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Ares blinks at me a few times. “You love your job. You’ve talked about your independence since the day we met.”

“Things change. I like being here more.”

Ares nods, and Clay laughs. It’s not a little chuckle either.

“What?” I snap at him.

“Nothing,” he says, then mimes zipping his lips.

“Just say it. You know you want to.”

Clay shrugs. “Did you really think we were going to let you out of our sight after what happened?” He raises his stupid, perfectly manicured eyebrow at me. “I thought when I brought it up, we would have a huge fight and then some hate sex.”

I sigh. “And this is the reason I almost didn’t say anything. I knew you would do this.”

“I’m not doing anything. I’m simply saying you saved me the trouble of forcing you to stay.”

I open my mouth to argue that he couldn’t force me to do anything, but what’s the point when I want to stay here? Looking around the table, I see Brawley casually sipping his coffee, Clay’s smug face, Ares’s small smirk, and Vero’s shit-eating grin. The latter raises his hand.

“Yes, Vero, you can speak now.”

“So, what you’re basically saying is that you’re staying?”

I nod. “Yes, that is, if you guys are all okay with it. At least until I feel comfortable going back to the loft. Just knowing it was him in my safe space has freaked me out a little. I know I owe most of you an explanation about Aaron, and I will tell you when I can. Just know he manipulated me in ways that I hadn’t realized until I left, and I can’t ever let that happen again. I need to make my own choices and be free to do what I want.” Clay growls, and I turn to him. “Do you have an issue with that?”

“No, you are free to do whatever you want, as long as it doesn’t involve other men.”

I laugh at that. “I promise, the four of you are more than enough for me, but if I want to be friends with a man, I will. You don’t get to decide for me.”

Clay crosses his arms and scowls. “Fine, but if they touch you, I will break their hands.”

I sigh. “Sure, if any man touches me inappropriately, you can break their hands.”

Vero claps. “Look at us compromising already. Should we get boxes and move your stuff? Do you have to give notice at your place?”

“How about we let Kayla keep her apartment for now? She may hate living here. That is, if that’s what you want, Kayla?”

I nod. “Yes, please, but I would like to get some of my things if that’s okay.”

“Of course you can—you don’t even have to ask,” Brawley says. “Just let us know when you’re ready.”

“Thanks, I don’t have a lot to grab.”

“We’ll make room for whatever you have. But there is one issue,” Vero says, stuffing half a waffle into his mouth.

“And what’s that?” Clay muses.

“Where will she sleep? I want her in mine and Brawley’s bed, but by the look on Clay’s face, something tells me he would just steal her away from us.”

“Kayla will have her own room, and if she chooses to sleep in any of our beds, that’s up to her.”

I mouth thank you to Ares and he winks.

“Good thinking! You’re so smart.”

Ares rolls his eyes at Vero, and then we focus on finishing our breakfast. Waffles and ice cream was a great idea, and Vero seems to agree by licking his plate clean.

I push back from the table and start collecting plates, but Brawley grabs my wrist. “Leave it, you cooked.”