Chapter Twenty-Four
Dre
W aking up with Rex’s strong arms wrapped around me is honestly the best feeling in the world.
I’ve never felt more cherished or safer in my life.
It means fucking everything to me after all I’ve been through.
I never could have imagined a week ago I’d be in this position, that’s for sure.
My life has taken a serious turn for the better, and I couldn’t be happier about it.
When Rex came back last night and asked me if I was okay with sharing a bed and just cuddling because he needed a reminder that not the entire world was fucked up, I jumped at the offer.
Without a second thought. There was nothing more I wanted than to fall asleep wrapped up with the man I was falling for more and more as each moment passed.
I’ve always thought people who fell in love so quickly were nuts; there was no way someone could fall in love that fast. They had to be mistaking lust for love.
Then I met Rex, and everything I thought went out the goddamn window.
I might not love him yet, but I know I’m on the way there.
It’s inevitable at this point. He’s such a fucking extraordinary person.
He doesn’t feel the need to do anything over the top to show he cares.
He does it constantly with little things.
It’s those little things that matter most. They show that no matter what, he’s thinking about me on some level, and that means the world to me.
Last night he probably should have been dealing with everything to do with the whole Richard situation.
Just because they now had him in their custody didn’t mean there wasn’t more that Rex needed to be doing.
That there wasn’t so much more that needed his attention.
Instead of dealing with any of that, he came to me.
He showed a vulnerable side of himself that I’m pretty sure not many people have ever witnessed.
It’s doubtful he’s ever felt comfortable enough with anyone but his family to show that side of himself.
Being vulnerable doesn’t fit the image the world has of him.
He may have been beyond furious about what Richard had done, but he was also hurting.
Hurting because someone he’s worked so closely with for years had been the person to betray them.
He needed someone to comfort him. To remind him that not the whole world is bad.
I was that lucky fucking person who got to give him what he needed.
I was able to help him deal with some of the pain and anger he was feeling.
I feel beyond blessed that I got to be there for him.
The last thing I want to do right now is disentangle myself from him.
I’m so comfy and relaxed, but I know I need to get up.
Immy will be waking soon and wanting her bottle.
For the first time since she came into my care, last night I wasn’t the one to do her night feeds.
Rex somehow managed to wake up and deal with her before I was any the wiser.
Allowing me a full night’s sleep, and I can’t say I’m not thankful about that.
I really did need sleep, but now that means I want to give him the option to sleep in. So that means I need to move my ass.
Slowly and ever so carefully I manage to slip out from under Rex’s arm.
It isn’t an easy task. I know it’s only going to take the slightest mistake in the way I move, and he’ll be awake and wanting to get up.
He deserves to sleep in after what he did for me last night.
I blow out a quiet breath of relief when I manage to get out of the bed and not disturb him. It’s a fucking win in my book.
Grabbing a pair of Rex’s sweats, I pull them on and tie the waist as tight as I can.
They’re massive on me, but I need something to put on right now, and I really don’t want to be putting on my dirty clothes from yesterday.
I seriously need to sort out my clothing situation when I get a minute.
I can’t be going around wearing Rex’s things for long. I must look like I’m playing dress-up.
Leaving Rex’s room, I head into the room next door, which his brothers set up as the nursery for Immy.
What I wasn’t expecting to see when I entered was Immy lying in Seth’s arms. He’s sitting in one of the rocking chairs feeding her.
From the looks of the bottle, he’s been in here for a little while, as it’s almost empty.
“Good morning, Dre. I hope you don’t mind me helping out. I popped my head in on her earlier and saw she was awake. I figured I could deal with feeding and changing her so you could get a bit more sleep.”
“It’s more than okay. I’ve been doing this on my own for so long now; it’s just a little startling realizing I have help. I appreciate it all, though.”
“She’s a cutie. I don’t mind helping out when I can. She’s a great reminder of why we do what we do.”
“Are you okay, Seth?” I ask, worried he might be struggling the same way Rex was last night.
“Yeah. I’ve just got a lot going on right now.”
“Well, I’m here if you ever need to talk. I know we don’t know each other well, but hopefully that will change.”
“I have no doubt it will. I see the way you and my brother look at each other. You’re here to stay, and I couldn’t be happier about it. If anyone deserves to find someone, it’s Rex.”
“Everyone deserves to find their person, Seth. Not just Rex.”
“What is a person supposed to do if they’ve already met that person and lost them? Sometimes a happily ever after isn’t guaranteed. I accepted that a long time ago.”
He doesn’t say anything else after the ominous statement, and I’m lost at what the hell to say back.
What is a person meant to say to something like that?
It’s clear something happened in Seth’s life that I don’t know about.
Maybe one day he’ll elaborate and tell me more.
Until that day I’m not going to push him to say anything else; that will only cause him unwanted and unneeded pain. That’s the last thing I want to do.
Seth finishes feeding Immy, burping her before handing her over to me and leaving. Hopefully he’ll be okay. I might mention something to Rex later about what Seth said to me; I’m sure he knows whatever it was Seth was referring to and will know how to help his brother. At least that’s my hope.
With Immy secure in my arms, I head downstairs towards the kitchen.
I need some coffee. I’ve fucking missed coffee and plan on indulging like nobody’s business now that I can.
Entering the kitchen, I find it empty, but someone has obviously already been in here, as there’s a pot of coffee already made on the side with a handful of mugs next to it.
Grabbing a mug, I pour myself a cup and take my first sip of coffee in over a year.
It’s fucking heavenly, and I can’t help but moan.
“I’ve never been so jealous of coffee before.” Rex says, startling me slightly as I didn’t even realize he was here.
“Why?” I ask as I turn to face him.
“Because I want to be the one causing you to make those sounds.” He says, eyes blazing with heat.
“Later. I’m guessing we’ve got another busy day ahead of us.”
“You’d be right there. Anarchy and Phantom will be here at some point today with Beau and Annmarie.
My mother will be here in the next few hours too.
She wants to have a few words with Richard.
Then you’ve got Wreck and Shadow coming over to meet Immy.
” He says as he heads towards the coffee pot and pours himself a cup.
“Your mother is coming?” I ask in shock.
He can’t seriously think he can drop news like that on me like he’s talking about the weather. His mother coming is serious fucking business. I could smack him around the head right now for standing there all nonchalant, like he hasn’t just dropped a bomb on me.
“Yeah. I found out when I checked my phone when I woke up. She’s already in the air on her way. She won’t stay long; she can’t with how busy she is. Don’t start worrying; she’ll adore you.”
“How can you stand there and tell me not to worry? She’s the mother of the man I’m seeing. Of course I’m going to worry, just like I did when it came to meeting your brothers. I don’t even know her name, Rex.”
“Her name is Mary, and I can tell you not to worry because I know my mother. She’s going to take one look at you and be charmed.
When she learns your story, she’s going to be beyond impressed with the type of person you are, Dre.
I promise you that you have nothing to worry about where she’s concerned. ”
“I hope you’re right. I want your mom to like me.”
“She will. I have no doubts about that.”
“While we’re on the topic of your family. I’m worried about Seth.”
“Why? What happened?” He asks, voice laced with concern.
“We were talking about us, and he said something about finding his person and losing them and not everyone getting their happily ever after. He just seemed so down when he said it.” I explain.
“Fucking Everett.” Rex spits out, anger lacing his voice.
“Who’s Everett?” I ask curiously.
“Seth’s one and only love. We all thought they were going to be together for life. That was until Everett left Seth. It came out of nowhere, and Seth has never been the same since. We discovered he was back in Devil’s Point just before I left on my search for you.”
“Well, it’s clearly fucking with Seth’s head right now. How can we help him?”
“That’s the thing. I don’t think there’s anything any of us can do. Seth needs to get to the point where he’s ready to confront Everett and get some answers so he can finally put the past behind him. He needs closure.”
“Did you just say Everett is back in Devil’s Point?” Jake’s angry voice says from behind us.
Rex turns quickly to face his very pissed off youngest brother.
Jake is so worked up his entire body is vibrating with rage.
This isn’t good. Did Jake not know about Everett being back?
How is that possible? Even I know the brothers share everything; they’re that close. I’m clearly missing something here.
“Yes, and whatever you’re thinking, stop right now. Seth will deal with this the way he sees fit.” Rex instructs.
“Why didn’t anyone tell me he was back? That’s what I would like to know.” Jake asks, his voice still angry, but there’s a layer of hurt in his tone too.
“Because we saw him when we went down to the station. He’s Moore’s new partner. Seth didn’t want to tell you at the time because of everything that was happening in Flash’s life. He thought you had enough on your plate.” Rex explains.
“Still, he’s my brother. How can I be there for him if I don’t know what’s going on?”
“It sounds like he was trying to protect you, Jake, but maybe he also wasn’t ready to talk about it with you either.
Speaking it out loud to you made it all true, and he probably wasn’t ready to accept that.
” I say, speaking up and hoping to defuse some of the anger in the room.
I can only hope and pray my words help Jake calm down.
“You’re probably right, Dre.” Jake says, sounding a little calmer than he has so far, before spinning on his heels and leaving us alone in the kitchen once more.
Well, that wasn’t how I expected this conversation to go.
All I wanted to do was bring up what Seth had said in the hopes of helping him in some way.
Now, instead of finding a way to help Seth, we’ve got an angry Jake stomping around the house.
That’s certainly not what we need right now.
The brothers need to be on the same page.