Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 88501 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 443(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88501 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 443(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
Tears burned in my eyes, and I blinked them rapidly away. “First off, if Sawyer dared to have any opinion about my love life right now, I’d tell him to fuck off. It’s none of his damned business. And second, are you fucking kidding me?”
Pierce jerked and stared at me as if he couldn’t understand what I was saying.
“Pierce Sutton, you are not a moron! Think about it. Who else knew exactly how to step in when I was burned out and drained after that last concert? You’re the one who took care of me. You put me in pajamas, gave me rain music for white noise, and cuddled me while feeding me cheese. No one has ever taken care of me like that. Not even my parents. Everyone always gave me space to figure myself out.”
“But—”
“Who was the one to step in when I was panicked about writing the concerto and helped me set boundaries? Who made sure I was fed, clean, and warm? You even helped me get my music organized. I feel safe playing unfinished music in front of you. I don’t feel safe with anyone like that. Fuck, Pierce! I wrote a nocturne for you.”
“You needed a little help.”
“Yeah, and you were the only one who stepped in and took control to make sure it happened. Everyone else thinks, ‘Oh, he’s a fucking genius. He’ll figure it out.’ No, clearly I won’t. If Sawyer was so damned determined to find the right person to keep me safe and happy, he had been staring him right in the face the entire time. There’s only ever been you.”
Pierce’s expression softened, and some of the pain that had filled his dark eyes had faded. “You’re so amazing. You deserve the world. It’s just that you get so caught up in being brilliant that you forget about taking care of yourself.”
My heart gave an unsteady beat. “I know. I’m high maintenance. No matter how hard I try, I will always be high maintenance. I’d understand if that wasn’t something you wanted for your life. Ugh. Really? Who would? You deserve someone who doesn’t need a keeper. Who can be an equal partner with you. But if you gave me a shot, I swear I would try so hard to be worthy of you.”
To my surprise, Pierce leaned forward and pressed the gentlest kiss to the center of my forehead. “I have never seen you as less. There’s nothing you have to do to be worthy of me. You are perfect exactly as you are.”
I lifted my eyes to his, clinging to the newly budding hope in my chest. “Does this mean that you’re willing to give us a try? A real try?”
Pierce immediately backed off so that we were no longer touching. The haunted look returned to his gaze. “I-I don’t know. Your brother…yes, logic says he could have completely changed his opinion about us now that you’re an adult, but I can’t get it out of my head. Our last words to each other were so angry and toxic. The last thing I promised him…”
That wasn’t a no. Besides, I’d known I wouldn’t be able to fix everything in a single talk. This old wound had been festering inside Pierce for more than ten years. I also couldn’t be the only one to help him heal. There were other people he’d been hiding this from.
“Okay.”
Pierce froze, his wide eyes locked on me, like he couldn’t believe that I’d so easily agreed with him. Except I wasn’t finished.
“We’ll put us on hold. It’s not the most important thing right now.” I slowly closed the distance between us and caught his cold right hand. I lifted his fingers to my lips as I cradled his hand in mine. In the opening, I blew hot air on his fingertips, trying to warm them. “I think the next thing you need to do is have a long talk with Rome, Declan, and Sebastian.”
“No!” Pierce tried to pull his hand free, but I was ready for him. I tightened my grip on him, refusing to let him escape.
“They’ve been worried about you for years. They also know something happened back then. Don’t you think they deserve to know the truth? They won’t hate you over this.”
“But they might hate Sawyer. I don’t want their opinion of him to change.”
A heavy sigh escaped me. “I don’t hate him. I’m really fucking pissed and annoyed with him at the moment, but I don’t hate him. His heart was in the right place, even if he was an idiot. I would like to kick him in the dick right now, but I also think he would have come to his senses if he’d had time to cool off. And I’m pretty sure your friends will feel the same way.”