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Brinkley handed me a fork, and she sat beside me and took a bite. “It is damn good. Totally worth the awkward conversation.”
I groaned as the warm cheese hit my system. “I get the fascination with the man. Hell, I’ve been fascinated by him since the moment we met.”
“You love him, huh?”
“I do.”
“Have you told him?”
“Yes. We’ve said it to one another and I heard him say it when I was,” I paused to hold my pointer and middle fingers on each hand to make air quotes, “taking a long nap. I know he loves me. I’ve known for a while.”
“Damn. That’s kind of hot.”
“What?” I smiled and searched her gaze.
“That he stayed by your side during your hospitalized nap time and declared his love. And then he ran away when you woke up because the pain of almost losing you was too much. Sounds like a great romance book.”
I chuckled. “Yeah, but that’s why romance books are fiction. Living that is not as charming. You don’t want to have to go through hell to be together, you know? But I’ll mention it to Ashlan. She could probably use that plot in one of her books.”
There was a knock on the door, and I startled.
“Do you think Bossman sent you more flowers?” Brinkley chuckled as she glanced around my apartment at the endless arrangements that he’d sent since he’d left the hospital and hadn’t said where he was going.
I moved to my feet, and when I opened the door, my mouth fell open. Dylan, Everly, Ashlan, Charlotte, and Vivian stood there. Vivian had a large pink bakery box in her hands.
“What is happening?” I shouted, and they rushed toward me one at a time.
Once they’d hugged me and Brinkley and pulled off their coats, Vivian handed me the box of pastries.
“We thought you might want some cupcakes when you got out of the hospital.” She kissed my cheek.
Everly flicked her finger at Dylan. “We needed to see that you were okay. And money bags over here had her husband send the helicopter for us, and then we grabbed her in the city, and here we are.”
“We know you’re exhausted. We’re just here for a few hours. We can eat cupcakes and laugh like old times.” Ashlan wrapped an arm over my shoulder and rested her head there.
“You knew, didn’t you?” I chuckled and glanced at my sister.
“I’m a reporter, Georgie, I know all things. Of course, I knew. Plus, someone had to tell them where your new place was. So, we figured I’d feed you real food first, and then we’d binge on Vivi’s cupcakes.” She carried the bakery box down to the coffee table, and we all found spots on the couch and huddled together.
“I can’t believe you guys are here,” I said, and my bottom lip started to tremble. Tears broke free, and once they started, I couldn’t stop them.
But I felt all the love right here in this room, and it was exactly what I needed.
“I know you went through some serious trauma,” Charlotte said, “but Brinks gave us the short version about what’s happening with Maddox. Boys are so freaking stupid sometimes. I swear, they put us through hell before they sweep us off our feet.”
Everly reached for a tissue on the coffee table and wiped at the tears falling down my face. “It’s all going to be okay, Georgie. Everyone handles trauma differently. Trust me, I can vouch for that. I was a runner myself. Sometimes, the fear of losing someone is so overpowering you can’t think straight.”
“But no one runs forever. He’ll figure it out,” Vivi said, handing me a chocolate cupcake with pink icing formed into the prettiest flower. “I know these are your favorite.”
“Cupcakes make everything better, don’t they?” Ashlan said as she reached for a vanilla pastry from the box.
“They really do.” Brinkley took a big bite of the pink, sugary icing and groaned. “This is a good temporary fix.”
“So, tell us about Maddox Lancaster. Wolf knows him and says he’s a brilliant guy, and he really likes him,” Dylan said before wincing. “Or do we hate him now? Because I can blow up a photo of him and get us some darts, and we can beat the shit out of him on paper if you want.”
I laughed and I cried all at the same time.
Though my body was still recovering, and my heart was aching… family always made everything better.
