AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She frowned. “Into the apartment?”
I shook my head. “The house we showed you, baby girl. We want you there with us—all the time.”
Her eyes welled with tears. “You two really meant that?” she croaked.
I nodded. “And you’ll still be here, close to your family.”
She grabbed my face in her soft hands and pulled my head down to hers, kissing me. She nodded, giving me my answer, and then she slipped over to Stephen. I watched as she gripped his biceps and leaned up on her tiptoes, pressing a soft kiss to the very corner of his lips, just as he had done her when she was getting her nails done. I smirked.
The girl could play the game, too, when she wanted.
“Yes,” she whispered to him before slipping back over to me and nestling into my arms.
He grinned at me over her head as I wrapped my arms around her. He’d obviously been listening to my conversation with her while talking to her family and Jacob.
Not long, I reminded him. It wouldn’t be long at all. And I couldn’t wait to see her bloom again with both of us loving her the way she deserved to be loved—the way I should have been loving her all along.
6
Bailey
“Going to be weird not being under the same roof as you,” Trent said as he helped pack some of my clothes into a box.
I turned to face him, clutching my bear to my chest. “I’m nervous,” I admitted. Trent glanced up at me, understanding in his eyes. “I know Seth helps me, and I know I’ve been distant from you lately, but it doesn’t change the fact that I was still comforted with having you nearby.” I frowned. “I won’t have that anymore.”
Trent walked over to me and wrapped his muscular arms around me, hugging me to him. “Bailey, you always have me,” he promised. “I’m just a phone call away, and I’ll come to you at the drop of a hat.”
I sighed and rested my head on his chest. “Thank you for never giving up on me.”
Trent kissed the top of my head. “I love you, little sis, and I know how dark a mind can get,” he reminded me. I knew he did. It was one of the reasons I was always so comforted by him just being nearby. I didn’t have to hide from him because heunderstood.
He released me a moment later, and we resumed packing. Seth would be showing up with his truck soon, and from there, he, Trent, and Stephen would load it all up.
I was happy to be living with Seth and admittedly even happy about living with Stephen. But I was sad to be leaving my family. I knew I wasn’t going far, but still. To not have them under the same roof would be hard.
Dad and Trent had both helped me so much with my anxiety. And Mom always did a good job of listening to me when I felt lost.
I knew they would still be there for me, but it wasn’t the same as having them just down the hall or right down the stairs if I needed them.
A phone call could never replace that kind of connection.
“Come on, sis. Out of your head,” Trent gently ordered. I jerked in surprise. He grinned at me and waggled his eyebrows, making me giggle. “You’re moving in with your boyfriend today.”
I smiled and finished packing. Because he was right. Iwasmoving in with my boyfriend today.
And his sinfully hot brother, too.
* * *
Seth wrappedme up in a hug as soon as I stepped out onto the porch to greet him and Stephen. He leaned down to kiss me. “Missed you, baby.”
I laughed softly. “You were just here early this morning.” But I’d missed him, too. I always missed him when I didn’t have him in my sights.
He shrugged. “I always miss you, baby girl.” He tugged the ear of my bear. “Bad day?”
I shrugged. “Not really. Just more sad to be leaving than anything.”
He frowned at me. “Are you having second thoughts?” There was so much concern in his eyes that it just about did my heart in.
