“You’re such a good girl.” I sink my nose into the fur on the top of her head. “Holy crap, Penny. You need to stop rolling in seaweed.”
Penny barks.
“It’s true.” I hold her head in my hands. Things are totally in the shitter, but I’m feeling a bit better.
She gives me the side-eye.
“Well, you’re right.” I nod at her. I shouldn’t be so stupid about all this. Love isn’t hard.
Zane comes around the corner. “What’s Penny right about? And were you yelling something, Little Bird?”
“I love you.” I burst into tears. Not delicate, elegant, movie star tears. No, the kind where you can’t catch your breath, your face goes splotchy for a week, and you end up with a zit on the tip of your nose. My chest heaves up and down, and I’m sure I’m going to hyperventilate and pass out when he pulls me into his arms.
“Of course you do, Little Bird. We know you love us. All of us do. But it’s damn nice to hear it from your lips.” He presses a quick kiss to my mouth.
I’m shaking, and its more than my insides. Like my hand is vibrating on its own.
“Oh, no.” He holds my shoulders, staring into my eyes. His brown eyes sparkle in the dappled jungle light. “Stop thinking that way.” He doesn’t ask me what I’m thinking, so I guess he can tell that it’s not all chocolate and days at the amusement park.
I nod.
Zane grips me hard. “I mean it. I love you. I knew you loved me, and those two are some of the most capable blokes I’ve ever known. They’re okay. I’m sure of it. And they know you lovethem.” He pulls me to his chest, hugging me tightly into his warm inky scent. I focus on my breath while Zane rubs circles on my back. “There you go, Little Bird. You’re good. Have you let it all out?” He tips my chin up to his face.
“Yeah, I didn’t mean to say it like that... I did mean to say it, though. I do love you. I’m sorry I didn’t say it before.”
“I love you too, Little Bird.” But Zane’s normal smile is missing. “I do, and I never doubted that you loved me too. Things don’t happen at the same rate for everyone. It’s great when it does. But sometimes it’s better when you have to wait.”
I nod, snuggling back into Zane’s arms. “I’m such a nincompoop.”
“You’re not!”
A rustle comes down the path from the ocean. Dante’s hands ease around my sides. “Sassy.” There’s gravel in his voice. He doesn’t ask what’s wrong.
I lift my head from Zane’s chest and turn to him. “I love you, Dante Saffron Jones.”
“Right back at you, Sassy. You know they’re fine, right? I can feel it. Can’t you?”
“I...” I don’t know if I can, but I nod.
Dante kisses me behind my ear. “Let’s get you some pomelo juice. That will make you feel better.” He kisses the top of my nose.
“Dante?” Zane says. He massages my shoulders, sticking his thumbs into pressure points with precision. I close my eyes and shut off my ever-funky brain. “We don’t?—”
“I thought they were all gone, too, but I found them in a tub yesterday.” He shrugs, and from under a cloth, Dante pulls two large fruits. “They appeared out of thin air. Happened last week too.”
“I don’t?—”
“They won’t keep much longer, Sassy. We’ll go soon. But first, a quick break for the girl we all love.”
I can’t help it—I sniffle and start choking. Zane hands me a cup of water. “Can we just share it as a snack instead of juice?” I suck my lips into my mouth.
“Sure.” Dante has the two fruits peeled and quartered. “I can even take some up to Sam if you want me to?” He hands me a coconut bowl with one of the two-prong forks Calvin carved.
I roll the fork between my fingers and try not to cry again. “Please.”
“You going someplace, Sassy?” Dante eyes my backpack I packed for going out to find the guys.
“I... I know you all want to get camp more defendable, but?—”
