Chapter Forty-Nine #2
“We’re handing that over to the three musketeers.”
“Makes sense. I can still assist?”
I nod. “So you’ll agree to it then?”
“Agree to what?”
“Not being a serial killer for shits and giggles.”
He shoots me a chilling grin which slightly unnerves me.
“I make no promises. I have plenty of favours saved up. They’ll come in useful if I’m ever caught.”
“I don’t know if you’re joking!” I call after him as he walks away. I hope he’s joking.
“Food’s ready,” Sawyer calls, coming up behind me and wrapping me in his arms. I lean back into his touch and relax for a moment.
“Did you send out all the emails?”
“Yes.”
“All of them?”
“They’re all scheduled to deliver first thing in the morning.”
“Oh…why?”
“Because most of the people here sleep with their phones on loud awaiting your instructions. I figured we all needed a real day off.”
“Thank you.”
Sawyer has taken care of the paperwork side of things, getting everyone set up in their new roles with immediate effect.
We agreed that being on the board would be a full time job, and so the guys, Bex and my brother would be given the opportunity to take on additional roles – but only if they wanted.
Kalen wants to compete at a higher level in his swimming first but Onyx wants to dive right in with weapons.
Sawyer has no desire to leave my side and so he’s basically been promoted to second in command, overseeing the daily running of operations.
It was the role Monty was raising him for anyway and not only is he happy to do it, he’s really good at it.
Slate…is trickier.
He hasn’t outwardly said what he wants to do, but I know what it is. I just haven’t told him yet that we have it all arranged for him.
“Hey, can I talk to you for a second?” Elsie asks, breaking through my thoughts.
“Of course. What’s up?”
“Jasper asked me to move in with him.”
“Congratulations!” I squeal, then stop when I see her face. “No?”
“Don’t you think it’s too soon?”
“Nope. He makes you happy. You’re great together. You have less…issues when he’s around and I’m pretty sure you love him.”
“I do.”
“So who cares about a timeline.”
“But—”
“Okay, answer me this,” I say quickly. “How happy would you be just having a sleepover with him once or twice a week?”
“Really unhappy.”
“And knowing I’m not right down the corridor?”
“Anxious.”
“And living alone?”
“Miserable.”
“There’s your answer then.”
“But I don’t want him to think I said yes just because I don’t want to be alone!”
“You don’t have to say yes or be alone. You can always live with me.”
She snorts. “Thanks but I’ll pass.”
“Yeah, but Jasper doesn’t know that. You’re welcome. Always. So you don’t have to pick him because you think you have no other options.”
“I’m not! I love him!”
“Exactly.” I wait a second while it sinks in.
“Oh…oh I see what you did there.”
“Yep. Can we celebrate now?”
“I should probably give him an answer first.”
“What? When did he ask you?”
“Just now.”
“And what did you do?”
“I ran over here to speak to you.”
“Like literally ran or…” She blushes. “Jeez, Elsie! Go say yes to your man, hug him, for god’s sake kiss him, then come over here to celebrate with your bestie!”
She giggles but does as I say. I watch as she races round the pool and over to the sun lounger where Jasper is sitting, a bemused expression on his face.
She nods excitedly and launches herself into his lap, only just giving him enough time to catch her and brace himself from falling over, but his face splits into a huge, delighted grin.
“Amelie!” she screams across the water.
“Yeah?” I pantomime back.
“We’re moving in together!”
I squeal, jump up and down, and clap my hands. “Congratulations!” I yell.
Jasper snorts in amusement. We’re not fooling anyone; he knows exactly what Elsie just did, and rather than be pissed about it like many guys would be, he looks at her like she hung the moon. Good. He’ll treat her well. That’s what I have Baxter on standby for: threats against my family.
“You can’t kill him if it doesn’t work out you know,” Slate whispers in my ear.
“Wanna bet?” I grin at him. “Actually, I need to speak with you quickly. Ugh, today was supposed to be a day off and I’m still working! I’m going to need help with this.”
“I’ll happily help you relax and unwind later.” His hands fall to my shoulders and he starts to massage them. I groan and my eyes drift close in bliss.
“Thank you. I might just take you up on that offer.” I sigh as the tension leaves me.
“I wasn’t offering. I was promising. Just me and you, okay?”
“I’d like that.” He kisses me briefly on the lips.
“Now what did we need to discuss?”
“Oh! That…yeah…” It takes me a minute to come back to the present. That massage may have been short and sweet, but Slate is a magician with his fingers. “I have your Order role arranged.”
A wariness flashes in his eyes but he schools it with a quick, serious nod of his head.
“Okay, hit me.”
“I want you to attend several interviews for me that I have set up.”
“Understood. What for?”
“A music masters.” I hold my breath for his reaction. He freezes.
“What? Are you sure? Really?”
I nod.
“Wow! Really? This isn’t a joke?”
“It’s not a trick.” I laugh. “I want you to take some time to pursue your music. I know we’ve all graduated early with bachelors, but your music is part of your soul.
It’s who you are, Slate. Who I love. And I’m not ready for that to just become a weekend hobby any more than you are, I think.
So with the board’s blessing and mine, go do what you love. ”
“I can’t believe you’d do this for me. Wow…I…I don’t know what to say. I love you.”
I laugh.
“I love you, too. Do what makes you happy, Slate.”
He sweeps me into his arms and kisses me deeply, all while spinning me around and around. I’m half worried we’re going to fall into the pool, but he manages to put me down safely. When I wobble on my feet, he even catches me to prevent me tumbling in.
“What’s going on?” Kalen whines, coming over. Onyx and Sawyer join us, sharing knowing grins. Kalen catches them and pouts. “What’s happening? What don’t I know? Why are you keeping secrets?”
“Amelie has given me the best gift ever!” Slate beams.
“Really? I think we’ve all had a taste before and – ooof! Hey! What did you do that for?”
“Shut up doofus. Amelie has something she wants to say,” Onyx snaps.
“I do?”
“You look like you do.”
“Okay. Do you guys, all of you, want to ah, move in with me? I – apparently – now own a house big enough for all of us and then some.” Oh my god. I made a mess of that.
“Fuck yeah!” Kalen whoops, like I just suggested we create a frat house or something stupid. I shake my head; I knew he’d be up for anything.
Onyx gives me a slow smile. “It’s definitely a better plan than us all staying at Sawyer’s while we looked for a place.”
“I don’t have room for all of you,” Sawyer quickly retorts.
“It would have been cosy.” Kalen laughs.
“Slate?” I ask.
“I’m not going to those interviews.”
“What? Why?”
“I’m not buggering off to the other side of the country for the next however many years if you’re all going to be setting up home together.”
“We can wait.” I offer but he shakes his head. “It wouldn’t be like that.”
“No. I’ll do OU.”
“OU?”
“Open University. I can study from home – our home – in my own time and can still work for The Order at the same time. Most importantly, it won’t take me away from you.”
“Don’t you want to go off and have a real college experience?”
“University. And no, I don’t. I want to live with my girl, fight with my brothers and make music in my own time, and on my own terms.”
“Are you sure?” I bite my bottom lip, unsure.
“Absolutely.”
I hesitate, turning to Sawyer. It’s a big ask; expecting him to shack up with his brothers.
The age gap between us suddenly feels huge as I stare at him.
Would he feel like the designated responsible adult?
Like a teacher, or worse, a parent figure if he lived with us? Maybe this was a horrible idea.