Page 40 of Beyond Repair: Part Two
Chapter 24
Nina
"No, that's not happening. Send someone else." Ridge's tone sends chills down my spine and I try to ignore their conversation.
"Do you have anyone you can trust with a meeting like this, because I'm open to suggestions," Trevor replies, crossing his arms on the other end of the kitchen island.
Ridge grabs his phone and stands. "Just give me a fucking second."
Both he and Trevor have taken up working in the kitchen so they can still be around me while they get stuff done. Kai's outside taking a video of the hiking gear. He likes to keep up on his own business. I was hanging out with Henry in the basement while he worked on book restorations, but my eyes started to cross after watching for too long.
Everyone's doing their part to keep their businesses running and this family funded, yet here I am sitting on the couch watching the neighborhood.
It's been three weeks since the incident at the gas station and I despise how I've gotten used to seeing a police car parked onthe road outside my house at all times. The security cameras are easier to ignore, at least. Adam coming out every few days to check on us and my parents spending more time here than not is unavoidable though.
I'm cooped up, but I think I'm handling it better. Except today I'm feeling particularly useless.
When was the last time I thought about my goals and aspirations? Having the men in my life challenging me tolivehas triggered questions about the future. I used to only survive, but now I'm ready for more.
While Ridge and Trevor work out the kinks of who's going to a meeting across the country next week, I pull out my tablet and start thinking.
I'm almost twenty-one. What would a normal person my age want to do for work?
Actually, that's maybe not a fair question because I'mnotnormal. My anxiety may be manageable when I have Trevor, Kai, Ridge, and Henry around, but it's not feasible to ask them to come with me to my job.
And do I really want togo toa job? My sleeping patterns are so messed up, I doubt I would be able to function on a normal schedule like other people.
There's that word again...normal.
So maybe I should start thinking outside of the box and really think about my wants and desires. No more comparing myself to other people my age.
Who do I want to be?
"You smell like leather," Ridge accuses Henry with his nose scrunched up. "Please shower before dinner."
Henry rolls his eyes and grabs a banana off the counter. "Shut up."
"Yeah," Kai interjects and plasters himself to Henry's back. "He smells fucking edible."
Oh geez. My face heats and I quickly look down so nobody can see just how much they affect me.
Arms wrap around my midsection. "Hi, baby," Trevor rumbles in my ear, making my blush worse.
"Hi," I breathe, melting into his embrace while the other three bicker and tease each other across the kitchen.
"What were you working on today?"
Trevor's question gives me energy. "Oh!" I spin around so I can look at him. "I was brainstorming work ideas for myself."
Trev smiles down at me so easily it makes me want to purr. "What did you come up with?"
"Still undecided." I shrug, happy enough that I still have something valuable to think about and plan for. "We'll see."
He nods and kisses me. "I'm proud of you."
"Thank you." I've gotten better at accepting their compliments. I'm also feeling decent about myself for once. There's so much going on and yet I'm taking the initiative to plan out a life I want.
Trevor kisses me again, and like every cliché, he pulls away too soon. "We need to talk about some upcoming appointments that need to happen. Guys," he calls out, "family meeting."
