Page 19 of Give Me Peace

Chapter Ten

Saylor

The smooth asphalt we’d been driving on switches to gravel and rocks me awake. It takes a minute to remember where I am and I how I got there. We’re approaching a gate, barely slowing down, when a beep echoes through the vehicle and the wall of iron slides open. The driveway is somewhat long, but eventually the house comes into view. I only have a second to take it all in before we’re entering the garage, but it’s massive. A modern, concrete fortress with a smattering of windows.

That seems to be the theme of the day. Earlier, despite what Roan might think, my panic hadn’t stemmed from his nearness. I’d been on edge from the moment we stepped into the hallway. For some reason, it hadn’t registered to me that I’d yet to venture outside of my hospital room. I’d felt safe in there, with the rest of the world being held at arm’s length. But then we were moving, forced to rush our exit, leaving me no time to mentally prepare.

I’d felt like a spectacle. Every person we’d pass would eye me with a mixture of curiosity and pity. The wide corridor began to feel claustrophobic, and I was grateful to step into the elevator for a moment of reprieve. But then we were in the garage, and all around me were reminders of how much time I’d lost. Everything held a slight touch of familiarity but it was mixed with new, foreign aspects I didn’t recognize. Like with Roan’s phone, the cars were different from what I remembered, as well. They’d been given newer body styles and fancy upgrades.

The technology wasn’t so advanced that I didn’t know of it, it was just improved. The inside of the SUV was shocking, but maybe that’s because Mom had never driven anything quite that nice. I’d been lost in my head, grappling with the fact that five fucking years had come and gone without me, when Roan scared me. I hadn’t seen him though, just movement that was directed at me. It could’ve been a fly for all I knew. My reaction feels ridiculous now, but at the time, it was real and terrifying. The garage door closes quietly and the guys get it out.

“Ready?” Lochlan asks, a shy smile on his face as he waits for me to slide from the backseat. Roan joins us a second later, his hands full with their bags and my gifts from Karley. I nod, walking between the two of them as Lochlan begins to climb a metal stairwell that leads to a door one floor above us. A rush of cool air greets us as we enter the house. I eye the open plan room, noting the kitchen to my left and a familiar dining table a few feet beyond it. Looking back, I see the camera we’d watched the lizard fiasco on yesterday mounted above the door.

The living room is situated to the right. Their sectional couch is grey and u-shaped, with seats so deep I could get lost in it. Mounted to the wall is the biggest television I’ve ever seen. A noise startles me and I turn to find Roan dropping our things on the kitchen island. Mom would have killed for a setup like this. Their appliances are stainless steel, but industrial scale. The marble counters are a mixture of white and black, and the cabinets are pale grey. It’s beautiful.

“Thing one and two, is that you?” Someone calls from the hallway straight ahead of us, followed by the sound of a door opening. Roan moves closer, flanking my free side. Impulsively, I grab his hand. Partly because I’m nervous to meet new people, but also because I feel horrible for making him upset earlier. He’d looked devastated by my reaction. His eyes find mine, a question swimming in those green depths, but I just squeeze his fingers. His lips twitch, a faint smirk tilting them upwards. Footsteps greet us and I turn to find the two men I’ve semi-met standing a few feet in front of us.

“Kash and Krew, this is Saylor,” Lochlan introduces us. “Saylor, Kash and Krew.” He points to each of them, making sure to distinguish who is who, but it’s unnecessary. They look identical—same light-brown skin, black curly hair that’s longer on top but shaved on the sides, twin brown eyes—but it’s clear their personalities are night and day.

“Hey, Best Friend.” Kash grins, acting as if we’ve known each other all our lives.

“Ignore him.” Roan groans from beside me.

“It’s true.” Kash shrugs. “So don’t get jealous. Green’s not your color.”

I’m not sure what to say, so I keep quiet. I’m not as nervous as was, but it feels weird being in someone else’s space. I barely did sleepovers as a kid because I’d get so awkward and uncomfortable. I’ve never understood the ‘make yourself at home’ saying.

“Nice to meet you both,” I mutter, not wanting to be rude. Kash gives me another full-toothed smile and Krew dips his head in lieu of speaking. He’s definitely more reserved than his brother.

“Let’s give you a tour,” Lochlan announces. I release the death grip I have on Roan and move to follow him.

“This leads to the lower level.” He points to the first door on the left once we’re in the hallway. “That’s where you’ll find the gym, media room, and firing range.” My eyes widen, but Lochlan doesn’t stop to elaborate. A little farther down, he points to the right. “This is Kash and Krew’s domain.” The open door reveals an office of sorts. One long desk stretches the entire length of the front wall, but it’s been divided into two workstations. There’s a multitude of monitors, some bigger than others, that appear complicated and high-tech. Lochlan moves us along, stopping once we dead end and the hall extends to the right and left.

“Down this way we have my room, the twin’s room, and Roan’s room.” He gestures to the right, pointing out each person’s as he goes. He has the one at the end, and the twins are on the left with Roan’s across from them. “And over here,” he begins walking in the opposite direction, “we’ve got my office on the end, Kade’s room on the right, and yours is here on the left.”

Lochlan opens the door to the room he said is mine, letting me walk in first. There’s a queen bed on the right wall, flanked by matching nightstands. The comforter is distinctly feminine, and there’s a plush rug covering half the floor. To my left I find a dresser, where several empty photo frames sit atop it.

“We all have attached bathrooms.” Lochlan slides around me to open the door. It’s gorgeous, with a separate tub and shower, but I’m a bit overwhelmed with how nice everything is. I’ve gone from one extreme to another. “And this is the closet.” I glance inside it, shocked not just from its size, but also the fact that it’s filled with brand new clothing, their tags visible from where they hang.

“Uh…,” Lochlan pauses, giving me a cautious look. “Kash got you a few things. If something doesn’t fit or if there’s anything he forgot, just let us know.” He rubs the back of his neck, his eyes watching me closely from behind his glasses. I stare at the full racks, thinking our definition of the word ‘few’ is not the same.

“I did good, huh?” Kash remarks from the doorway, that signature grin plastered across his face. I smile and nod, not wanting to hurt his feelings by saying it’s too much.

“I really thought you’d have a Justin Bieber poster stuck to the wall,” Roan comments.

“Please,” Kash scoffs. “He’s soooo last season.” He feigns a hair flip as he walks away.

“He gives me indigestion,” Roan gripes as the rest of us head back towards the kitchen.

There’s so much left to see I can’t seem to focus on any one thing. With a different view of the space, I notice the built-in electric fireplace beneath the TV. My constantly cold toes practically hum in delight. The kitchen is neat and clean, considering a group of men live here, with only a few extra appliances littering the counters.

“Want to see something cool?” Kash points to the frosted glass door that I assume leads to a patio of some sort. He’s got a sucker in his mouth and a muffin in each hand, but uses his elbow to hit a button on the wall. Light burst through the glass, causing me to blink a few times. Once I’ve adjusted to the brightness, I gasp.

“We’re on the beach?” I surge forward, nearly pressing my face to the slider as I soak in the sight before me. Sand dunes and grass somewhat obscure the view, but it’s impossible to miss the roll of the waves in the distance.

“Can I go?” I swing around to Lochlan, my pulse thrumming with excitement.

“You don’t need permission, Saylor.” He smiles sweetly. “You’re a grown woman.”