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“Eastern, this isn’t what it looks like,” I begin.
For a moment he looks as though he’s about to lash out, and I’m fully prepared to deal with his insecurities and his temper, but what he says next surprises me.
“You don’t need to explain a damn thing to me, Alicia. I know you. Come here,” he says, opening his arms to me. I walk straight into the broad warmth of his chest and hold onto him tightly.
“It’s Asia, dickwad,” I say, grinning into his chest.
He laughs. “I know. You okay?”
“I’m okay.”
“Then that’s all that matters.” He lets me go and grins. When he glances over my shoulder at Camden, his smile drops. There’s dislike there still, but despite that, a growing acceptance.
“I’d tell you both to get a room if we weren’t already in one,” Ford says as he steps into my room and shuts the door behind him.
Behind me, the bed creaks as Camden shifts to his feet. “What the fuck areyoudoing here? Back for more, eh?” he growls.
I step in front of Camden blocking him from moving towards Ford. I can feel his harsh breaths against the bare skin of my neck. He grasps my hips as though to anchor himself. I’m not even sure he’s aware of doing it, but I am. I’m hyper aware. So are the rest of them.
“We’re checking on Asia. Making sure you’ve not hurt her,” Eastern says matter-of-factly.
“He hasn’t hurt me,” I confirm, swiping my still damp hair back off my face.
“Good, because I won’t tolerate it. You hurt her, I’ll kill you,” Eastern warns.
Camden’s fingers tighten on my hips. “Noted,” he says.
For a while not one of us moves, talks, or fucking breathes if me holding my breath is anything to go by. Eventually Ford breaks the silence. He looks at me, his gaze trailing to Camden’s hands on my hips, to the clothes he’s wearing.Hisclothes. A range of emotions flood across his features.
“We’re here because the three of us have come to a decision,” Ford begins, then winces. His right cheek and eye are bruised and swollen, and his lip and eyebrow split. He has a butterfly plaster pulling together the skin on his brow. It looks like it needs stitches but if I know Ford as well as I think I do, then he’s refused a trip to the hospital to get it sorted so that he can be here instead.
“What decision?” I ask, looking between the three of them.
Ford dabs at his mouth, his tongue sliding across the split, licking at the blood. “That we we’re willing to do what it takes to fix things. ThatI’mwilling to do what it takes to fix things,” he says, looking at Camden.
“That’s big of you, fucktard,” Camden growls, tensing.
“Look, Camden, Asia gives a shit about what happens to you and we give a shit about Asia. That means whatever the fuck we feel for each other gets put aside for her. That’s the agreement the three of us have come to, and now we need to know you’re on board,” Eastern says, refusing to break eye contact with Camden.
“What are you saying exactly?” I press, wanting to understand what this means, really means. Are we our own crew now? Or is this more than that?
“I’m saying… No,we’resaying,” Ford corrects himself, “That we’re willing to be a unit, Asia, if you’re willing to have us, that is? As friends... asmorethan friends.” He locks eyes with me, unafraid and certain of himself. I can feel a flush of heat warming me from the inside out. Sonny is smiling, and Eastern has a determined look on his face, one that is filled with respect and love. It must be hard for him to concede like this. I daren’t look over my shoulder at Camden. Things are so new between us, if there even is an us. I’m still not one hundred percent sure he’s forgiven me despite the last few hours curled up in bed with him.
Swallowing hard, I look at Eastern. He’s the one I’m most concerned about. Ford and Sonny didn’t seem to have issues about me being interested in both of them last term, but Eastern and I have a lifelong history that makes this trickier to manage. I know he always hoped that it’d only ever be us.
“Eastern?” I ask gently.
His beautiful brown eyes fill with determination. “I’d tear up the world to be with you, Asia. I’ll accept these arseholes if that’s what you need. I want you any way I can have you. If this is truly what you want then I’m with you.Is it?”
“I think so,” I say.
“You think so?” he questions, regarding me.
I frown, biting on my lip ring. “I don’t trust easily, and I don’t do relationships, Eastern. You know that better than anyone. Despite all of that, I do trust you all.”
“Good, we can work on the rest,” Ford says.
“But I don’t know how to be with one guy, let alonefour. Not to mention that you all hate each other, so that kind of complicates things wouldn’t you say?”
