“I like her, too.”
My mother taps my shoulder before she cries again.
“We didn’t mean to ring Storm. We couldn’t get hold of you,” my father says stroking my mother’s back trying to comforting her.
“It’s fine. I’m sure she didn’t mind.”
Storm walks around the corner, her long red hair is down and there’s a look of sadness on her face.
“You need to leave, now,” Selena says pointing to the door behind Storm.
Storm goes to turn, but I call her name, “Storm,” making her stop. “Please, stay.”
She nods and sits next to me, her hand falls into mine. My mother touches her briefly as a thank you as she walks past her.
“I wasn’t sure, but I wanted to be here.”
“Thank you.”
She nods and offers a weak smile.25StormIt’s the right thing to do, or so I keep telling myself. To come and be here for him. His parents called, and I knew he’d need someone who was on his side. From what I saw, and have been told briefly by Echo, his parents are never on his side.
His hand squeezes mine as we all wait patiently. Selena’s death glaring me as I sit close to Echo. I don’t know how she can even care right now when her husband’s in the hospital. What the fuck is wrong with her?
“Let me go get us some coffees.” I go to stand, but Echo doesn’t remove his hand from mine or let me go.
“No, don’t go.”
I nod sitting down, his head falls onto my shoulder and when I look up Selena’s burning holes into me from across the room.
“You should leave, now,” she stays standing.
“Sit down, Selena,” Echo says not moving away from me. His hand stays gripped in mine not letting me move that either. “You’re about to cause a scene that doesn’t need to be done here because you’re jealous. Get over yourself.”
She stamps her foot down like a toddler and I stop myself from shaking my head at her childish ways. “You can’t have her here. She doesn’t belong.”
Echo straightens in his seat, his back lifting from the chair as he sits up. I grip his hand to stop him from moving forward.
“Sit. Down. Selena. Storm is more than welcome,” Echo’s father says making Selena’s eye twitch as she looks from them to us.
“Sit your ass down, girl.”
She turns and sees all three men behind her, Echo relaxes at the sight of them. I only know one, and have seen the other once. Falcon, Tracey’s brother, walks over and kisses Echo’s mother on the cheek and shakes his father’s hand. They all do the same as they come and take a seat near us.
“Storm.” Falcon nods to me, I smile as his eyes drift to Echo’s hand still in mine.
“Thanks for coming.”
I’m guessing he didn’t ask them to come, but they did anyway.
“Creed…” Echo nods to a man that has hair so dark it matches his eyes, “… this is Storm.” Creed does nothing as he sits down.
“Any news on the baby?” The guy named Creed looks up then shakes his head.
“Darby, this is Storm.” Darby offers me his hand and shakes it before he returns to a seat near the other two. Darby looks like a man of power like he has this and every situation under control.
“It’s nice to meet you,” I say in a small voice.
“Why are they here?” Selena asks crossing her arms over each other.
“What’s up your ass?” Falcon questions leaning over to her.
“Fuck off,” she spits at him. He smiles and sits back in his seat as he winks at me. I smile because now it’s him who she’s annoyed with and not me. Which makes me happy to not have her attention anymore.
Echo’s hot breath tickles my ear as he leans in close. “We still need to talk.” I nod because yes we do, just not here. His lips touch the spot directly below my ear and he kisses it softly as he squeezes my hand. That’s unfair, so unfair. If this wasn’t the situation we were in right now, I can guarantee his lips would not be touching me, well, not so fast anyway.
My resolve for him dies each and every time. My cell dings and I reach for it and pull it out of my pocket with my free hand.How’s your number ten going, he win you back yet?“Who’s number ten?” Echo’s voice whispers in my ear as he clearly, with no shame reads over my shoulder. I slide the cell into my pocket not even bothering to reply.
“No one,” I say shaking my head.
He lifts his, so he can see me clearly. “Who’s number ten?”
I open my mouth to tell him it’s him, when suddenly his parents stand and Selena does too. Echo lets go of my hand as he goes to stand next to his parents, his hand touching his mother’s shoulder as they listen to whatever the doctor has to say. Looking away, I gaze over at the three guys sitting in front of me, all of which are staring at me. My smile is weak as I look at them. What water do they drink here to make all these men so fucking good looking?