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I grinned and dug in. We were going to have to come here again, maybe next time the Ashford brothers were home so JJ could see them play live. Sometimes the rest of the band was with them. They lived locally too.
JJ and Dexen eventually ignored Barry and we got to enjoy dinner without anyone else encroaching on our time together. We deserved many more nights of this. Afterward, we said goodnight to Cadence who originally refused to accept our money, but we convinced her. She did that every time I came here, which admittedly, wasn’t often enough.
It was late by the time we got back to the fortress. Dominic was in the kitchen in a pair of burgundy silk boy shorts and a tight long-sleeved black shirt, stirring something on the stove.
Dexen put an arm around his shoulders and asked him how his night was since he wasn’t there to keep an eye on things. Dexen had a manager on every shift, but he still liked to be hands on.
“Good,” Dominic said. “Nothing exciting. You know how the dinner shifts are. But we had seared scallops, so I ate my fill.”
The dancers who worked the lunch and dinner shifts got to eat whatever was on the menu that night for free. Dexen didn’t serve shit food, so I wasn’t surprised to hear there were scallops tonight.
“Did you do any private dances?” he asked.
“One which was enough. Pey was on edge when I left. He didn’t like how someone could get into your home and worried about me. He drove me to the club and picked me up with Perry in tow.”
“I’m surprised they didn’t stay.” My brother and Perry were protective of Dominic and rightfully so. It wasn’t because he couldn’t take care of himself. It was out of fear of something happening to him again.
I grabbed a tennis ball from the table. The reminder of someone in Dexen’s house crashed back on me, ruining the light mood I had from dinner. I sat in the chair at the breakfast nook and bounced the ball on the floor. Half the time I didn’t even realize I was doing it when I picked one up.
“Perry had a conference call and wanted to be in front of his computer.”
“He could have used my office,” Dexen said.
“I’ll tell him for next time.” He switched the burner off, moving the pot to the side. “Anyone want hot chocolate?”
JJ leaned over the pot. “That’s what smells so good.”
We grabbed mugs and Dominic poured it. He had another cup off to the side he put marshmallows in. I knew that one was going to Perry.
Dominic took a sip and sighed happily. “How was dinner?”
“Did you know Reed Ashford from Ruined and Relinquished lived around here?” JJ asked. “We ate at his family’s farm. The food was great. His sister was friendly. I definitely want to go back.”
“I did know but only because Greer said that was where you were going tonight. I need to take Perry and Pey there.”
The ball kept a steady pace from my hand to the floor and back. “We should all go once Reed is off tour.”
JJ’s eyes went big. “That would be great.”
The hot chocolate was devoured fast. Only half of Perry’s marshmallows had melted by the time Dominic left to take it to him. We went outside and grabbed Dexen’s things from his SUV to take them to my room. It was obvious he didn’t like being chased from his home. No one would. But he also didn’t want anything happening to JJ and me. I felt better knowing we were together here where my brother and I could keep everyone safe.
Today sucked but tonight was much better. It wasn’t a long-term solution for us to stay here, though I wouldn’t mind. Hell, I’d keep the two of them here forever if they let me. That was a conversation for another day.
JJ and I sandwiched Dexen in between us in bed, holding each other, reminding ourselves we were all okay. That was how we fell asleep, a smile on my face as my eyes drifted shut.
24
JJ
The city was dark as I drove through its busy streets. Tall buildings towered over me, not skyscrapers. Dremest didn’t have those. But ones big enough where they ate up part of the sky, stopping the moon from casting much light below. I’d become addicted to seeing the stars and moon at the fortress. It was such a stark contrast from what I saw at my apartment.
I remembered when Dexen and I would sit on his back patio years ago. We’d let the summer air wrap around us, as the stars above gave us what felt like a private show. After we split up, I thought I’d never find that sense of serenity again. That peace which existed when I was in Dexen’s arms. Now I had it, but it was magnified because it wasn’t just Dexen’s arms around me, it was Greer’s too. Both holding me, keeping me warm.
With those thoughts in mind, I stayed on course. I’d be damned if someone threatened the men I cared about. Since I didn’t know who would want to break into Dexen’s home, I had to talk to my dad. At least then I’d know it wasn’t him. He didn’t lie to me. Not once in my entire life. The truth wasn’t always easy to hear. At least I knew what I got with him. There was a tiny bit of comfort in that.
There were many times I cried as a child. It felt like I did it more than smile. Losing my mom at the hands of my dad was a nightmare I hoped no one else experienced. Years of tears followed. Of me begging to go to a public school so I could make friends. Of my dad’s minions bringing their kids over like they could be a good substitute. Not when they would fucking bully me behind everyone’s backs.
All I knew was pain. All I wanted was someone to love me. My uncle tried; he really did. I remembered him coming over one night to talk to my dad about something. The moment my uncle saw me, he hugged me. I started crying then and there. Shit, I was probably ten or so. My dad grabbed the back of my neck and told me to knock it the fuck off and pulled me away from the only person who’d shown me affection outside of my mom.
