Chapter 19
“Ican’t believe that happened,” Jules gulps, in a state of shock after I filled her in on all things Dean and Asher. “It’s about time though, honestly.”
I chuckle, feeling like a giddy kid on Christmas as I replay the events of tonight over and over in my mind. “Yeah, it was something …”
My phone buzzes on my bed, and Jules impatiently waits for me to check it. I find a couple of messages from the guys.
“Yes, it’s them.” I laugh, reading the messages before showing her and responding.
Asher: Tell Jules hi for us. Get some good sleep. Dream of me.
Dean: Of us … Asher, you selfish dick. And please don’t hesitate to come to us if you need backup, okay?
Dean: We’ll get rid of her soon. I promise.
I’ll send out the Bat-Signal if I need you. :)
Jules lets out an aw-ing sigh. “You really are living the dream.”
“You’ll find yours too.” I try to comfort her.
She makes a face of disgust.
“Or not.” I laugh. “If you don’t want to.”
She groans, “I doooo. I just hate the whole dating thing. It’s exhausting. I wish I could just point at a guy, say you’re the one, and everything would work out perfectly.”
“You could try it.” I chuckle, and she flips me off as she yawns.
“I’m just going to sleep right here.”
“I love you.” I pause, resting my hand on her arm. “But you are taking up my entire bed, lying sideways, so no.”
“You can sleep curled up on the pillows,” she counters, and I roll my eyes.
“Go to bed, Jules.” I encourage her kindly. “If you miss anything, I’ll fill you in tomorrow.”
“Fiiiine.” She drags the word out, sliding off my bed to her feet. “Good night. I love you.”
“I love you too,” I murmur, my heart feeling so full that it just might burst.
“And I’m proud of you,” she says with sass, her nose turned up, like she’s pretending to still be mad that I’m kicking her out to her own bed.
I don’t say thank you—it goes without saying. Besides, I think if I spoke the words aloud, a sob would tear through me, and I’d become a crying mess all over again.
Jules disappears into the suite entrance, pressing the lock button on the outside for me. It clicks into place, and I fetch a pair of pajamas, quickly change, shut the light off, and climb into bed, utterly exhausted.
Gus squeaks, padding across the comforter to my lap.
“Hi, buddy,” I greet him as I lie back against my pillows, and he crawls onto my stomach.
His whiskers shine in the soft light from the lamp on my nightstand as he walks from my stomach and to my chest and lies down, snuggling into my neck.
“Good night, Gus.” I blow him an air kiss and feel my shoulders relax.
Dean and Asher knowing who I really am brings me more peace than I could’ve imagined. With them beside me, I feel far less alone in this fight.
I still wish they hadn’t been here earlier when Adrianna stormed in, but at least they had a chance to see her without the facade.
Now we just have to get Mr. Kensington to see the same.
Mr. Kensington and Adrianna successfully left for their trip yesterday morning, allowing me to fully exhale for the first time since she had returned. I think my favorite place for Adrianna to be is thousands of miles away from me.
The guys were preoccupied yesterday with a hockey team thing in town. Honestly, I didn’t pay it too much attention because I got absolutely lost in sewing and working on Alora’s and Blair’s gowns.
Thankfully, they’re almost done, along with Adrianna’s. I’m half tempted to sabotage hers to fall apart at the seams during the rehearsal dinner. But I refrain, taking the high road.
I have a pep in my step this Monday morning as I walk on campus for my psych class. It’s a boring class, but at least I feel cute for it, which’ll make it slightly more enjoyable mentally.
The air has a chill this morning, which is why I decided to wear an oversize pastel-blue cardigan with 3D crocheted flowers over my lace-lined ivory tank top, paired perfectly with black leggings and tan suede Chelsea boots.
A motor revving behind me pulls my attention. My head whipping around and hair flying, I see two motorcycles getting closer, slowing down as they reach me.
One of them flips their visor up, and I immediately recognize Asher’s blue eyes.
“Left without us?”
I laugh, my heart skipping a beat. “I usually do.”
Dean flips his visor too, revealing his heated green stare. “Not anymore, Princess. We’ll be your personal chauffeurs.”
Their protectiveness pools in my core as their gazes drink me in from head to toe.
“Hmm,” I hum. “Do I have a say in the matter?”
“Of course,” Dean says right as Asher argues, “No.”
They look at each other in surprise as I start walking backward away from them.
“I’m practically already on campus. So, I don’t think your services will be required today, boys.”
Asher’s eyes narrow, amusement in his stare. “Are you trying to play hard to get, Cirella? Because I hate to break it to you, but it’s way too late for that. You’re already ours.”
My cheeks burst into flames, but I try to play it cool. “Oh, really?” I challenge him, having way too much fun pushing his buttons. “Says who?”
Dean chuckles, lightly shaking his head. “You just love getting under his skin, don’t you?”
“Are you saying I don’t get under yours?” I purse my lips, gripping my sketchbook tightly across my chest.
He cocks an eyebrow. “Oh, baby, you live under my skin.”
“Good.” I grin, feeling pride and oddly confident, knowing that these two still want me after everything. “But if you’re giving me a ride, whose bike do I get on?”
“Mine,” they say simultaneously.
“I know how to settle this.” I nod. “I’ll just ride with the better kisser.”
They both sit up cockily, but I roll my eyes, spin on my heel, and walk forward. They don’t give up; their bikes drift with my pace, keeping at my side.
“Don’t you guys have practice or something?” I ask them teasingly.
“Already done. Some of us wake up before ten a.m.” Asher tries to bait me with his sarcastic comment, knowing damn well I get up early because it’s Monday and I have work.
“Someone had to make your beds this morning,” I retort.
“I make my own bed,” Dean argues, and I turn, smirking at him.
“I know.” I glare at Asher. “At least one of you does it. You guys could save your girlfriend some work—” My face pales completely, my legs locking up and freezing in place.
Suddenly, I wish I hadn’t turned to look at them at all because now I’m staring at their widened eyes after accidentally calling myself their girlfriend …
“I-I didn’t mean that,” I stammer.
“Oh, yeah, you did,” Asher cuts me off with a devilish smirk. “You know your title, Princess. Own it.”
Dean sits up taller on his bike, resting his hands in front of him. “We should’ve made that clearer, Cirella. You’ve been ours in every way that matters since the first night at the masquerade party.”
Dean stretches out his hand for me to take. “Get on, Ciri. We’re taking you to class.”
Protests bubble up in my throat, and I’m ready to tell them all the reasons why we can’t and why it’s a bad idea.
But instead of chasing the what-ifs, I ignore them, sliding my hand into Deans.
He lifts his helmet off of his head and shimmies it onto mine, securing the buckle. “Safety first.”
“What about yours?” I ask.
He smiles. “Yours is more important. Besides, you look hot in that helmet.”
It’s a good thing my cheeks are hidden inside of it, or he’d see me turn beet red.
Taking my hand again, he helps me keep my balance as I throw my leg over the bike, sliding into place behind him.
“Does this mean you’re declaring me the better kisser?” Dean chuckles, flipping Asher off.
I shrug. “I might have forgotten what they’re like altogether. Maybe I need a reminder later.”
“Or right now,” Asher murmurs, his voice heavier, his eyes molten as he shifts his visor down.
When I rest my hands between Dean and me, he shakes his head. “No. You’re going to have to hold on tight.” Reaching behind his back, he grabs my hands and yanks me forward, wrapping my arms around his solid torso and flattening me against him.
Jesus Christ … he is solid muscle.
My fingers settle into the crooks between his abs as I flatten my palms.
These guys want me? Both of them?
I swear someone has put them or me under a spell because I’m having a hard time believing it to be true.
“Here we go,” Dean announces, and his bike pulls forward, rapidly accelerating with Asher keeping pace beside us.
We’re less than a half mile from the turn onto campus nearest my class. And with each foot, nerves start to eat me alive.
They’re not even hesitating to basically tell the whole campus that I’m the girl they were looking for. That I’m the one they put a campus-wide message about. They’re not asking me to stay in the shadows until they’re ready.
What if Adrianna finds out about us somehow? What if she has spies on campus that will take pictures and report back to her? What if they’re watching us right now?
“You okay?” Dean asks, and I frantically wonder if I spoke any of that out loud. “You’re squeezing really hard.”
My grip instantly loosens. “Oh shoot! Sorry!”
He chuckles, the sexy sounds vibrating into my chest and arms. “Don’t apologize,” he shouts, slowing down and turning onto campus. “Squeeze me to death if you wish.”
These guys are going to make me completely lose my mind.
Eyes are already on us the second we breach the gates and pull onto campus. Everyone turns our way. Some of their gazes are full of judgment, curiosity, amusement, or something else entirely.
A tall, dark brunette turns at the last second as we pass by, and my heart drops.
Was that Adrianna?
No, no way. It’s impossible. She’s on a plane, traveling far away from here.
But knowing that doesn’t calm the anxiety tearing through my chest, making me feel like I’m on fire and struggling to breathe.
“Oh God,” I whisper to myself, trying to calm my racing heart.
Every head turn and glance becomes too much, too overwhelming, and my vision starts to spot. Person after person, bile builds in my throat.