“I hate that she didn’t get to tell us on her own terms. It doesn’t change anything, but it was her story to tell.” I can feel the tension rising in him as his muscles coil under my hands. “You need to talk to her,” he says quietly, his voice breaking a little at the edges. “Baby, please. Ineedyou to talk to her. I need you to just say what you feel because you don’t have to be scared. She’s so in love with you, Rome.”
He’s overwhelmed, and I know words won’t help right now. So I pull him in, wrap my arms around him, and hold him tight. I stay quiet, keeping the world at bay for him until I feel his breathing start to slow and his body settle in my embrace.
CHAPTER
TWENTY-ONE
ROMAN
My feelingsfor Addie are complicated. At least, that’s what I’ve been telling myself.
But tonight, she didn’t hide from what we are when we’re all together, and something shifted in me. The part of me that’s been keeping her at a distance has cracked wide open, and with morning closing in and us leaving tomorrow, it suddenly hits me just how little time we have left with her.
Jasper finally shakes himself free from whatever dark place he’d slipped into, and once I’m sure he’s steady, we head back to where we left Zeke and Addison.
Zeke is towering over her, gentle in a way that only he can be—his hands cupping her face like she’s something precious. He’s speaking softly, close enough that I can’t make out the words, but I know he’s reassuring her.
He leans in and softly brushes his lips against hers before turning his head toward us. His eyes find mine first, then shift to Jasper, and I watch the way his gaze sharpens, assessing us both, needing to be sure we’re okay.
I give a slight tilt of my head toward Jasper, just enough toguide Zeke’s attention to where it needs to be. His eyes drop immediately to Jasper’s hand, the one he’s still rubbing without realizing it—the hand that landed the punch.
“Show me,” Zeke says, his focus narrowing completely on Jasper now.
Jasper lifts his hand and flexes his fingers, already trying to wave it off before Zeke can say more.
“It’s fine. It’s just gonna bruise. Busted that fucker’s lip good though, didn’t I, Rome?”
The corner of my mouth twitches, and even Zeke lets out a breath that’s almost a laugh. But Addie doesn’t smile. She hasn’t since we returned. Her eyes are red, her cheeks blotchy, and she looks like she’s holding herself together by a thread.
I should’ve done more. I should’ve broken Mikey in half and left him face down in the snow with a hockey stick for a headstone.
“Where is he?” she asks, her voice so small it barely carries.
“Gone,” I say. “Hopefully, he freezes out there, and you won’t have to waste another fucking minute waiting on that divorce.”
Addie exhales, her shoulders trembling as she shakes her head. “I feel like such an idiot.”
“Why?” Zeke asks.
“Because he’s a piece of shit, and I actually married him. Jesus, what the hell was I thinking?”
“It’s okay, angel,” Jasper whispers beside her, trying to offer her comfort.
“No, it’s not,” she snaps, her bottom lip trembling. “I’m not okay. Nothing feels okay.”
“Then help me understand that, baby, because right up until that asshole came in here trying to piss all over you, you were glowing. You were fucking radiant, and you were more than okay,” Zeke says as he lifts a hand to gently tuck her hair behind her ear.
“How am I supposed to be okay after what he told you?” she says, and the laugh that slips out is so broken it makes my chest ache. “I should’ve told you myself. I know that, and I’m sorry for blindsiding you, but it’s not something I can talk about easily. If it’s a dealbreaker, then I’ll understand. But please… please don’t stand there and pretend.”
“It’s not even close to a dealbreaker. It’s something we’ll talk about when you’re ready. But it doesn’t change a damn thing for us.”
“Zeke’s right. Nothing’s changed, beautiful girl,” Jasper adds, stepping up behind him. He slides an arm around his waist and presses his lips to the side of his neck. “Do you wanna come to the women’s bathroom with me? It’s way nicer in there, and I’ll get you off like I just did Addie.”
I know Jasper too well not to see that he’s trying to give Addison and me space and the push we both probably need. He asked me to talk to her, and for Jasper, I’d do just about anything. He’s one of the reasons I even know what love feels like, so if he needs me to lay my soul bare for our girl, I’ll bleed out right here and call it devotion.
“As tempting as that offer is,” Zeke says, turning to graze his nose along Jasper’s jaw, “I think we should make sure no one’s in there wondering where that walking sack of shit disappeared to.”
Zeke leaves Addie’s side and steps in close, his scent wrapping around me before his hands even reach my face.
