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OLIVIA
At some pointin the night, I must have rolled onto Sawyer’s chest. I wake up with my head resting on his shoulder and Nolan pressed against my back. His arm is tossed over my hip, and his palm is resting on Sawyer’s side. I lift my head and start to try and wiggle free, but Nolan grumbles behind me as he moves his hand to my hip and pulls my ass to him.
I muffle a surprised gasp when I feel his erection pressed against me. I’m sure it’s because it’s morning—it’s a natural thing. Truth be told, I used to dread the feeling of Tripp doing this to me, but for some reason, a part of me wants to lean into it. I’m not put off in the least. It’s like my heart knows there’s healing here.
Sawyer’s eyes flutter open, and after a few seconds, he looks over at me. He rolls over to face me and kisses my forehead. “How did you sleep?”
“Surprisingly well. I felt like I could completely let myself relax for the first time in years. You guys better be careful, or you’ll end up being my personal comfort stuffies every night.”
“I’m sure I speak for all of us when I say we wouldn’t mind that at all,” he says seriously.
I’m not sure what to say to that because they’ll all meet women eventually. Women without more baggage than an airliner. Women who are beautiful and smart enough to not fall for the lies of an awful man. Someone worthy of them, and I’ll be there, cheering them on, even if I’m miles away.
“When do you think I’ll need to move out? Will I be able to divorce him without seeing him in person? Do you think it’s safe for me to be here?” I ask not only to change the subject but also because these questions have been rattling around inside my brain the past couple of days.
“I’m not a divorce attorney, but I already had my assistant pull several cases with similar circumstances. I’ll make sure you don’t have to be in the same room with him if that’s what you want.” His eyes bounce back and forth between mine. “I don’t think you should go anywhere you aren’t protected. We’re your best bet for that.”
I nod, but I’m not convinced.
“You don’t agree?” he asks.
“He’ll know you guys were the obvious people for me to come to. I don’t have much family, and I lost all my other friends. I don’t want to drag you guys down with me.”
“Livvy,” Nolan says sternly from behind me, rumbling into my ear. “I want you to listen and really hear me. We are not afraid of Tripp. There is nothing about that cowardly piece of shit that scares us. In fact, I’d love to see him. Maybe in a dark alley. The only thing we care about is keeping you away from him. We will go to psychotic levels to keep you safe.”
Sawyer nods. “There’s literally no line we won’t cross.”
“Why?” The word slides from lips unbidden.
“Because you are one of us. You always have been,” he answers.
“We should have done a better job of keeping an eye on you,” Nolan adds. “I just would see pictures of you two at events and you always looked happy, so I didn’t think there was anything wrong.”
Sawyer’s phone interrupts our conversation. He gets up and excuses himself to take it in the other room. It’s just as well, I hate to hear the guilt in their voices when they talk about everything I’ve been through. It wasn’t their fault, and they couldn’t have changed anything.
“I should probably get up too,” Nolan says. “It’s early. Why don’t you take a couple painkillers and go back to sleep? I’ll make you some toast and bring some juice for you.”
I could use a few more hours of sleep. “Should I go back to my room?”
“Naw, Sawyer won’t mind, and this room gets the best morning light, so if you wake up you won’t be disoriented again.” He pulls his jeans on and walks down the hall.
I drag the covers up to my chin and curl onto my side. I’m still pretty stiff and sore, but I feel better than I was. The guys have been keeping me on schedule with the medicine from Dr. Lawson, and that probably has a lot to do with it. My appetite is slowly coming back too.
Sawyer comes back in with a cup of coffee. “I have to go into the office for a little while this morning. Grant is going to be here to keep you company, but you are welcome to lay around in here all day. The remote for the tv is in the drawer of the nightstand. I’m going to take a quick shower, and then I’ll be out of here.”
“Thank you,” I say with a genuine smile. “I think I will stay here for a while.”
Especially if it means avoiding the awkward feelings between me and Grant.
The smell of buttered toast fills the room as Nolan sets the plate beside me, pairing it with a tall glass of orange juice and my pills.
“Thank you.” I try to remember the last time I felt so cherished. A vision of my mother’s arms comes to mind, and I gently push it away.
“Anything for you, Livvy. I’m going to go over to my place to shower and do some work that I can’t do here but, Grant is out in the living room if you need anything. My number is programmed in your new phone, too, in case he starts acting like an ass again.” He kisses my cheek and disappears out the door.
I finish my breakfast and set it on the nightstand, intending to take it back to the kitchen after I wake up. My eyes are already growing heavy, and I let myself give into the drowsiness. As soon as my head hits the pillow, I’m out.
* * *
