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THREE MONTHS LATER
MAYA
“I’m surprised you’re here with how much you’ve been working.”
I turned at Josie’s words and smiled. In the next second, we were hugging. Officially, Josie was my aunt. She’d been adopted by my grandparents when I was young, but now she was more than an aunt. As I grew older, she became a best friend.
“Question is, what are you doing here?” I asked. Josie had moved to Melbourne when I was about eight and now lived happily with her two husbands and twins.
She shrugged. “Missed everyone. I was also sick of FaceTiming and calls when I wanted to reallyseehow Talon was doing.”
My stomach tightened and a wave of sadness swept over me. Dad had been shot a month ago by Cody’s girlfriend’s father. He took a bullet to save Cody, and we’d nearly lost him. It was a time I never wanted to relive again. Mum had been a mess and had only started to leave his side longer than just getting my brother and sister to and from school.
My throat clogging with emotions, I cleared it. “I’ve been keeping an eye on him. He’s getting there.” I gave her a watery smile. “Though, he thinks he’s ready to be up and running like normal. I give him another month before Mum lets him get back to work.”
Josie reached out and squeezed my hand. “It’s lucky he sees how wrecked Zara was and is allowing all the mothering.”
Nodding, I shifted to the side to let Killer and Ivy slip by before I nodded towards the back door. I needed sunshine to warm me. To help fight away the cold of the memory of Dad getting hurt. As we made our way out, I said, “That’s true. God only knows he could do with the rest, though. Anyway, where are your husbands?”
She laughed, stepping outside into the sunny afternoon. “Probably following the twins around to make sure they don’t get into too much trouble.”
Laughing with her, I spotted Swan, Rommy, and Clary approaching, and smiled. We ended up talking about things we’d been up to lately, and I was about to ask Rommy something when I happened to glance to the side and stilled when I saw Texas standing near the back door with my brother Cody, Ruin, and Wolf, who was Ruin’s partner.
He was talking, yet his gaze was on me.
Only I didn’t understandthatlook. I’d never seenthatlook in his eyes before. I wouldn’t even know how to describe it. Soft, yet something else.
Whatever it was, it sent my stomach a flutter, so I quickly glanced away and swallowed.
“Are you okay?” Swan asked softly. She always spoke quietly.
“Yeah, yes. I’m fine.” An awkward laugh followed. “Just spaced for a second.”
“You won’t believe what I saw the other day,” Rommy said. Our friend was always full of stories and fun. She wore her heart on her sleeve, and everyone couldn’t help but want to protect her.
“What’s that?” Clary asked.
She leaned in. “Porn.”
My eyes widened, and mine weren’t the only ones.
Rommy shrugged. “It was surprising. I’ve seen books with naked ladies in them from when Texas hid his under his mattress. But what I don’t get, and wanted to know, was do women really like their hair being pulled? Or like having a guy’s shlong shoved down their throat?” Her head tilted to the side. “I mean, she acted like she liked it, but her eyes watered a lot and there was so much snot. Is that something you lot like?”
Swan turned beet red. She hadn’t done anything with anyone and probably hadn’t even watched porn. At least I’d had one experience. Even though it was in the back of a car and awkward as hell.
“Um…,” Clary mumbled, glancing around wildly.
“Well…,” Josie started. “I guess, ah, maybe sometimes.”
Rommy hummed under her breath and nodded.
“Rommy, what you see in porn isn’t like real life, usually. A person can like a little hair pulling and such, but just remember porn stars get paid for what they do, which is act.”
Clary pointed at me. “Yes, they’re actors. When the time comes, you’ll find things you like and dislike. Just be sure you’re honest with your partner.”
Rommy smiled. “Okay.” She saw something that caught her attention. “Oooh, brownies.” Then she was gone, skipping off to get her treat.
“She’s such a sweet soul,” Josie said.
