Chapter Fifty-Eight
Tera
I’m uncomfortable. The floor beneath me is unforgiving and my head is propped up at a weird angle. The dress tangled around my middle seals the deal. I open my eyes and there’s Asher, watching me from a seated position, back against the wall.
He looks serious as he watches me wake up and it makes me hesitate. He doesn’t look happy. He seems nervous. I don’t like that at all.
I stay frozen with Max’s weight behind me as he snores softly, one arm flung over my waist in a tight hold. Even in his sleep he’s afraid I’ll run and hot shame runs through me at the thought. But he’s asleep and I feel like Asher needs me.
I pull myself free as gently as I can and crawl over to kneel in front of him. I don’t bother to cover myself as he watches. I’m not uncomfortable right now, I’m in a safe place. He looks at my breasts and down farther even though the skirt has fallen to cover me. When he looks back at my face his serene smile is there but I get the feeling that it’s fake.
“Eyes up,” he says softly and I realize I started looking at the floor as I contemplated the myriad reasons he’d be upset right now.
His dark eyes flit between mine as he takes a soft breath in and out.
“Tell me?” I ask in a whisper as I frown. If he could give me even the smallest clue I could figure it out from there.
He seems surprised before his face falls into an affectionate expression and whispers, “I want a hug.”
My heart twists happily and my smile comes back as I scoot forward on my knees to wrap my arms around his shoulders. He makes a happy sound against my throat and pulls me closer.
“I need to ask you a few things and I need you to be honest with me,” he says seriously and buries his head against my shoulder. I frown as I stare at the wall behind him in confusion. “Do not tell me what you think I want to hear. Just tell me the first thought that pops in your head. There’s no right or wrong answer.”
“Ok,” I agree, but my shoulders are still tense.
“Now that it’s over do you have any regrets?”
I blink in confusion. Do I? I don’t think so.
“No. Do you?” The second part comes out of me with a sharp lance of pain.
What if all of this is too good to be true? He’s having second thoughts and-
“No,” he says in his set-in-stone voice. “I liked it. A lot more than I thought I would.”
My face tucks into his neck with relief. “I’m so glad.”
“Good,” he whispers and I feel him press a kiss against my head. “The control from that was a fucking head trip. I wanted to make sure I didn’t go too far.”
My arms tighten around him as a small smile creeps up.
“You think I’m going to be upset that you liked it?”
He huffs a laugh that warms my shoulder. “You’re going to have to say your safe word for me eventually, angel.”
“I will. When I need it,” I reassure him. “Thank you for being with me for this.”
“Fuck,” he mutters and leans back to see me with a dark look. “You’re so goddamn perfect.”
“You too,” I insist and give him a light kiss. “Can I confess something now?”
I swallow hard as he says of course. I’m not supposed to do this. I got lectured about it earlier. But it feels right. He’s willing to lay everything at my feet honestly and I think he deserves the same, whether it’s right to everyone else or not.
“I jumped.”
His hand goes to my throat, tilting my face up to his. I take in his expression. The intensity there should probably scare me but it reassures me instead. He’s in this with me, I know it.
“Me too, angel,” he whispers and settles his lips against mine for a deep, searching kiss. As if he’s making sure I’m telling the truth with his tongue. I don’t resist, melting into his arms and giving back as much as I’m taking.
The door opens and Asher draws back from me, in no hurry to leave. His eyes never leave mine as he asks, “Problem?”
“No,” Trevor answers softly. His tone is still angry though. “Just here to wake people up. We’re closing soon and I don’t think sleeping on the floor is good for anyone.”
Asher’s eyes lift over my head as he takes in Trevor’s stance, his arms tightening around me.
“Are we good?”
“Hell yeah we are,” Max’s mutter interrupts whatever tense standoff is going on perfectly.
“Max,” Trevor says in an exasperated tone. “Yeah, we’re good. We’re going to butt heads but who gives a shit.”
An indefinable tension washes out of Asher as he nods.
“Everyone’s happy, let’s all go home and cuddle.”
“I am not cuddling this asshole,” Trevor snaps at Max.
“Fuck that,” Asher agrees with a wince. “I can only tolerate so much Max.”
I giggle as Max starts laughing.
“Come home with us, really,” Max pleads with me.
I turn in Asher’s arms to see him lying on his back with the soft blanket draped over his lap. The way he stretches and settles back, turning his head to see me is convincing. He looks relaxed and in a perfect place right now. I want that with him. But also, not just him. My eyes drift to Trevor as he scowls at Asher.
“Not tonight,” Asher says calmly.
Max starts to glare.
“This is a lot for one night. For all of us,” Asher tells him sternly. “We’ll meet up again tomorrow and see how everyone is feeling now that the stress is off.”
“The stress is off,” Trevor scoffs angrily. “Yeah, right.”
“I’m good,” Max says in a taunt.
Trevor’s glare is dark enough I shiver.
A song starts to play that makes my brow furrow. It takes me a second to recognize it.
I straighten my clothes with wide eyes and scramble to answer it. Max laughs at the frenzied movements, probably recognizing the ringtone already.
“What’s wrong?” I gasp out. If Shade is calling this late at night he’s either drunk and needs a ride or something is very wrong.
“Hold off on tomorrow.”
I blink stupidly. “Revenge isn’t in progress?”
“They want to meet up in the morning and hash things out.” His voice is tense but filled with hope. It kills me because I want to support him but I also want those jerks to pay. If they haven’t respected him by now they won’t. Ever.
“Shade,” I whisper and turn to Asher with a concerned frown. “Are you sure? I don’t feel good about this.”
“Yeah, I’m sure,” he says belligerently. “I’ll find out once and for all how this is going to play out. Then I’ll call and tell you which way to play it.”
“I’ll go with you,” I quickly assure him.
“No,” he’s just as fast to shut me down.
“I don’t want you meeting up with them alone anymore,” I feel my jaw slide into stubborn mode. “That trust train is never coming back.”
“Jesus,” he mutters in frustration.
I stare at Asher, bracing myself.
“When is the meeting?”
“At seven, why?”
I nod with a concentrated frown. “Where? Someplace public?”
“They aren’t going to attack me, Tera. It’s that old bowling place that closed down.”
“Okay,” I mutter. “You have to call me as soon as it’s over. If they’re good I’ll eat crow and glare at them when their backs are turned. If not, it’s on, Shade and I’m not going to stop.”
Asher starts scowling. “Do you need backup son?”
Shade pauses and starts to chuckle weakly. “You still haven’t told him?”
I pull the phone away from my face to glare in mutiny before clapping it back to my ear. “Are you crazy? Of course not.”
“Scared?” He taunts but I can hear the slightest darkness enter his tone. I’m not afraid of it. South has made me immune. Sure he has emotion invested in it but it’s still the same.
“Nope. And I never will be,” I say in a haughty voice. “Get over it. And I can say that to you!”
There’s a long silence and my bravado decides to pack up and desert me.
“I can say that to you. Right?” I cringe. I may not be afraid of what he’s capable of but he’s really become a big brother to me and no matter how stern I sound I don’t want to lose him.
“Of course you can,” he says and clears his throat. “I like you fighting back little sis. It’s what we’ve been working on.”
“Right,” I sigh in relief.
“Wish me luck already,” he grumbles.
“Do you have what you want to say written down?” I say instead. I’d love to wish him luck with anyone but these two jerks. All four of them actually. I’d rather watch Shade turn into an old crone with twenty cats.
“No,” he snaps in frustration.
“Well, get on it, then,” I snap back. “You always have a plan. Don’t wing this, dang it.”
“Fine, Jesus,” he hangs up. I bet he wishes it was an old school phone so I’d have the slam in my ear.
As soon as I’m sure the connection is done I start texting South with angry jabs of my thumbs.
Her reply is instant and soothing, giving me a chance to breathe properly.
“Let us in, angel,” Asher says firmly.
I glance up at him in surprise to find all three of them standing with various angry poses, ready to fight whatever is bothering me. It’s surprising to take in.
“Um, they want to meet with him tomorrow and he’s supposed to call and let me know if revenge is a go.”
“And the text?” Trevor raises a brow and his arms cross over his chest.
“Southie is going to be his secret backup. He doesn’t want anyone there but I’m not going to leave him alone with them. This is going to go bad and Southie is good at cleaning up.”
Max and Asher exchange a wary glance that tightens my stomach. They aren’t wrong to be a little scared of South or Shade. But they’re both really important to me.
“She’ll keep him safe,” I insist, meeting Trevor’s scowl helplessly. “She’s the only person I know who can look pure evil in the eye and not be impressed. Please, guys? He doesn’t know it but he needs her.”
“I know you love the guy but why is a breakup an all hands on deck thing for him?” Max asks, bewildered.
I chew my lip and glance around nervously. I’m about to spill a hunch to them and if Shade finds out he’s going to throttle me.
“I think all Shade has ever wanted was to be the main focus in someone’s life. He’s never had it before. It’s like an obsession with him and he can’t stop even when the red flags are all over the place. He needs help.”
I glance at the carpet and swallow hard. “He helped me even when I hated it. I’m his sidekick. I won’t let this be another breaking point for him.”
“Then let’s go get ready,” Asher says and picks up my purse.
His easy acceptance washes away the tension in my shoulders and makes tears come up in my eyes.
“Thank you,” I tell him gratefully.
“You’re not going into this with a sunshine outlook?” Max asks with a solemn frown.
I get to my feet and shake my head sadly. “Not this time. The things they’ve done are way too much. I-I feel bad but I’m hoping this is a breakup speech. I feel so guilty.”
“It might be best for him,” Trevor looks away with a sigh. “It’ll be rough but if you stick to being his support he’ll come out of it ok, babygirl.”
I rush to him, wrapping him in a hug as best I can with his arms crossed between us.
“All right.” Max nods firmly. “I’ll have his back too.”
“Good,” Asher nods, taking us all in. “Now that we’re agreed we can go.”
“What the fuck are you doing?” Trevor asks in a low tone of danger that widens my eyes. Thankfully he isn’t talking to me.
“She needs this,” Asher tucks my laptop under his arm. “I doubt she got anything done today. We can start fresh in the morning and wait for the go ahead.”
“Motherfucker,” Trevor says through gritted teeth.
I look up at him with a small, hopeful smile. “After this you can keep it at your house?”
His eyes snap to mine in surprise.
“Sold!” Max crows. “It can stay tucked under our mattress, Trev. Right where she needs it. She can only drag it out if she uses one of those yoga poses.”
Trevor’s lips twitch up in a smile.
“Fine.”
My smile widens as my eyes soften. “Thank you.”
His lips twist in a dark grin. “You’re welcome, babygirl.”
“Call him sir again,” Max presses with a mischievous grin. “He’ll love it.”
Trevor raises a brow at me and says flatly, “One.”
This time it doesn’t bother me at all, which surprises me. It must show on my face because Trevor’s expression darkens more, his eyes falling to my lips.
Asher clears his throat and Trevor’s expression drops when he looks up.
“What?”
“She needs real sleep tonight.”
Asher’s tone isn’t confrontational but Trevor’s eyes narrow as if he waved a red cape in front of a bull.
“Riiiight,” Max draws out with disbelief.
Asher’s eyes flick to him next. “You think her health isn’t at the top of my things to take care of?”
Max’s eyes widen at the dark tone from a different source.
“So, let’s get home, Trev,” he says nervously. “I don’t want to get thrown around in here. That yoga mat isn’t going to soften shit when he slams me on the floor.”
“He’s in my class,” Asher reminds me before I can panic.
My arms drop from around Trevor. He looks angry about the move but I keep my smile. “Tomorrow is a new day.”
His head tilts as he glares. “It is. Get some fucking sleep so we can get to it.”
This command is right up my alley.