Chapter 8 ~ #5
I put down the cloth and turn to him. "Do you not want me to stay?" I question.
His eyes immediately widen. "No, that's not what I meant," he hurries to reassure me.
"I just had to check." I go back to cleaning the frying pan
"I'm staying because I want to," I tell him while I'm scrubbing the marks off the pan. "It would be stupid to go. He could find me just as easily out there than here. And…you guys are nice. I haven't had friends other than Jace. Who probably wouldn't let me leave anyway," I add, lightly.
Dominic chuckles. He gently puts his arm around my shoulders and plants a kiss on my temple.
"You know we want you to stay because we like hanging out with you right? It's not just because we wanted to get you away from your father." His dark chocolatey eyes seek out mine.
I nod. "Yeah, I know," I say softly. "I like being with you guys too."
Dominic grins. "Good," he says before removing his arm and goes back to drying the dishes.
We finish quickly and I follow Dominic to the living room. He falls onto the couch and pats the spot beside him. I sit down, pulling my legs up under me.
"What kind of movies are you into?" He asks, flicking through Netflix.
"Not romance," I hurriedly say when he lands on a popular one. He raises an eyebrow in silent wonder.
"Unless it's a comedy then I just don't really like it." I shrug, feeling awkward.
Dominic nods. "Okay, so what do you like?"
"Action," I tell him and a smile grows on his face. "I remember when I was a kid, I only ever really watched action movies. They're exciting. Especially when they're mixed with comedy but I can do without."
Dominic tugs me toward him and I curl up in his side, hesitantly at first before I relax into him.
"We're going to get along just fine," he murmurs in my ear.
He keeps flicking through the action movies until he stops on one.
"Ever seen Bad Boys?" He asks me and I shake my head.
The guys come in just as he presses play.
"What are we watching?" Jace asks, sitting down beside me. His gaze seems stuck on me and Dom, cuddled up together. He gives me a soft smile.
"Bad Boys 1," Dom tells him.
The twins halt when they see us and Alec steps around them. A secretive smile plays on his lips when he sees Dom and I. He's getting very, very confusing. And he's already the hardest person out of all the guys to read.
Luc sits at my feet, leaning his head against my knee. My hands instantly go to his hair.
Mav and Mase grumble jealously at me playing with Luc's hair and not theirs. They sit on the other end of the L shaped couch.
Dominic presses play and puts his arm around me. I freeze for a moment and he watches me cautiously, unsure if he's made the wrong choice. He goes to remove his arm but before he can, I lay my head on his shoulder, inching closer to him.
He looks down at me, surprised. I feel him smile when he rests his chin on the top of my head.
We finish the first movie and the rest of the guys go have their showers in the break between the next movie.
I ask Dominic if he wants to get up and he shakes his head.
I lift my head so I can see his eyes.
"If I move, someone will take my spot," he grumbles. I smile and lay my head back on his shoulder.
Jace chuckles beside me. When my gaze shifts, I see him smiling at me.
"What?" I ask him.
"Nothin' Ro," he says and I can practically feel him grinning.
The guys come back and we watch the second movie. Towards the end, I feel myself nodding off. I force myself to stay awake and watch the end of the movie. Will Smith makes it easier.
"I don't think we're watching the third movie tonight," Jace chuckles. "You awake, Ro?"
"Yeah." I yawn. I go to sit up but Dominic's arm doesn't move. I look up and laugh softly when I see Dom's out.
His head's leaning back against the wall of the couch, his eyes closed. He looks incredibly peaceful.
My gaze moves along the rest of the couch and I see Maverick's asleep too. Mase is awake and watching me, a sleepy smile playing on his lips.
He nudges Maverick awake. "Movie's finished, dude," Mason tells him as he tiredly sits up.
Maverick nods, cracking his neck from side to side.
Luc is asleep too, judging by the fact that I've put little plaits in his hair and he hasn't noticed.
"Dominic," I murmur. His arm tightens around me like a reflex as his eyes flutter open. His dark eyes are sleepily watching me and I smile.
"The movie's finished," I tell him. He drops his head to my neck, inhaling. He nuzzles into me and I laugh softly. As his breathing evens out, I realise he's fallen asleep again.
"You okay, Angel? He gets a bit touchy feely when he's asleep and comfortable with someone," Mason says, worried.
"Yeah, he's fine," I tell the group when I notice Mase isn't the only one who looks concerned.
Jace reaches over and pokes Dom in the shoulder a few times. "Dude, wake up."
Dominic jerks awake, startling me.
"You okay?" He rumbles, his voice rough with sleep.
"Yeah, I tried waking you up but you were out of it," I explain to him.
He nods and takes his arm off me. I slowly stand up, stretching my arms above my head. I wince when it pulls on my ribs. I wave off Alec's concern.
"Ok. Who's waking Luc?" Dominic stands up.
Everyone says 'shot not' so I drop down beside Luc.
"Wait, Angel—" Mase starts, scrambling to get up.
"Hang on, Mase," Alec murmurs when I touch Luc's arm. He grabs my wrist. It’s painfully tight, his eyes still closed.
“Luci,” I say quietly, wary of the low grumble coming from Luc.
"Alec." Mason growls when Luc doesn't let go. I feel his grip soften. His thumbs rubs a crescent moon shape into my wrist.
"It's okay, Mase," I tell him.
"He's not hurting her," Alec points out.
"Luci," I say again, brushes a few stray locks of blond hair from his face. "Time to wake up, sweetie. The movie finished."
His eyes open, disoriented. He takes in me kneeling beside him, his hand gripping my arm. He quickly lets go.
"Did you wake me up?" Luc asks when he sees the guys dumbfounded expression.
"Yeah," I say, standing up when my ribs start to ache.
"Holy shit," Luc rubs his eyes tiredly.
"None of us can wake him," Jace fills me in.
"I usually wake up swinging," Luc says nervously. I think he's worried about my reaction.
"Ok," I tell him simply.
"Wait. Really?" Luc asks confused. I shrug, not knowing what else to say.
He pulls me in for a tight hug and I rest my head on his chest, feeling pretty tired.
"Thanks, Butterfly," he whispers in my ear.
"No problem, Luci." I smile softly. His reaction hurts. I hate that he’s worried about that.
"Looks like Rory's good at dealing with all our demons." Mason's words linger with me. They’re good for my demons too.
"Ok!" Dominic announces. "I'm going to bed."
His words trigger everyone to start yawning and we all go our separate ways. The guys say goodnight and I head for my room.
Jace follows me down the hall. We brush our teeth in the bathroom before Jace walks me to my room. We stand there looking at each other.
I smile tiredly at him. His eyes search mine like he can't believe I'm really here.
"Me too," I whisper.
He sighs and his lips touch my forehead. I close my eyes, savoring the moment.
He gives me one more look before turning and walking down the hall to his room.
I close my door, leaning against it for a brief moment before climbing into bed. I'm asleep the second my head hits the pillow.
. . .
Jace ~
I gave up resisting my internal desire to not leave Rory hours ago. Instead, I’m sitting against her closed bedroom door, aimlessly scrolling through social media.
Several times I open my messages, hovering over the text I drafted to my parents before deciding against it.
The choice I made didn’t just condemn Rory to three years of torture but it wreaked my relationship with my parents. We’re better now but after everything I put them through, there’s still a level of distrust.
I don’t blame them. I deserve it.
I didn’t know how to tell Rory. My brothers won’t say anything but she’s perspective. She always has been.
It’s one of the things I love about her.
Sighing, I turn my phone off.
What are the odds that we’d make our way back to each other?
I spent the night observing Rory with my friends. She comfortable with them. It sounds like it’s been a rough few days but an outsider would believe they’ve been together for years.
I’m not stupid enough to believe she’s waited for me all this time. I’m sure they has been others but now that we’re here, we back together, I’m not letting her go. I think this time, though, it’s going to look a little different to what we had in mind.
I must drift off because I’m woken a little while later by Luc. He reminds me that I’m no good to Rory not on my A game and that Alec has the place locked down like Fort Knox.
I drag my ass to bed. Before I go, I stop just to check on her. Cracking the door slightly, I peek in.
I squint before my eyes widen. Shock and disbelief fills me. Quietly, I close the door again.
You know, that actually doesn’t surprise me.
Yeah. This time’s going to be different.