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Astrid
I’ll admit, I’m a coward. I stay hidden behind James and Slade, wondering if I could sneak away without anyone noticing. When Slade is nudged out of the way and I find Ev looking down at me, I know I’m screwed. His puppy dog eyes make my own well with tears a second before he picks me up and squeezes me tightly.
“I’m so fucking sorry, Astrid.”
I nod against his T-shirt, which I’m soaking with tears and probably snot.
“It’s okay,” I whisper. I missed him. I just didn’t realize how much until now because all my feelings were wrapped up in Slade and Jagger.
“It’s not, but it fucking will be,” he promises before setting me down and handing me off to someone else.
I lift my head and see Greg smiling widely at me. “Damn, you’re a sight for sore eyes.”
I hug him tightly before looking back up at him.
His smile slips, and he scowls at me. “No more running. You took ten years off my life. I’ll teach you how to use a gun. That way, if those bozos piss you off, you can just shoot them instead.”
I laugh as James speaks up from behind me. “I like him.”
“I do too.” I introduce Greg to James before a hand on my arm steals my attention. I look at Crew and Wilder, and my stomach drops like a rock.
“We’re sorry. We fucked up. We all did, but that’s what families do. You’re not supposed to run away, though. You’re supposed to put salt in our coffee and Nair in our shamp—” Crew starts, but Wilder hits him in the stomach.
“Jesus, Crew, don’t give the woman ideas.”
I can’t help the small smile that tugs at my lips before it drops. “I’m sorry. I’ve never really had a family before.”
Wilder opens his mouth to ask but shuts it again before pulling me in for a quick hug and stepping back again so Crew can hug me too.
“We fucked up. We never made you feel like family but we’ll do better, I promise. Thank you for putting these two out of their misery. I’ve never seen two grown men mope so much in my life.”
“Hey, we did not mope,” Slade complains.
“We kind of did,” Jagger admits.
“Fuck you, Jagger. You were mopey. I was sad in a manly way,” Slade retorts, and I burst out laughing at his ridiculousness.
“Jesus, he sounds like you, Oz,” I hear Zig say as I look at the trio standing closest to the door.
Zig, Salem, and Oz stand watching me, waiting for my reaction as Crew and Wilder slip away. Salem is the one to step forward first, her lip wobbling as she moves toward me.
“I’m sorry,” she whispers and starts to cry.
I close the distance and wrap my arms around her. “You don’t have anything to be sorry for.”
“I told Oz and Zig a little about what you told me. It’s my fault for loving idiots.”
I laugh, holding her tighter. “True, but I forgive you anyway. It turns out I love my own set of idiots,” I whisper so only she can hear.
“Astrid.” I know Salem feels me tense when Zig says my name.
I swallow before letting her go and facing him and his brother.
“We’re—” Zig is cut off by Oz scoping me up and squeezing me tight enough for the air to rush out of my lungs. “—sorry. For fuck’s sake, Oz, she can’t breathe. I can’t apologize if she’s dead.” Zig pulls me from Oz’s arms and holds me to him, thankfully a little more gently than his nutjob of a brother.
I narrow my eyes at Oz and start chanting. His eyes widen before he looks around. “What’s she doing?”
“Oh no. I’ve seen this before. You’re cursing him, right?” Salem shakes her head. “Thank goodness I have another lover.”
