Addicted After All (Addicted, #5)

by Krista Ritchie

Connor and Rose suddenly go quiet and very still. They exchange a few words in French to each other, and she delicately passes him his phone back. I frown. “What?” They’re holding hands now. Like a united force. My heart thuds. Connor actually removes his sunglasses, his blue eyes very calm. It makes me less nervous. “Lily,” he says, “it sort of seems like you’re trying too hard. Does that make sense?” “She understands,” Rose tells him. “You don’t have to talk down to her.” I don’t understand though. “I’m just expressing myself.” “You need to tweet more then,” he tells me. “Because the way this comes across—it makes it look like you’re trying to cover up something.”

I recognize Lo’s black swim trunks, and my world lights up. He nears me, his hands skimming my thighs, and his teeth playfully nip my flesh.

hiii, lo! ;')

Raisy is alive.

“You know me,” he says—three words that weren’t true for decades of time. “Do you really think I can fucking change?”

“Because you’re my brother,” I say without pause, “and I’d rather be with you than against you.”

Tomorrow we’re going onshore to Puerto Vallarta—Daisy doesn’t know about what Ryke planned. Neither do the girls. It’ll be a surprise for her birthday. Hopefully a good one.

OH???

“Virgin margarita,” I emphasize for the tenth time.

He speaks in Spanish a little bit and then begins pouring shots. My eyes bulge. “Nonono.” I wave my hand like I have a superpower to reverse time. If only that were the case—but I’d find better use for it. When I acquire my powers, I won’t waste them on things like this. The nightclub slowly amasses with people, multi-colored strobe lights swirling and Latin music booming over the speakers. Even though it’s not electronica, it’s extremely danceable. A-plus-plus. “Pregnant,” I tell him, pointing to my belly that’s hidden behind the bar.

I CANNOTT. someone teach my girl spanish!

“Are you seriously trying to serve a pregnant woman shots?” Rose says icily. The bartender not-so subtly ogles her breasts. “Also pregnant,” Rose snaps, “and even if I wasn’t, I’d throw salt in your eyes.” She actually reaches for the salt shaker, and Daisy snatches her arm.

HELPME.

Our mom wanted to spend time with Daisy, so Ryke scheduled ATVs and bungee jumping this morning and afternoon. Not that Rose or I could join in—or that she’d want to.

ATVs ARE SO FUN.

I open my mouth to refute, but instead of a yearning gaze, he cringes, unable to hide his reaction to Daisy’s scar that runs along her cheek. Daisy just smiles politely, but she falls to the flats of her feet. I nudge her hip, but she gives me a weak smile too, like it’s okay.

daisy omg. ROSE, THROW THE SALT IN THIS MAN'S EYES. he doesn't even deserve to see daisy's etheral face.

Daisy takes the shot, licks her tequila-wet lips and says, “You’re eighty-nine, or maybe seventy-four.” “Nice try,” he says, pouring her another shot. “I’m thirty-two.” She gasps again. “I wasn’t right? I thought for sure you were a little blind in your right eye.” His lips downturn. “I’m nineteen,” Daisy retorts. “Nice try.”

AS SHE SHOULD.

“That doesn’t mean much to me,” he says, “other than your pussy being tighter than your sisters.” All of our mouths simultaneously drop, except Rose who is about to punch him. But she can’t. Hands swoop around her waist from behind. Connor.

BRO WHAT. RYKE IS ABOUT TO GO CRAZY.

“They’re together, you dumb fuck. So swallow your tongue. And consider yourself lucky that only three out of eight people pray you choke on it.” I’m guessing that’s Ryke, Lo, and Rose. The hot-tempered triad.

OMGGG.

Lo grinds his teeth. “They only spoke in Spanish.” Oh. Oh. That means that Ryke hasn’t translated everything for Lo. And neither has Connor, who’s also fluent.

Chocolate cake. That is what all four guys had been searching for. Not cigars. It’s possibly one of the sweetest, kindest gestures I’ve seen. Because it’s something that Daisy loves.

When we finish the song, I have to wipe my eyes quickly. I catch Rose wiping hers too, and I point a finger at her and gawk. She told me to suck it up last week when we were watching a movie and I cried at the end. She mouths, shut up. And then she adds, hormones. Fine. I’ll let her throw out the hormone card, especially because I use it all the time.

THEY'RE SO CUTE OMG.

In his last year of college, before he was expelled, he refused to dance with me. Every single time. He sat at the bar and said dance by yourself when I asked. It didn’t always used to be like that. So seeing him, right now, dancing in the middle of the club, with no alcohol in his clutch—it possesses me in ways that I can’t express. It’s like my soul is alive. Like I’ve woken up from a long, long sleep.

my babies are finally happy.

Even playing truth or dare,

HELLO.

“Rose,” she says. Rose crosses her ankles, alert like she’s about to answer some collegiate quiz question. Of course she’s happy to be participating. “Truth or dare?” “Truth,” she says instantly.

HELPME. rose and connor are well conversed in truth or dare..... ! (kiss the sky reference)

“Rose, what position do you like the best?” Lily smiles more, able to ask this without stumbling over words. Rose clutches Connor’s hand so forcefully that his skin begins to turn purple.

IMSCREAMING.

“My favorite position is Connor’s least favorite position,” she says. “This isn’t called lie or dare, darling.” Connor fixes her hair over one shoulder, her neck bare. Rose purses her lips, her collarbones protruding from her black dress. “Fine…my favorite position is missionary.” She pauses briefly. “With a few alternations.” And just like that—Connor looks ready to fuck her across the couch.

CONNOR COBALT.

“Meaning handcuffs, whips and yes sirs.” Rose lunges for me—what the hell. I instinctively flinch back while Connor seizes her around the waist—right before she catapults across the fucking table.

IMDEAD OMG.

He’s holding the back of Rose’s head, and she says something fiercely to him in French. I look to Ryke. My brother sighs but ends up ratting them out, “She doesn’t call Connor sir, ever.”

well.. she TRIED.

Connor is too conceited. Rose is too high-strung. Daisy is too wild. Ryke is too aggressive. Lily is too awkward. I’m too hateful. Sam and Poppy are just right.

“When Connor walked in, and Ryke came on your face—how embarrassed were you?”

LOREN.

And then Ryke says, without missing a beat, “Kiss Loren. For thirty fucking seconds.”

I FINALLY MADE IT TO THE SCENE.

And then he rises. “Stand up,” he commands to me. “Are you sure⁠—” “I can handle the backlash,” he says, and his eyes briefly flicker to Ryke. I get it. He values his friendship with Ryke this much—that he’s willing to risk criticism or a new headline in the tabloids just to even the playing fields again. “Stand up.” Jesus Christ. I’m going. I’m going. I set Lily on the cushion beside Daisy, and then I rise, facing him, a coffee table separating us.

DAMN. connor is throwing out ORDERS.

Right as I turn to Connor, his hand cups the back of my head. And his lips touch mine.

I CAN'T STOP LAUGHING. LIKE THIS IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING.

In the last three seconds, I feel Connor grinning against my lips. I swear he’s entertained by the weirdest things.

“It was okay,” Rose says flatly, which prompts Connor to study her with intrigue. I expected her to charge at me or him—since she hates me and she loves him and we just kissed. But she doesn’t care. I can’t wrap my head around those two most of the time.

they're open like that, i guess. IMDONE. THIS IS SUCH A FUNNY, UNREAL SCENE.

“A solid eight,” Daisy declares, though she is staring only at Ryke right now. They’re giving fuck me eyes to each other. This is all wrong. “It’s masturbation worthy.”

BRO.

And then Connor’s deep blue eyes meet mine, and he smiles at me, a genuine one that he only reserves for friends. He can slice through arguments, lower boiling points and keep our friendship intact, not even remotely awkward after we just kissed.

Thank God. Or rather, thank him. Yeah, I smile, he’d want me to rephrase that.

that's so connor.

She raises her fists sloppily into the air and shouts, “HELLO, MEXICO!” The four guys, sauntering twenty feet ahead of us, all turn their heads in unison. Damn. That was sexy.

Daisy focuses on her boyfriend and almost trips over her feet. “Watch it, Calloway,” he tells her. “You watch it,” she says, her retort not as good with her drunken state. Poppy and I hold her firmly to our sides. “I am watching it,” Ryke says, his eyes right on hers, “and she looks like a hot fucking mess.”

Ryke places a hand on Lo’s shoulder, and they talk amongst themselves. Laughter emanates from their huddle, and Lo’s is the loudest, the most full-bellied and jam-packed with true happiness. My eyes sting with emotion. Loren Hale is laughing. It shouldn’t be a rare phrase. But it is.

MY SHAYLA. :')

I smash the churro into her chest since the dessert is obviously not nice to me. Disgruntled, she tosses it on the sidewalk. Poppy gapes, “Rose, you shouldn’t litter.” Our oldest sister leaves our side to pick up the churro and find a trashcan. “I’m feeding the birds,” Rose calls after Poppy, who is already on an environmental mission.

WAIT THAT'S SO OUT OF CHARACTER FOR HER. i've always seen rose & connor as intelligent people who would know about all of the environmental issues, and not follow society's footsteps..... but maybe that's only connor....

“I hate giving blow jobs,” Rose suddenly opens up. She rarely talks about her sex life with Connor, so my lips part in shock. Maybe she thinks it’s only fair to offer some info when she keeps prodding Daisy. “I mean…” She sighs and rolls her eyes. “The first time wasn’t awful, but it’s my least favorite thing. I’m not good at it, and Connor is huge—do not mention that I complimented his dick. Please.”

I SCREAMED. we know. HER SAYING HUGE IS KILLING ME. DAISY SAW.

Ryke has charged some random guy wearing a surfer graphic tee and frayed shorts. Lo restrains his brother by the shoulders. Ryke spits out nasty words…all in Spanish.

the guy definitely said something about daisy.

Tee yells at Ryke and Lo with just as much venom, and then laughs mockingly like he’s won a battle. Our lives are open to the public, like we live in a glass house, and people enjoy tapping on the walls, waiting and waiting for a reaction, for that little bit of entertainment. Forgetting that we aren’t performers or mannequins put on display.

omg. nevermind. it's 100% about the lily rumors.

Then Surfer Tee creates a V-shape with his fingers and obscenely sticks his tongue through it. His eyes have shifted. And they land right on me. Chills race down my spine.

DISGUSTING. i'm with connor. let ryke beat him up.

And then we’re all distracted when Surfer Tee kicks Lo hard below his chest. “Lo!” I scream, especially as Lo crumples to the ground. My stomach caves, remembering his preexisting injury: broken ribs from the Paris riot. Hot tears squeeze through the corners of my eyes.

NO. stop it.

“I’m fine,” Lo says. “So fine that I can hug you?” I ask skeptically. He’s putting on a good front. “Go ahead, Lil,” he nods. I gently wrap my arms around him, keeping distance between our bodies. His warm breath touches my temple as he whispers, “That’s not how we hug.” “I’m not hurting you,” I tell him adamantly. “I know you’re in pai⁠—” He squeezes me to his chest, a common embrace for us, one where our bodies meld together with no beginning and end. It’s like we’re one. I feel his heart thud, thud, thud against my skin.

My belly flutters, a literal movement that causes me to straighten like a board. “Lo…” I whisper. “Lil?” He scrutinizes my expression. It happens again, only this time, stronger, like a foot… I touch my abdomen, my heart quickening. “Is he…” Lo trails off. I nod. “I think so.” Lo places his hand on my belly, and after a few quiet seconds, the faint movement happens again. Lo’s eyes smile so much that I laugh into one.

I'M GOING TO CRY OMG. my babies go through so much, and the baby is like their road to keep fighting :')

“It’s not just because I don’t think you can handle it,” Ryke suddenly tells me. He pulls the towel away from his lip, focusing on the damp cloth. “It’s that…” His face twists. “…I don’t know if I can translate it without screaming.” “Just give me something,” I choke out the words. Connor is quiet, looking concerned for me.

bro. it's THIS bad?? i'm scared.

“How many guys have pounded into that slut?” he says at first. It’s another swift kick. I squeeze my eyes shut. Don’t think about it. “Is she still full of their cum?”

omg.

“Bring her here, we want to see how many cocks can fit inside her…” He trips up, and his voice cracks again. “I can’t.” I’m crying. I only realize it when the sound of a sob breaches my lips.

LILY. omg. loren literally FEELS for her. people are so disgusting.

“how many cocks can fit inside her giant cunt. You better have a leash on your bitch; we plan on riding her tonight.”

so disgusting. & to think lily endures more backlash than men like this. society is horrible.

Just stand up. And I rise slowly to my feet. Heavy and shackled with weight. I still move.

lo & lily are so strong.