“You’re wrong.” He tensed, drawing back. “He’s better than that and if you step back, I think you’ll see it.”
Ream had been my protector all my life. It was his role and I knew this was hard for him to let go of. “Nothing will stop me from loving you.” He stroked my hair and pulled back, bending a bit so our eyes were level. “I’ll always love you, Haven.”
It was enough—for now. We were both a little lost in how to find our way back to one another as brother and sister.
Kat and Ream left after we cleaned up and I went back to bed. It was my phone buzzing on my mattress that woke me hours later and I pried my eyes open and searched under the duvet for the phone where I’d tossed it this morning.
I looked at the screen—Dana.
How are you feeling?
Better . . . now. Rough morning.
LOL. You were wasted. So, meet in an hour?
What? I wanted to talk to Crisis. Well, want was the wrong word because I did, but didn’t. It was important, though. I was confused, but one thing was clear—I wanted him, too.
For what?
Dinner then we’re watching a movie at your place. You said last night.
I had a faded recollection of saying something like that.
I don’t know if that’s a good idea.
Come on, you promised. It’s Saturday night.
My fingers hovered over the phone as I thought about it.
Fine, but just something to eat.
Cool. I’ll tell the guys.
What? What guys?
LOL, you really don’t remember anything. I crashed at Dillon’s last night. Seven at Joe’s. Meet you there.
Shit. I wanted normality and I was getting it.
It took me an hour to get ready moving in slow motion. The head throbbing was now a dull ache, but I suspected once I ate, I’d feel better. I grabbed my purse and came out of my room at the same time as Crisis emerged from the room across the hall—the gym.
I stopped and stared. I couldn’t help myself. He was in loose workout shorts which were hanging off his hips, no shirt and a towel slung over his left shoulder.
And his skin . . . it was glistening with sweat. Every muscle accentuated the ink molding over his arms and shoulders vibrant and dark. His abdomen was an eight pack . . . an eight pack of hard delectable muscle.
“You going out?”
My eyes darted to his. Shit, I had been staring at his abdomen and was breathing hard. His brows rose and I realized I hadn’t responded yet.
“Yeah.”
“Haven?” Kite shouted from downstairs. “Lac’s here. I buzzed him up.”
Lac? Why was Lac here? I was meeting them at Joe’s.
“You need Roman with you.”
I frowned. “Why?”
“Because I said so.” Whoa, what the hell? Crisis took the towel from his shoulder and wiped his face, then down his chest. “I’ll call and tell him.” He continued down the hall and disappeared into his bedroom.
I stared after him, unable to move even after I heard his door click closed. No teasing. No baby. No sexy smirk. It bothered me—a lot.
I straightened my shoulders and avoided looking at Crisis’ door, although my step faltered as I passed it. I walked down the stairs and when I saw Lac, I was a little pissed off at him for showing up.
He was talking to Kite in the living room, where tennis was on the TV. They stood side by side, Kite a bit taller than him, but they had a similar build, lean and agile. That was where the similarities ended. Kite was tatted and pierced wearing ripped jeans, although he had a dress shirt on. Lac, wore straight off-the-shelf pressed jeans and a preppy-collared, long-sleeved, pale blue shirt.
When he noticed me, he looked nervous as he offered a half-crooked smiled. “Hey, Dana and Dillon are downstairs. It’s not just me. I wanted to apologize to Crisis so I came up.”
“Oh. Why?” Was I forgetting something that happened last night?
Kite crossed his arms, a subtle twitch at the corner of his mouth as he listened.
“Kind of a guy thing.” He looked at Kite and he shrugged. “So, is he here?”
“Yeah, but in the shower.” And really in a bad mood. “Maybe another time. We should go.”
Kite chin-lifted to me. “You look better. Have fun, kids.” I knew he was referring to my look this morning, skin green, eyes red with black circles underneath. He slapped Lac on the back of the shoulder. “Expect an early night.”
He was teasing and it was rare coming from Kite. Lac didn’t know that though and nodded. “Yeah, of course.”
“He’s teasing.”
“Oh.”
“Crisis and I are going to Avalanche later. He owes me after last night,” Kite said. “Probably be late.”
“Okay.”
Lac walked over to me and put his hand at the small of my back, guiding me to the elevator. Just before the doors closed, I looked up and saw Crisis standing at the top of the stairs, hands curled around the railing, his skin still glistening with sweat and a towel wrapped around his waist.
Our eyes locked. Then the doors closed and broke us apart.
ROMAN STAYED CLOSE, walked behind us all the way to the pub then came inside and sat at the bar, always watching. Didn’t know what he was watching for, but for some reason, Crisis insisted on it. Roman was cool like Luke, though. He didn’t say anything and was inconspicuous, except he drew attention with his tatted neck that peeked out from under his dress shirt and the fact that he was tall and seriously built.
After wings and fries at the pub, which I decided was a great hangover food, I told everyone I was going to go home to bed. Dana pouted but she didn’t push it. Going out two nights in a row was a record for me and she knew it.
Roman walked me back, beside me though, instead of behind, and never said a word until we were safely inside the condo building. “You going out again?”
“No.” He had a rough voice, almost as if his vocal cords had at one time been damaged.