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Safe. That word shot straight through my heart—a dagger slicing me in half. When would I ever feel truly safe again? I’d tied all those feelings and securities to Killian, and he’d shattered every one of them. New tears threatened to spill over. I bit down hard on my lip to stop them.
“It’s okay,” Raven assured me gently. Her hand tightened around mine, and she scooted closer as Declan took up the open space behind her. “We want you here.”
“I don’t belong here,” I told her. Rather pathetically, I might add. Cade grunted behind me while giving me a little jolt. Declan’s hand found my forearm, squeezing tight.
“You belong,” she replied. “Do you think Esther and Vera’s husbands cared if a giant cuddle pile happened when one needed the other?”
“Those women are lesbians,” Cade cut in. “They weren’t cuddling each other for comfort.”
“Lesbians or not, they’re old lady goals,” she said with a roll of her eyes. “You’re the Esther to my Vera.”
“Always.” I sniffled.
“I feel left out,” Cade commented. “Hey, Declan—”
“If I say yes, will you shut up and go to sleep?” Declan interrupted. I held my tongue, biting back a laugh while Raven’s entire body shook with one.
“Yes.”
“Then fine.” Declan sighed. “But I’m not feeling up men in my old age. Or now. Or ever. That’s all you. I’ll punch the guys who get mad when you do it.”
“I’ll take that deal.” Cade chuckled.
“Then shut up and go to sleep,” he said. “You too, honey. You need sleep. And you, Ginny.”
“So responsible,” I told him.
“I’m okay with being responsible.” I could hear the smile in his voice. “Good night, Ginny.”
With what little wiggle room she had, Raven scooted closer—Declan moving with her—and pressed her forehead to mine.
“It’ll be okay,” she whispered.
“It won’t be,” I said in earnest. I couldn’t imagine any of this being okay. Not unless I went back to burying everything.
“Not today, not tomorrow… probably not even next week, but it will. Eventually, it will,” she insisted, coming from a place of experience. “And you aren’t alone. You’ve got me and these two. And Nolan. And Sam and Finn and Lucas. Lord knows Maeve would burn down the town for you if she had to. You’re not alone, Ginny. I promise.”
That last sentiment uncorked the emotions I’d been holding back. The floodgates opened all over again, and tears streamed down my face in silence. I closed my eyes and cried myself to sleep. I was good at that. After all, I’d done so every night for three years.
Sneaking out of bed before dawn was a feat—one I was proud to have accomplished, considering how crammed the four of us were along with Holly. No one woke as I slipped out of bed and grabbed my clothes from the night before. I stared down at the pajamas Raven had given me. I didn’t want to put back on the other clothes. Shoot. I’d just have to return them to her later.
Raven had offered me her rental car as a way to go home early, even though she argued that I should stay. I didn’t want to. I’d overstayed my welcome. I couldn’t be in the same place as Killian. Opening myself up to that kind of… whatever we were doing was too much for me. I needed peace. I needed my home.
I needed a place away from him.
I made it about as far as putting my bags in the car before I was surrounded by Byrnes—well, all but one. All were in just a pair of sweatpants except for Finn, who was completely naked. I quickly averted my eyes. Nope. Didn’t want to see that. I’d always been very careful about where I looked when the Byrnes were in varying states of nakedness.
“Be careful on the wet roads with this thing,” Sam announced while Declan grabbed my bag from me to put it in the car. “Those tires won’t get good traction. Just because Raven drove like an idiot in it last night—”
“Hey!” Declan interjected.
“She took out the curb!” Lucas retorted.
“It wasn’t the curb,” he replied, and I giggled. “It was the driveway… yeah, don’t drive like her, please. I have a feeling she’ll end up buying this thing by the end of the rental period.”
“I’ll be careful, promise,” I said.
“Good.” Sam nodded.
