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Thumping on the stairs and a fork clanking on the counter slowly draw my attention back to my surroundings. Just in time, too. "Oo, me next!"
Breaking away from Korren, I let loose an airy giggle at the way he growls at Ryan, trying to push him away. "Share," Ry whines and play bites at the air between them.
"I'm not a toy."
"And I'm not a golden retriever, yet we all play the parts pretty well, huh?" A bark of laughter behind Ryan sets my own guffaw loose.
Grumbling to himself, Korren moves out of the way for Ryan to swoop in and slide his hands around my waist. A little squeak slips free when his cold hand brushes the skin underneath my t-shirt.
"She even squeaks!" Nolan pops up next to the man between my legs. I mock glare at him. "Good morning, Evie."
All the dog jokes fade away when his lips kiss my jaw, and his glasses bump my cheekbones. Locking eyes with me, he waits for permission before he kisses me. I give him a nod after realizing I am not overwhelmed yet. This is needed.
He swoops in, one hand wrapped around Ryan and the other cradling the back of my neck. Just as our tongues touch, he draws away, but before I can pout, he pulls my neck towards our boyfriend instead.
I gasp at the nip Ryan leaves on my lip before he parts my mouth, seeking entrance. Just as fast as it started, it ends. Nuzzling my nose with his, his blue eyes shine with emotion. "I love you, Eve. I missed y-you," his voice cracking is even more heartbreaking when a tear drops from his long lashes.
"I love you too, Ryan," my voice is a murmur, wanting to keep this moment between the two of us. "I missed you."
I just hope it's all over now.
Chapter 26
Evelyn
"Have you heard from Smith or Brown?"
Korren's hushed question behind the wall that is Noly and Ryan makes my spine snap straight. Did the brothers really think I would be too distracted to hear their damn conversation?
"Yeah, they are coming by later with an update and to see Eve." Amiri's voice is just as quiet, making my hackles rise. I wish I had a working leg right about now so I could march over there.
Instead, I push the other two out of my space so I can hit the two whisperers with a glower. "And when were you going to tell me about this?" Now, my back isn't the only one to jerk into alertness.
"Eve-"
"No," I cut Nolan off, "I want to hear from them why they are whispering about something that involvesmewhen I'm right here." A small tremor begins in my hand at the confrontation. Fuck.
"We didn't want to upset you, Angel."
I scoff, "You aren't doing a good job of that." I despise the way my voice shakes. My muscles clench where I'm propped up on the counter, making my stomach squeeze in pain.
"I'm sorry, we just weren't sure when to talk to you about all of...that." Korren waves his hand in my general direction.
I honestly don't know how I'm supposed to feel about that statement. I'm kind of fucking offended by the way he said it...like it's something dirty. Like I'm dirty.
"Right, well,thatis my business no matter how you feel about it." All four of them go to speak, but before they can utter a syllable, I continue, "What time will Smith and whoever else be here?"
Nolan and Ry decide to stay quiet, smart boys, and Korren looks to his brother. He sighs, "Eve-"
"What time?" I clench my jaw, trying to hold back the anger raging through me. The anger isn't normal. It's all just been too much. I'm fucking tired.
"Around four..." he trails off, his lips turning down in a frown.
"Kay, I'd like to rest. Nolan, can you bring me upstairs, please?" My throat closes immediately after I choke the words out, my emotions strangling me from the inside. I curse myself when a tear tickles my cheek before Noly whisks me away from the kitchen. He doesn't say anything, thankfully. Instead, he gently tucks me into bed and finds a water bottle to place on my nightstand.
His lingering kiss on my cheek makes the tears fall faster. With my lamp on and the overhead light off, he gently closes my bedroom door.
I fight to hold my breath, but it's a losing battle. A loud sob explodes out of me, filling the room with my emotional torment.
