“Almost?” Hale scoffs.
“He’s trying to be the way he viewed Hale to be,” Clay adds. “Hale walked in, and Araya was done with Ty that instant. He didn’t take it so well, but it’s not anyone’s fault but his own. I think you should also mention the hands-off area with Araya and Angelica. The less contact he has with either of them, the better.”
“He’s messing with Angelica?” Brazen gasps.
“He was,” I snark. “She’s back with Grayson now, so that shouldn’t be an issue from here on out.”
He smirks, apparently realizing I somewhat made amends with the girl I share DNA with. Damn smug full blood.
“I should get going, but I’ll see you later,” he murmurs softly while pulling me away from Hale’s touch.
“I suppose you will,” I say a little too flirty, and Hale grumbles under his breath as Brazen gives me that daring wink.
He disappears out the door, and Hale’s body closes in behind me while Clay continues to pound away on his phone.
“I’d like for you to have dinner with me at my apartment when you get back,” he murmurs into my ear, and those damn betraying chills emerge the moment his delicious breath finds my skin.
“I think we should talk about it when I get back,” I say while stifling a grin, and I can feel him smiling against my shoulder as his lips run over it.
“Will you answer when I call?” he asks softly.
“Her phone will have to be cut off due to security purposes,” Clay interjects, and Hale sighs.
“So I’m expected to go a week without any contact?” He groans, and now my grin has to be hidden behind my hand.
“I’m not taking any chances - especially with Araya being out there. Brazen will be there in case something goes wrong, and she can turn her phone on if there is a problem. Other than that, there will be minimal contact with them. Brazen will drive to the nearest town every two days to update me on their status and their progress.”
“Then you’ll call me as soon as you can?” he asks while staring into my eyes.
“I’ll call you as soon as I can,” I say to comfort his worry.
His lips graze mine, and then he pulls back with a teasing smirk.
“Then I’ll eagerly wait by the phone. Right now I’ll go get your things,” he murmurs softly, and my foolish grin continues to grow.
“Thanks.”
His thumb brushes my lips before his lips barely touch them, and then he walks away.
Clay is doing his best to hide his own grin.
“I don’t want to hear it,” I grumble, and then his face turns more serious.
“Just be careful with him, Araya. This secret has been eating him up for years, and now he’s finally free again. He’s been dying without you. I just hope it’s him you choose.”
I sigh as I crash to the couch, and then he hands me my cup of coffee.
“I’m trying to be careful with both of them. I was so fucking pissed just a couple of days ago, but it’s as if I’ve almost forgotten they were both scheming. Now I’m torn between them. I love them both, but in different ways. Hale is… he’s Hale. I would have married him three years ago if he hadn’t left. I would have married him not long ago if he hadn’t left. His timing sucks ass because I’ll dread every birthday I have for the rest of my life span.”
Clay stifles a chuckle on that last note, and I sigh out while continuing.
“Brazen, well, he’s completely different while exactly the same. He’s always there for me no matter what he has going on. He was there during the worst of my nightmares, and he stayed with me despite my fucked up relationship that kept dragging me back to Hale. It’s hard to just forget all that. When I’m with Hale, I’m sure I’m going to be with him. When I’m with Brazen, I’m sure I’m going to be with him. It’s so frigging frustrating.”
“So who do you want when you’re all alone?” he asks with an insightful air.
That puzzles me, and I’m forced to think despite my sleep deprived headache.
“I really don’t know. I was too pissed to even consider going back to either of them over the last two weeks, and I’ve barely had a moment alone since they found me. Now I’ll be spending a week alone with Brazen after having an incredible connection with Hale last night. I just wish they’d both give me some space to sort this out.”
