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Those four words plunge inside me, and I shake my head, on automatic. “It bothers you that fucking much,” he says sharply. “To have someone care about you?” I scrape a hand through my hair. Unable to swallow the lump.
“Out in the cold,” I say, still seeing my breath. “Freezing our asses off for some wieners.” He makes an unamused face. “You’re so funny, I think I heard the dead bodies I buried laughing back here.”
“Some epic romances aren’t born from easy times,” I say softly. “They’re born from strife and conflict and sometimes horrible shitty things happening.”
Don’t want them to smell her. I feel like a fucking feral animal right now who was interrupted during mating season. Like I will rip into anyone who goes for my girl.
“And don’t ever fucking talk about her like that again.” I know what he was implying.
I’m with her ‘cause we see in each other what few people see in ourselves. The heart of her is so beautiful it hurts to talk about it at times.”
“There are a thousand O’Malleys in South Philly. My mom’s not a part of your family.” She’s Bridget O’Malley, but I always assumed that her branch of the family did not touch any part of Chris’s tree. ‘Cause he would’ve said something. He would’ve, at the very least, told Triple Shield when I was sitting on a hot seat being grilled about the Donnellys’ ancestry.
“You know the funny thing?” I choke out. “I would’ve given anything to grow up next to you. I woulda instantly loved you.” I watch his face fall. “Now you’re just another cousin I wish were dead.”
and I can’t say how many minutes pass before the bell dings and my superhero arrives. Literally. I grin as Spider-Man bounds inside.
I take it back about not needing saving. I could be saved by Luna Hale every day. Just for this moment to exist.
And I realize, they aren’t here for Luna. They came here for me. I love my family. It crashes against me, and I look down at the pavement, trying not to fucking cry. When I get it together, I look up and I nod to them in thanks, unable to speak. They don’t need to say anything to me. Words don’t feel as good as what they just did.
Easton’s dad wasn’t happy about his slipping grades. He decided a good punishment was to strip his son’s bedroom of everything except box springs and a lamp.
“Because she loves you. Like head-over-heels smitten, would do absolutely anything for you in love.”
“What’s your ship name? Because I keep seeing ‘dirty duo’ and that doesn’t sound magical enough for a ‘Luna and Donnelly’ pairing.”
Wealth doesn’t wear him. His aura so naturally fits inside the regality of his legacy, it’s simply understood that Eliot Alice is the son of Rose and Connor Cobalt.
All Eliot has ever wanted is for his brothers and sisters to be as thick-as-thieves, but Ben is the outlier. The odd peg that doesn’t always fit into the Cobalt Empire mold.
“Power is only valuable if you know how to wield it,”
“Some of my favorite nights are the ones that start off shaky. It just reminds me that a bad night can always turn good.”
“Love is the one thing we’re capable of perceiving that transcends dimensions of time and space. Maybe we should trust that, even if we can’t understand it.”
It’s not the first time she’s blacked out from sex. Her neuro-doctors say it’s fine. Nothing related to her amnesia.
Omega caring about me—I love. We’ve had each other’s backs. I would die for them. They’d go through hell for me. Epsilon caring about me—odd, peculiar. I don’t trust it. Probably because I don’t fully trust them.
“She likes me?” Donnelly’s brows jump. “Duh.” Kinney blushes a little. “She’s giving you extra attention. She doesn’t do that for people she hates.” She glances around at all of us, nervous. “What?” “I believe it,” I sing-song.
Last time we read his rules, we were attempting to cook blueberry pancakes for the house (Jane left us together), and we saw a new rule about “no sex in the game room” which we both think is a dumb one meant to be broken.
“And more…yes, you call to more people here. You’ve called to them quietly and possibly without you really knowing.”
“Continue to love with your whole heart. It’s why they all love you with theirs.” I brighten and whisper to Tom, “That’s really sweet.”
Easton gets flagged down daily. Guy is bullet-proof to any questions about Xander. It’s like he’s the real undead. Told Luna all about Xander’s friends while we were in bed one night. She wanted to know more about Easton since he lives down the hall. I ended up talking about Spencer too. Luna smiled, “My brother would befriend a vampire and a ghost.”
Tab them into: The Mysteries of the Cobalt Empire. Right under what the hell happens on Wednesday nights.
“See you around, Fisher.” “See you, Birthday Boy.” It takes him aback. Shit, it takes me by surprise after today’s lack of b-day wishes.
Before the MLB collab, a Kitsulletti baby graced the earth. Seven Kitsuwon Meadows. Dope ass name imo. Born on the 7th of April. Healthy baby, healthy mom, two happy dads.
“There is for you,” Charlie says, elbows on the bar. “You like a hate-fuck.”
Charlie and Beckett swing their heads in unison to me. It’s one of the few twin-like mannerisms I’ve caught them doing tonight. “Where’d you hear that?” Beckett wonders. “Backstage at the ballet tonight. I overheard the staff, I think. They looked like instructors or directors of the company. They kept referencing a Bad Anne. Like a bad apple?” Beckett winces like that’s not quite right. Charlie is glaring. “You all call her Bad Anne?”
And then I realize…” Leo grips the bar casually. “You are nothing without me, and I’m nothing without you.” They share this deep, fiery look—like an aggravation is burning a hole through both of them from their unceasing rivalry, stoked by their ballet company.
“If he likes his vies, he’d keep them off our brother’s adversary.” “But he’s so hot,” Tom groans like it’s a struggle. “And he winked at me.” “Eye twitch,” Eliot shoots me a look to say the same. “Coulda been a dust particle itch.” I sing-song, “Possibilities.” “You know…” Tom stares sadly at the tequila. “He’s my secret…the crush.” His secret crush.
Eliot squeezes me back, and I tell him, “Thank you for loving me enough to try.” I feel his chest collapse as he releases a breath. He whispers, “Always.”
“I’ve loved you at your weakest, at your strongest, at your most broken. And you’ve loved me at mine.”
“There will never be a day where I won’t,” she says shakily, her tears cascading. “You don’t need to be afraid to lose me, Donnelly. I’ll always love all of you exactly as you’ve loved all of me—that’s the secret of our universe.”
I’ll always be here for you—and not just ‘cause you’re her Number One Protector. You’re my friend. My friends are family, and you’ve gotta release this guy from your life. I know what it’s like to have friends who don’t want anything good for you, and it’s soul-sucking. Don’t let anyone dim your light.”
Beckett pled, and then he angled the FaceTime. Charlie was at the airport with him. They were already in Philadelphia. Apparently, they had left Vegas not long after Ben did. To find their brother. Move to New York.
“If you don’t let me publish this,” Dad says, clearing his choked voice, “that would be the problem. Because this, what you two created—your love, your lives, through space and time—it’s the best goddamn submission I’ve had in decades.”
“You can call me Paul.” His voice is raspy, choked. He clears it too. “Thanks for helping me love my name again.”
“I want you to be my Iron Man. Help me make this company better than it’s ever been.”
You’re the heart, Donnelly. Not just of the Yale boys, not just of SFO, but of the entire security team. As much as all of us didn’t want to share you, it’d be more selfish to keep you.”
He’s always said he’d never let me tattoo him. And I do have enough stencils. After it’s perfectly placed on his ribs, I ask, “You sure?” “I’m sure I’ve lost my ever-loving mind.” Then he sighs into a grin, nodding. “Only because I love you.” “Took you this long?” “Don’t make me laugh—not while the needle is going.” Haven’t touched him yet. “Redford.” Farrow pops a bubblegum bubble. “Man, I’m not holding your hand.”
She’s adorable. Too cute for this earth, and I get giddy every time she demands to cosplay as the Thebulan Princess Solana. Her purple leotard glitters like my dress.
