Pastel Kisses (All the Pretty Colors Duet #2)

CHAPTER ONE

Jaxton

T

he entire ride into town is a battle between logic and instinct. Every fiber of my being screams at me to turn the car around, to go back to Avery, where we belong. The rhythm pounds through me, beating against my ribs like a drum.

Go. Back. Go. Back. Go. Back.

But I don’t.

Because we agreed to give her space. She’s had a hell of a past couple of days—meeting Kam and Lenn in person for the first time, getting sick, and then practically wearing herself out in the yard. She needs rest, not four giant-ass men hovering over her like she’s made of glass.

Even if it is killing me to leave her alone.

I grip the wheel tighter, jaw ticking as I focus on the road ahead. “Tell me again why we thought this was a good idea?”

“Because Avery’s not a damn porcelain doll, and she needs some time to breathe,” Kamden mutters from the passenger seat, arms crossed as he slouches slightly, pouting as he answers. “And we need to talk. Just us.”

Lennox, stretched out in the backseat with Liam, snorts. “Yeah, but let’s be real. Jax is gonna be the first one to cave and text her.”

Liam scoffs. “Are you kidding? He’s probably already texting her right now. ”

“I am not ,” I argue, shifting in my seat. “And fuck you guys for assuming I have zero self-control.”

“You do have zero self-control when it comes to Avery,” Kam points out, glancing at me, laughing. “Which is fine, considering we all feel the same way. But don’t bullshit us.”

I sigh, flexing my fingers against the leather of the steering wheel. “Fine. You’re not wrong.”

“Damn right we’re not.” Lenn smirks, kicking the back of my seat lightly. “But hey, at least we get one nice meal together before we permanently cement ourselves in Avery’s house and never leave.”

Liam chuckles. “I don’t think she realizes that yet. She thinks she’s sending us back to the hotel tonight, but…”

I smirk. “But we all know we’re checking out tomorrow, don’t we?”

Kam grins. “Yeah, we do. The real question is, will she freak out when we tell her?”

Even though we’re laughing that’s the loaded question of the night because the idea of not being near her? Unthinkable. But moving in with her—permanently—means shifting everything .

The restaurant comes into view, and I pull into the parking lot, killing the engine. None of us move to get out immediately, the weight of the conversation settling between us.

“She’s it, isn’t she?” Lenn says quietly, his usually cocky demeanor tempered with something more serious. “Like, we knew from the start, but it’s real now.”

Liam nods. “Yeah. She’s it.”

Kam exhales slowly, running a hand over his jaw. “So, what do we do? Stay here? Ask her to come with us?”

“We’ve got the money to do whatever the hell we want,” I say, leaning back against the headrest. “We could buy a damn house here tomorrow if that’s what it takes. She’s the only thing that matters.”

“We need to ask her what she wants,” Liam adds. “This isn’t just about what works for us. It’s about what works for her , too.”

Silence settles in the car, but it’s not uncomfortable. It’s weighted with something bigger than any of us— commitment .

Finally, Lennox breaks it with a grin. “Well, guess we’re about to spend this entire dinner planning our future with the girl of our dreams.”

Kam smirks. “And drinking a shit-ton of bourbon in celebration while we do it.”

I chuckle, pushing open the door. “Sounds like a plan. But first let me text Avery to check in on her.”

Liam laughs. “Told you he’d cave first.”

I roll my eyes, but I don’t argue. Because at the end of the day? They’re right.

~~~~~

We don’t stay out long, returning to the hotel just after eight. None of us had the heart to drag the evening out any longer—not when every thought circled back to Avery, alone at her place.

We said we’d give her space. We promised we wouldn’t smother her, that we’d let her breathe after everything. But now, as we step through the hotel lobby, weaving through the small crowd of lingering fans, I can’t shake the restless energy crawling beneath my skin.

I need to check my phone.

Maybe she texted. Maybe she’s changed her mind and wants us to come back. Maybe—

A notification dings through our group chat.

The second I see her name, everything else ceases to exist.

The noise in the lobby, the flashing cameras, the calls of our names—they all blur into the background. The fans love it when we’re all together, their excitement practically vibrating through the air. Some are shouting questions, pushing their luck in hopes of getting a reaction.

“Jaxton! Liam! Who’s the girl from the other day?”

“She was gorgeous! What’s her name?”

“Is she your girlfriend? Or—” a pause, a knowing smirk, “—all of yours?”

I grind my teeth, ignoring the way my brothers stiffen beside me.

They don’t get answers. Not yet.

Our privacy isn’t going to last much longer—hell, I’m surprised reporters haven’t already tracked us to her house, setting up camp on her damn lawn. But this isn’t their story to tell. It’s Avery’s. When she’s ready, we’ll stand by her side and face whatever comes.

Until then, we’ll keep her safe from the spotlight.

I glance down at my phone, pulse kicking up.

Whatever Avery sent, I already know—it’s the only thing that matters right now.

Avery: Thank you for the gorgeous flowers, guys! I’m seriously spoiled. I’ve loved every single note, the flowers, everything. You have all made me feel so special since day one, and I’m pretty sure you’re trying to ruin me for anyone else.

I stop in my tracks so fast that Kam nearly crashes into my back. “The hell?” I mutter, rereading the message as the elevator doors slide open in front of us.

Liam leans over my shoulder. “Did she just thank us for flowers?”

Lennox frowns, his phone already in hand as he rereads the text. “Since when did we send her flowers?”

Kam shakes his head, rubbing the back of his neck. “She has had a vase of them sitting on her table for weeks now. I’ve seen them on our nightly calls. But I just assumed…” He glances at Liam, then me. “One of you guys bought them?”

I shoot him a look. “Not since the first time. And I sure as hell haven’t sent any in the last few weeks.”

Liam’s brows pull together as he shifts his weight, thoughtful. “I did once. Back when we first started seeing her. That was weeks ago, though.”

Lennox crosses his arms. “Well, it wasn’t me.”

Kam mirrors his stance. “Not me either.”

The elevator doors slide open again, and we step inside, a heavy silence settling between us.

I reread the message once more, my stomach tightening. “She mentioned notes too.”

Liam’s frown deepens. “We haven’t left her any notes.”

“Not recently, at least,” I correct, shaking my head. “I’ve texted her all the sappy shit I’ve been thinking. Didn’t exactly feel the need to leave a handwritten love letter.”

Kam exhales sharply, staring at the elevator doors like they’ve personally offended him. “So, if none of us sent her flowers, and none of us left her any notes…” His voice trails off, the unspoken question heavy in the air.

Lennox is the first to say what we’re all thinking. “Then who the fuck did?”

The elevator dings, doors sliding open onto our floor, but none of us move.

Avery’s words echo in my mind, You have all made me feel so special since day one.

Whoever sent those flowers knew exactly how to make it seem like they were from us. Knew her well enough to mimic something we would do.

And that thought chills me to my core.

"Let's find out."

I type out a quick text, my thumbs moving faster than my thoughts.

Me: Kitten, what do you mean? Did you just get flowers from us?

The message sends, and we all stare at our phones, waiting for those three little dots to pop up. Nothing.

A minute passes. Then two.

Liam shifts on his feet, rubbing his jaw. "Maybe she’s in the shower?"

Kam nods, but his expression is tight. "Maybe."

Five minutes. Still nothing.

Lennox exhales sharply and pulls out his phone. "I’m calling her."

We all stand in tense silence as her line rings, the sound blaring on speaker. No answer.

Liam’s already dialing her next. Kam follows. I text her again.

Me: Kitten, call me. Now.

Ten minutes.

“Okay, this is bullshit,” Liam snaps, running a hand through his hair. “She just texted us minutes ago. There’s no way she wouldn’t hear all of us blowing up her phone.”

My pulse kicks up, unease crawling beneath my skin like something sharp and needling.

“Let’s not jump to conclusions,” Kam says, but even he doesn’t sound convinced. “She said she was tired. Maybe she passed out.”

"Then her phone should still ring," Lennox points out, jaw clenching.

None of us speak for a second, the realization settling over us like a suffocating fog.

Avery wouldn’t ignore us.

She wouldn’t turn her phone off.

Something isn’t right.

Without another word, I turn on my heel, already heading toward the door. "We’re going over there."

No one argues.

We move fast, sprinting past the crowd, and piling into the car like our lives depend on it—because at this moment, hers just might.

Liam drives like a bat out of hell, knuckles white on the wheel, while Kam and Lennox sit tensely, each of us too on edge to fill the silence with empty reassurances.

All I can do is stare at my phone, silently praying that when we get there, we’ll find her curled up in bed, her phone forgotten on silent.

Because if we don’t—

I shove that thought down, focusing on the road ahead.

Just hold on, Kitten. We’re coming.