed, I just left it,” I murmured as Brayden scooped me up and carried me upstairs.

I didn’t even make it fifteen minutes into the movie, snuggled between the two of them and wrapped in a blanket. The sense of warmth and security was just too much to fight against.

* * *

“Getthe fuck away from me, you slimy rat bastard!” Parker bellowed, followed by the slam of a door.

A scoff sounded close by. “Why would I waste the effort on a whipped bitch like you anyway?!” Micah snapped.

Struggling out of the blanket I’d been wrapped in, I got to my feet and marched over to Micah. “What the hell is your problem? I don’t care what is going on with you, that is no way to treat him or anyone else in this group!”

Micah blinked at me, his eyes wide with surprise at my verbal attack. Walking over to Parker’s room, I tossed open his bedroom door, catching him with his shirt off and a snarl on his face before he realized it was me. “Trouble…”

“It would be wise for your health if you didn’t tell me to butt out of this. I left it alone like I was asked, hoping you would all figure it out yourselves, but this is just getting ridiculous,” I grumbled.

Turning, I looked Micah in the eye and pointed at his spot. “Sit down—please.”

He gave me a heavy sigh and an eye roll as he flopped into his chair. Parker came out of his room with a shirt on and took a seat in his normal spot, while Hudson and Brayden didn’t move from the couch.

“I would have liked Jay to be here, but I know he’s not one to be overly sensitive about things. Now, would someone like to tell me what this tension is between you guys since France?” I asked, hands on my hips, looking at the four of them.

“You really want to know what’s going on?” Micah pressed, casting a dismissive gesture towards Parker. “I don’t trust Parker alone with you.”

Before Parker could fly out of his chair to lunge at Micah, I stepped in front of him. “No. We are not going to handle this with violence. That is not how we do things.” Turning back to face Micah, I tilted my head to the side as I contemplated him. “So, tell me. What would you suggest to make you more comfortable?”

“I don’t know how you ever trust a playboy,” Micah stated. “It wouldn’t be the first time he talked a girl into leaving me for him.”

“To me, he isn’t a playboy,” I challenged. “I’ve never seen him act that way or even treat me in any manner other than being sweet and caring. Besides how can he take me from you when I’m with you both?”

Micah sighed, shaking his head. “His element makes him weak, and he gives into any woman who pays attention to him. Can we really ever trust that he doesn’t use his powers to get what he wants from people?”

Before I could stop myself, I felt my hand connecting against Micah’s cheek, the sound of the slap reverberating through the room. The anger and betrayal I saw in Micah’s eyes cut me to my soul.

“I’m sorry, Micah. I shouldn’t have done that. There is no excuse for lashing out at you like that. But I will not allow any of you to talk to each other like that. We are only as strong as the weakest link, remember? You taught me that. We are a team of six, and that is how we need to function. It’s not the five of you protecting me from the dangers of this world, it’s all of us having each other’s back and acting as one unit.” I dropped to my knees in front of Micah and rested my head on his legs. “None of us will survive this if we don’t, and I can’t lose any of you. I wouldn’t be able to live through that.”

A hand rested on my head, stroking my hair gently as I started to cry.

“I hear you, Cookie Monster, but this problem is going to take some time for us to work through,” Micah said in a soft voice only I could hear. “He might be the element of heart, but you are the one who holds mine. If I lose you, then there is nothing left for me to live for in this world. I promise to at least try, but that is all I can promise. He needs to do his part as well.” He reached down and pulled me into his lap, wrapping me up in a bone-crushing hug, his face pressed against my neck. “Please try not to be so reckless next time, and that will help too.”