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Was this an experience I wanted?
It didn’t matter if Astrid wanted it. She deserved someone to care about when she left and when she came back. And even if my ears were on fire, and my mouth watered from this kind of attention, I was glad she had this.
Really, I thought they were there for me too.
Astrid stood from the couch and grabbed her bag. Not her backpack, but her camera. I smiled uncontrollably. No purse for her, but a camera bag to capture all the moments. Hell, yes.
“Hi,” I murmured like a dork as I walked toward her, taking her free hand in mine and holding it out to the side. She was dressed in her combat boots, skinny jeans and a too-large sweater. Not to mention her floppy scarf wrapped artfully around her neck, with a kind of matching beanie pulled down over her head.
My favorite thing about her was that she was only ever who she was. Coming from the family she did, that made her incredibly strong. It was also something I had only recently come to terms with myself, as I was too fucking concerned with other people’s opinions.
Fuck them.
We were the only ones who mattered.
“Hi,” she said softly, looking up at me under her lashes. Shy and unsure Astrid? I loved this side of her too.
The more time I spent with her, the more I came to realize that I just lovedher.
“Are you ready?” I ducked down to press a kiss on her lips. As soon as she caught on to what I wanted, she tipped her face up to prolong the toe-curling hello. My spine tingled with satisfaction when she chased my lips after I pulled away.
Flashes started to go off.
I glanced up to see both Thatcher and Rhys walking around us taking pictures.
Glaring, I tugged Astrid close, and she tucked her face against my chest. Their grins brightened and the faux shutter from their phones clicked faster.
“Really?” I griped and looped my arms around Astrid’s waist, rubbing one hand down her back. She settled against me, and I breathed out a gentle sigh. I kind of loved this closeness.
“Yes. This is important. I wish someone had been there to take pictures of us.” Thatcher shrugged. “I’ll just have to paint what I thought it looked like. Or maybe what it felt like.”
Astrid melted in my arms, and I scowled at him. Throwing his artistic brain around wasn’t fair when she was also artistic and appreciated artistic things.
Rhys shook his head and clapped me on the back. “Don’t be offended. We wanted to document it since we’re all watching you guys from the beginning. The three of us started at the same time and we were too busy holding our dicks to care about what the other guy was doing.”
Astrid snorted.
“Oh, we cared, I was just too focused with my eye on the prize to worry about those two idiots.”
“Mm. That’s right. You had to work extra hard to show Astrid you were a giver and not just a taker.” I smirked.
Sweet laughter bubbled out of Astrid as she shook in my arms.
“Damn it. You’ve been talking to Beck.” Thatcher gritted his teeth and started texting, probably giving Beck hell.
“On that note, it’s been fun, but I’d like to progress to the part of the evening where you two aren’t with us.” I stepped back and caught Astrid’s hand, walking her the few steps to the door.
Rolling his eyes, Rhys waved and took his spot back at the table.
“Eleven o’clock curfew!” Thatcher yelled after us as I pulled the door shut.
Still laughing, Astrid stopped me. “He’s kidding.”
“I know,” I grinned to let her know I wasn’t bothered. “They’re all great guys. In all seriousness, there’s not a day that goes by that I’m not thankful I met you all.” I opened her door and once she slid inside, I gently closed it.
When I was in the driver’s seat, I picked the conversation back up. “When I think about life before I met you and them, it’s all…hazy. Empty. I much prefer my life now.”
“Exactly. I don’t have a lot of great memories before I moved here. Don’t get me wrong, not that I had a ton of bad memories, but everything seemed to come alive when I met you all.” She played with the frilled edges of her scarf.
