Chapter 43 #2
Freya scoffs. “Do you think we would have let you? Eventually we would have come to find you and save you from yourself.”
Liam finally returns my hug with an awkward pat on my back, clearly still thrown by my actions. “Peach is right. You can’t get rid of us that easily.”
Bonnie puts her hand on my arm. “We are always going to be there for you, Derek.”
“You’re stuck with us,” Cole adds.
Since I was six years old, I wanted nothing more than to go back to when I had a happy, functional family, and I hate that it took me so long to realize I’d found a new one years ago.
“Can you forgive me for thinking that staying away was the best thing for you?” I ask all four of them at once, releasing Liam and taking a step back.
I look at each in turn, making sure none of my habitual masks are in place.
I want them to see everything.
“Duh,” Liam says, punching me in the arm, and now he’s crying too.
“I am insulted that you need to ask,” Freya says in full seriousness and puts a hand on her hip.
Bonnie gives me a warm smile, much friendlier than the other two. “We all make mistakes, Derek. You should know more than anyone that true friends will be there for you no matter what.”
“And family sticks together,” Cole says quietly, his eyes on the ground.
“Except when they’re a piece of work like our good-for-nothing mother.
” Elliot appears at the back door, folding his arms as he leans against the frame and meets my gaze with a sharpness in his eyes.
“I almost feel bad for that husband of hers.” He reads something in my expression and chuckles.
“But not that much. Hot Scoop is going to be a lot more careful about what they say from here on out.”
I’m not sure I want to know what happened with his phone call, but I’m grateful for his support.
“Good to see you back in your natural habitat, D,” Elliot says, “but I’m a little concerned that you’re out here with this mob instead of with your alluring girlfriend.”
I narrow my eyes. “Did you just call Donovan ‘alluring’?” And what is it with my friends judging me for letting Donovan sleep in? It’s like they think I’ll mess things up if I’m not with her twenty-four seven.
“Yes, well,” Freya says as she reaches her hand out for Elliot to take, “it is an appropriate word, according to that picture you posted with her yesterday. She is quite stunning.”
“I’m aware,” I grumble, watching how easily Elliot wraps Freya up in his arms. Even after spending last night with the rest of the group, I still brace myself for the pang of longing that always used to come when my friends were with their spouses. But I don’t need to.
With Donovan at my side yesterday, that feeling was missing, just as it is now. For the first time in my life, I’m content.
Or I was close, but as movement inside catches my eye and I lock gazes with the woman I love, my whole body relaxes and leaves me brimming with happiness. And when Donovan smiles at me, I feel like nothing in the world could beat this feeling. Now I’m content.
“How the devil did we believe you were in love with Bonnie?” Liam asks at the same time I slip between him and Cole to get to the door. “You never looked at her like that.”
Donovan only makes it one step onto the patio before I pull her into my arms and claim her lips in a slow, delicious kiss that is far tamer than the one I really want to give her.
I’m all too aware of the five people watching us behind me, but when Donovan threads her fingers into my hair and holds tight, I have to pretend we’re in front of a camera crew to keep things from shifting beyond polite affection.
“Good morning,” I murmur when she pulls away. “Uh, some people stopped by.”
She snorts a laugh, looking over my shoulder. “I can see that.”
“Freya’s here.”
Her eyes tighten with a bit of nerves. “I can see that too. And Elliot.” Her smile warms when she looks at him, once again sparking a ridiculous jealousy to life in my chest that I tamp down quickly, though something tells me that’s going to be a common trigger when it comes to my little brother.
“Donovan,” Elliot says in greeting. “It’s good to see my so-called relations haven’t scared you off yet.”
“Not yet,” Donovan agrees, and her nervous energy returns as her gaze shifts. I should let go of her so she doesn’t have to peer around me, but I’m having a hard time wanting to do that. “Uh, it’s nice to meet you, Your Majesty.”
“Don’t call her that,” several people say at once, me included.
“It’s Freya,” Freya says, laughter in her words. “And it is lovely to meet you as well. Thank you for bringing Derek back to us.”
Taking Donovan’s hand, I turn to face my friends again. “I’m sorry,” I tell them. “Not just for this summer, but for all the years I wasn’t—”
“Whatever you were or weren’t,” Cole interrupts, “there’s nothing to apologize for. We all owe everything to you, Derek.”
My heart stutters in my chest as I stare at him. “No, you don’t.”
“We do,” Bonnie agrees. “None of us would have been friends if you hadn’t brought us together, and we’ve learned and grown so much from being in your sphere.”
“You’ve suffered so much,” I argue, though I can barely get the words out. “You’ve had to deal with all sorts of crap because I—”
“That’s just life,” Liam says with a chuckle. “Guarantee we all would have dealt with plenty of hard things with or without you, man.”
“And our lives are better with you in them,” Freya finishes. “That has been true from the start.”
As tears fill my eyes again and my heart throbs in my chest, threatening to burst, I hold Donovan’s hand tight and stare at my friends. My family. There are so many things I could say—so many things I want to say—but the words that come out of my mouth are, “Did you guys practice that?”
Elliot’s the first to crack up, followed quickly by Cole, and soon we’re all laughing so hard that we’re crying. Or maybe we’re just crying, all of us overwhelmed by so much emotion between us. The only thing I know for sure as the last of my fears melt away:
My friends aren’t going anywhere, and together we can face anything that comes our way.