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“Good. I’m parked not too far away.”
I nodded, kneeling to place the flowers on my parents’ grave. Unwrapped from the cellophane and all laid out, they looked oddly natural.
“Thank you,” I said, and the tears I’d been holding back the whole time started to flow. Normally I hated crying, especially with people around. But in front of Adrian, it seemed somehow okay.
“Anything for you ,” he said, sweeping me against his warm, hard body. “You know that, right?”
I nodded, crying into his chest. Adrian had been there for me when it all went down, helping me through my grief. Warren and Luke were already gone, Elizabeth had checked out too. I knew in my heart I’d have fallen into his arms even if the accident never happened. But when it did, it only became more of a no-brainer.
“I’m sorry I ran this morning,” I said. “That was childish.”
“Nah.”
Slowly he guided me away, back to the footpath. His arm slid so perfectly over my shoulder it was like it was made to be there.
“I was just overwhelmed,” I said. “I hadn’t expected—”
“None of us did,” he interrupted. “How could we?”
“Yeah, well youweresetting me up a little,” I smiled. “Three dates in two days? Or whatever you want to call—”
“Kayla.”
He stopped, slowly taking my face in his hands. In the gathering shadows, his gaze pierced mine.
“We love you,” Adrian said gently. “We always have, we always will.”
His jaw flexed, his eyes searching the horizon as he tried to find the right words. It made him even more handsome. More irresistible.
“None of us would forgive ourselves if we didn’t give it a shot,” he said solemnly. “So we did. But if that’s not what you want, we’re willing to back off and leave you alone.”
I shook my head, shivering against the cold. “No.”
“No?”
“That’s not what I want at all,” I admitted. “I need you in my life somehow — all of you. Especially now. And especially tonight.”
I slid closer to him, melting into his body. I wanted warmth. Safety. Familiarity.
“In fact, after last night my feelings for all three of you have only grown stronger.”
Adrian shifted, arching an eyebrow. “Really?” he asked. “Are you sure?”
“Never more sure,” I smiled weakly.
“Good,” he laughed gruffly. He nodded down the hill, to where I could now make out the distinct running lights of Luke’s pickup truck.
“Because no matter what I did or said, I couldn’t keep these animals away.”
Twenty-Nine
KAYLA
I told them to take me somewhere warm and safe. Somewhere we could be alone, like last night, and talk through our pasts. But this time, I also wanted to talk about the present. And possibly, the future.
We ended up at Warren and Luke’s apartment; a phrase that only a few nights ago would’ve shocked me into the next world. Now however, the place just felt right. It was small but well-kept, with a big living area and tiny bedrooms. I could see bits and pieces of Warren when I looked around, but I could also see Luke’s style too. The place seemed utilitarian to me. I could imagine they slept there, but they spent the bulk of their time at the shop, working to keep their business going.
“Sorry, but there’s not much in the fridge,” said Luke apologetically. “I could nuke some pizza, or—”
