Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 104802 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104802 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
In a lot of ways, it’s not smart. Ollie hasn’t proven himself to Tiernan. Tiernan’s always more cautious with that kind of shit, measured and only taking calculated risks, but he was different with Dean, and now he’s the same with Ollie.
Tiernan crosses his arms, leaning against the desk. “Don’t I, though? He’s yours. You’re ours. That makes him ours too.”
That right there is one of the many reasons I would never walk away from Tiernan, from our family. People can say what they want about us, but there’s a loyalty here that runs through the core of who we are. “Thanks, T. Sorry I punched Dean so often when he first came around.”
He shrugs. “In your defense, he always hit you first.”
I chuckle. Dean is a loose cannon—much like Rory can be—but not always in the same ways. Rory can get lost in his own world. He does more drugs than the rest of us and doesn’t always know when to take a step back. “True.”
“Ollie is good with him…Rory. He’s a good fit for you because he understands Rory. I literally saw him scold Rory out of taking a line of coke the other day. Ollie distracted him with food and a self-defense session, but still. Rory knew what Ollie was doing and let him.”
“Yeah, I know. It’s fucking wild.” I run a hand through my hair, which immediately falls into place again.
“You’ve always been Rory’s tether. I think we would have lost him after his father died, but he won’t ever go where you aren’t. It makes sense that who you end up with will be another anchor for him too. If you knew Ollie couldn’t be that, he wouldn’t be yours.”
I don’t even want to think about living in a world where that’s not the case, so I don’t.
“You might have lost me when my mom died if it wasn’t for Rory too,” I admit. “And you.”
“It’s okay. I know who I am to you, and I know who he is to you. There’s no need to qualify anything. As far as Ollie goes, it won’t be easy. This doesn’t come naturally to him. He’s been talking to Ash, though, which helps. We have your back, cousin.”
Damned if emotion doesn’t clog in my throat. “I know you do.” I pause, try to sort through the thoughts that have been twisting around in my brain. “Am I doing wrong by him by keeping him? Is it better for him if I just let him go?” This lifestyle isn’t for the faint of heart, but…
“Could you? Let him go?”
“Not completely. If it came between hurting him and walking away, I would do the latter, but it wouldn’t change that he’s mine.”
“Exactly. Ollie is smart. He knows the risks, and he’s chosen. He’s here. That tells you everything you need to know. I don’t need to say this to you because I know the man you are, but I’m going to say it anyway. Just be good to him. I think it would have been easier on my mom if my father had been better to her. It was easier on Aunt Moira because your father was. That’s what matters.”
I nod. Tiernan has a bigger heart than most people will ever give him credit for. “Thanks, man. I appreciate it. Do you think I can have tomorrow? All day and night. I want him to have something fucking normal for once.” Ollie is making a lifetime of sacrifices for me. I need it to be worth it.
“I’ll make it happen.”
“Wow…I think you’ve been less of an asshole lately.”
“Fuck off and die,” Tiernan replies, and I laugh. A moment later, he joins in.
*
“Wake up, Kitten.” I dance my fingers down Ollie’s spine, watching goose bumps follow my touch. I’m not usually awake before him unless I have to be, like today. It wasn’t easy because I didn’t want to set an alarm and wake him up, so I barely let myself sleep all night.
He’s lying on his stomach, head resting on his arms, facing me. His eyes flutter before he gets a cute little confused look on his face. “What’s wrong?”
I hate that it’s the first thing he asks. “Nothing’s wrong. Today is our day. The house emptied out early, and I have everything planned. No phone calls today either. Tiernan won’t need me.”
My dancing fingertips move to his shoulder as a smile spreads across his face.
“You did that? For me?”
“I did that for us.”
He bites his bottom lip in a way that goes straight to my dick. It’s wild how much he turns me on, how different my attraction to him is compared to how it’s ever been with anyone else. Love is scary and powerful and the best fucking thing in the world.
Ollie scrambles to sit up, happiness making the brown of his eyes brighter than usual. His smile lands in my chest, gives me that fluttery feeling I only get from him.