Chapter 8 ~ #3
"Really though. The way they look at you, the way you look at them…" Jace pushes me. "They nearly broke my door down trying to get answers. Luc almost beat the shit out of me when he thought you weren't coming back."
I hesitate before laying it all on the table. "I'm so fucking confused, it's not funny, J. It doesn't mean I can do anything about it."
He cocks his head to side, not out of confusion but interest.
Wait. No, Rory. What the hell are you doing? This is your brother's best friend. Your best friend.
It's like a bucket of cold water has been poured over me.
I pull out of his arms, hissing when it tugs at my ribs. I take small breaths until the pain resides. For the most part.
"What did he do?" My eyes flick up to Jace's and I see the dangerous look in his eyes.
I hesitate but he leaves me no room for discussion. He grips the hem of my shirt, his eyes lingering on mine before he lifts my shirt. He sucks in a breath, seeing the multi-coloured skin, the black and purple bruising.
"I was late coming home the day before yesterday. He caught me off guard." My gaze is cast down.
"Ro," he asks softly.
I look up and meet his grey eyes. "I…I have a broken rib, several bruised and most likely a concussion according to Alec."
"Ro," Jace says softly, heartbreak in his voice. Ignoring those pesky feelings, I embrace him. His head drops to my neck, his breath on my collarbone tickling me.
"I am so, so sorry I wasn't there for you," Jace says, his face in the crook of my neck.
"It's okay, J," I murmur.
He exhales deeply and shakes his head in my neck slightly. "No, Ro. It's not."
I bite my lip, not knowing how to respond. I don't need to because Jace pulls back, his eyes clear of the earlier darkness.
"Come on," he murmurs. "You need to eat." He looks up and down my body. I'm unprepared for the heat in his eyes before it disappears.
Jace helps me up and I groan. He watches me concerned. Before he opens his mouth I know what he's going to say.
"I just overdid it today," I tell him, wincing.
He slides an arm around my waist and it takes the pressure of my ribs. He helps me into the kitchen where the guys are gathered around a half empty bottle of whiskey.
Jace takes Alec's unused glass and pours some into it. He hands it to me and I take a sip. Surprise colours the guy's faces when I take another.
"What?" I sit on one of the stools beside Luc and Maverick.
"Just surprising," Alec says slowly like he’s trying not to insult me. The guys nod.
I chuckle and instantly regret it when it hurts my rib. "I was there for Dec's stealing from the parent’s cabinet phase. His too," I hitch a thumb, pointing at Jace who shrugs.
The guys laugh at that. I take another sip.
"What are we making for dinner?" Jace asks and all the guys groan.
"I'm sick of fucking cooking," Dominic growls.
"We cooked this morning," the twins say in unison.
I slide off my stool and go to the cupboard. To my surprise, it's full.
The guys are still arguing when I get out some tinned tomatoes and pasta. It's when I'm searching the freezer that they finally stop.
"What are you doing, Butterfly?" Luc calls out.
I pull out a bag of mince triumphantly. I realise how many of us there is and get another bag.
"We are making spaghetti," I inform them.
"Everyone but Dom," Jace corrects. "We don't need your clumsy ass dropping a knife through your foot again."
"Really?" I look at Dominic surprised.
The six foot something giant shrugs. "I’m clumsy as fuck."
I rope all the guys, minus Dom, into being my assistants. We laugh and talk about all the stuff Dec's done at school. Luc tells me the story of how they met and it has me in stitches laughing.
It's freeing. It lights the darkness around my soul.
Jace finds some garlic bread in the freezer and we cook that up too.
The guys set the table while I wash my hands in the bathroom. Arms curl around my waist as someone hugs me from behind. I look in the mirror and see one of the twins.
"Hey, Maverick," I say, not foiled by his attempt to confuse me with his brother. Hurt stabs at my heart, unexpectedly.
The arms disappear. "How the fuck are you doing that?" He says surprised.
I shrug. "No idea, I just know." I can’t help the irritation in my voice.
He looks like he doesn't believe me but Mason comes in and interrupts.
"Mav, leave her alone," Mase scolds him.
"She's known us for not even two days and hasn't messed us up once," Maverick argues. "The people who have known us for years can't get us right."
I get out of the way so Maverick can wash his hands.
"That doesn't mean you have to keep testing her." Mason sighs. I can see the sadness hovering. It hurts me to see them upset.
"Fine." Maverick goes to leave, darkness storming in his eyes.
I grab his arm and he freezes. My hand slides down to his hand and he turns around. He doesn't meet my eyes.
"Maverick, I'm not sure why this is so important but if it really means that much to you…then you can keep testing me," I tell him.
Mason moves forward, his arm curling around my waist as he kisses my cheek.
"Thank you, Angel," he whispers. He gives me a soft, appreciative smile before he walks out.
Maverick just looks at me. "You don't care if I test you?" He says suspiciously.
I step up to him, watching his reaction as I place a hand over his heart.
"Maverick. Until I'm able to convince you that you are as different from your twin as you are similar, then I give you my permission to keep asking me.
Even if you do it three times a day for the next four years.
It doesn't matter if you have the exact same genetic make up, you are two very different people. I see you," I murmur.
His icy blue eyes flick between my two different coloured ones. He pulls me into a bone crushing hug. Surprise floods me.
"Okay, little gentler," I wheeze and his arms instantly loosen.
"Shit, sorry," he chuckles. I sigh and squeeze back.
"You guys give the best hugs," I tell him, hoping not to push him too far.
He moves slightly, turning his head so he can plant a gentle kiss on the inside of my neck.
"Thank you, Rory," he says quietly.
I pull back but keep him close to me, stroking the back of his neck. He shudders beneath me, heat warming in his eyes and taking away the darkness.
"As long as you need, Mav," I whisper.
"You guys coming?"
I drop my hand quickly and look over my shoulder at Luc who's grinning wildly. I don't look at Mav's smirking face.
"Yeah," I say, stepping away from Mav and out the door.
I don't slow but I catch the first bit of their conversation.
"What was that about?" Luc asks. “Pretty sure Jace called dibs years ago.”
"Come on, Luc. Don't tell me you don't feel it too." I don't catch the rest of what Maverick says.
Mason's smirking when I come in. I sit down between him and Jace who's head of the table. Jace hands me my glass of whiskey from earlier which I instantly sip. Luc’s words swirl around my head.
Maverick and Luc join us and we dig in.
Groans of appreciation instantly fill the air and I smile behind the rim of my glass.
"Where did you learn to make this?" Alec asks.
"Jace's mum taught me a few years back," I tell them, twirling spaghetti around my fork.
"Ah, Helen makes the best food," Mason raves. I nod, grinning.
"My parents are going to freak when I tell them we found you," Happiness glimmers in Jace’s eyes.
A pinch of sadness hits me. Helen and Devon were like parents to me. A second chance at a family after Mum died. I didn't just leave Jace, I also left them.
"Maybe we'll have to go visit," I throw out there.
It's instantly silent and uncomfortable.
"Unless there's something wrong with that," I add quietly when no one says anything.
"No," Luc quickly jumps in. “Maybe once you're healed though. It would be a long drive."
I don't miss the way the guys are all trying to catch his gaze but he focuses on his plate.
"Ok," I murmur. Jace grabs my hand under the table, squeezing gently.
I’m thankful for it. It’s hard not to be clingy.
I never want to let him go.
The table’s quiet for a while. All of us stuck in our own thoughts.
"Has anyone checked to see what work we missed today?" Alec asks the group.
Everyone minus Jace groans.
"Fuck no, man. You only check when they tell you to do shit," Maverick tells Alec through a mouthful of food.
Alec pushes food around his bowl with a neutral expression on his face.
"Let's check tomorrow," I tell him and his eyes meet mine in silent gratitude.
"Wait. You were with the guys at school today?" Jace double checks and I slowly nod, unsure what this has to do with anything.
"Rory, you couldn't sit on the ground for five minutes. How the hell are you going to do a full day tomorrow?" Jace scolds me.
Irritation rises up in me but Alec intervenes.
"Actually, I was thinking about that. Luc has been homeschooling with his…injury. That's been working out, right?" He turns to Luc who nods.
"You're thinking we all homeschool?" I catch on.
Alec nods to me. "Just for two or three weeks. Until you're both able to sit in a classroom and not be in pain."
Jace slowly nods. "That could work."
"Fucking awesome!" The twins say in unison. Woah.
"That is freakishly cool," I tell them and they grin. Those gorgeous full blown smiles have my toes curling as they flash their dimples.
We sink into a comfortable silence as we eat.
Luc's phone ringing breaks the silence. "Sorry guys, it's my grandma," he announces.
Excitement bubbles up in me. I've missed Hannah.
"Do you mind if I talk to her?" I ask him.
Luc shrugs, handing me the phone.
"Lucifer! How are you, dear?" Hannah says the second I press talk.
"Hi, Hannah," I greet her, "it's—"
"My sweet Butterfly!" Hannah shrieks and I have to pull the phone away from my ear. "You've met my Lucifer! How have you been, sweetie?"
I look around the guys, my throat tightening with emotion. "I'm good, Hannah. Yeah, I met all the guys."