Hurting You (Blackthorn Elite 3)

Before I can get my legs to move an inch, the guy’s gaze narrows, and he releases the girl, taking a step back. I stare at him, taking in his dark features. He’s handsome in an I’m-a-dickhead kind of way. Our eyes remain locked as he takes another step backward, and then another before he turns and walks off like nothing happened at all.

What the hell?

“Are you okay?” I rush to the girl’s side, taking her hand into my own once he disappears out of the mouth of the alleyway. She is shaking, her face is pale, and a single tear slips down her cheek. But it isn’t those things that cause me to look at her a little harder. It’s guilt, the sadness in her eyes that makes it hard for me to breathe. Whatever was happening before I interrupted was something she feels deeply about.

“Yes, I’m okay,” she whispers, her big cornflower blues piercing my own.

“Who was that guy?” I ask, even though it’s not really any of my business.

“Believe it or not, he used to be my friend.” She says, brushing a few stray strands of her chocolate brown hair from her face.

“He didn’t look very friendly to me. In fact, he looked like a grade-A asshole.”

“Like I said, we used to be friends. A long time ago anyway,” she says, her voice cracking at the end. “Thank you…uhh…”

“Stella… I’m Stella,” I introduce myself awkwardly.

She smiles softly, “Thank you, Stella. I’m Kennedy.”

“Well, Kennedy, looks like you made a new friend.” There is a haunted look in her eyes, and I look at her, really look at her. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

She nods, “Yeah, I’m okay, just a little surprised, that’s all. I didn’t expect him to be here. It’s just a lot, all of this…school, classes, and then that.”

It hits me then; I should invite her to hang out. “Hey, come with me to get a coffee. I was going there anyway, and it’s the place just around the corner.”

“I don’t want to intrude or anything. We just met and—”

“Oh, stop it,” I interrupt her and tug her along with me by the arm. “It’s fine. Cameron and Easton would love to meet you.”

Puzzled, Kennedy asks, “Who are they?”

“My boyfriends.” I smile at her over my shoulder.

BONUS EPILOGUE

One year later

Cameron

Glancing over at Easton nervously, I listen as the front door creaks open. A second later, it slams closed. I’m giddy with both excitement and fear. I’m pretty sure she’ll say yes, but a part of me worries that she’ll say no. The last year has been beyond great, but it’s been quite a ride for our emotions, and I wouldn’t blame her if she ever felt the need to walk out on us. She handles Easton’s emotional outbursts like a pro and is there for me whenever I need her.

Figuratively, she is the backbone of our entire relationship.

“Easton, Cam? Where the hell are you guys hiding?” Stella grumbles a moment later, her footsteps coming closer. With each step she takes closer to us, my stomach twists, a boulder of anxiety forming in my gut. The bedroom door is pushed open a second later, and she takes a step forward before realizing we’re inside.

As soon as her eyes land on us, her mouth pops open, and her pretty eyes widen with shock. She blinks, taking in the rose petals and candles that litter the room.

“What is this? What’s going on?” she croaks.

For a moment, we just stand there, all looking at each other, the words I was going to say stuck in my throat, so I elbow Easton slightly, urging him to talk instead.

“Stella, for the last year, you’ve been our rock. Really, our everything. You pushed us to be so much more than we ever thought we could be. It took us almost losing you to see what we had was real, but you never gave up,” Easton says, giving her his usual devilish grin.

Things aren’t always easy between them, but then they have these tender moments when they look at each other, and everything seems to fade away. Or they just fuck the anger out of each other until there isn’t anything left.

“You are our queen, and we want you and everyone else to know that you are,” I add. Gesturing to Easton again, he rolls his eyes and pulls out the ring box from his pocket. Stella is still just standing inside the doorway, and I walk over to her, taking her hand in mine.

“Are you… are you asking me to marry you?” Stella looks between the two of us, and I guide her over to Easton.

“Legally, we both can’t marry you, but we want you to know that we care about you enough to show our love for you to the world. We want everyone to know that you belong to us and that you’re ours,” I explain, and Easton pops the box open, revealing a three-stone diamond ring resembling our love story.