Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 107306 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 537(@200wpm)___ 429(@250wpm)___ 358(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107306 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 537(@200wpm)___ 429(@250wpm)___ 358(@300wpm)
“No need to apologize. You guys are kinda incredible.”
“Fuck yes we are.” I stand, tug Ollie to his feet, then go to Shai. “On that note, my pet and I are out too.”
I take Shai’s hand, the man who loves me, the one I’m obsessed with, and lead him to our room.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Shai
“No way I’ll be able to sleep yet,” I tell Rory when we get to the bedroom. “I feel fucking high or something—not the chill kind of high from smoking weed, but like I’m feeling too much to unwind.”
It’s not my style to think shit like this, but tonight was one of the best nights of my life—every night with Rory is, but starting with what we shared in Cillian’s room, telling Rory I love him, all of us hanging out, and then playing with Cillian…
“I’m shaking.” I hold my hand out for him to see. “Is it weird that I feel closer to you after playing with him?” Whatever the fuck this is, whatever draw, bond, love exists between the people in this house, it’s addicting, contagious, like it fills every part of you.
“No,” Rory says, “it’s not weird. It’s the way it’s supposed to be. I felt it too.”
Of course he’d get it. It’s like I feel Rory on a different level. Like something in the universe planned this, created these two fuckups who don’t always make the best decisions and aren’t like everyone else. It mapped out a way for us to meet, for us to be brought together, and somehow, that would make us both better.
“I have something for you,” I tell him. I bought it a week ago but have been nervous to give it to him. I worried it was a dumb gift or that it wasn’t my place, but I want to share it with him, want to find a way to give Rory everything he needs, and I think this is one piece of that.
“If it’s a dildo, I’d rather this instead.” He reaches out and grabs my dick. “Mmm, you know I always want this.”
“Be good, baby. You can have all the dick you want later.”
He pouts but lets go. I go over to one of my bags. Most of my shit has made it into his drawers, but I still have my backpack in the corner. I pull out the box, still trembling but for a different reason now, nervousness battling with the euphoria from moments ago.
Rory takes the box from me but doesn’t speak, doesn’t move, just stares at it.
Did I misjudge the situation? Is this hard for him because of the memories associated with his mom? “You don’t have to do it if you don’t want, or you can do it another time, or…”
“You bought me a model airplane?”
I did, which now feels stupid.
“No. I didn’t.” I try to play it off like this didn’t happen, reach for the box, but Rory doesn’t let me take it from him.
And then…then I swear his blue eyes light up, his smile gets so fucking big, I can’t believe it fits on his face. He looks giddy, in this excited, almost childlike way I’ve never seen from him before. “Let’s do it right now.” He immediately turns toward the desk. It’s got clothes and other shit on it, but Rory just knocks everything to the floor.
Okay, I guess this was a good idea. I made him happy, which is one of my favorite things.
I pull the armchair over. “I’ve never done this before.”
“I’ll teach you.” He opens the box, takes out the instructions booklet, then starts separating the pieces. There’s also glue and paint. I try to imagine a young Rory unable to keep still, doing these with his mom.
“I had…fuck, a shit ton of these as a kid. I loved sharing that with her. Those were my favorite times. This once, my dad came home. He was pissed because he’d gotten in trouble with Sloan—that’s Tiernan’s dad; he’s dead now. But he grabbed one, threw it against the wall, and busted it. My mom…she’d been in her own world all day, but that snapped her out of it. That moment was one of the few times she showed up for me.”
“Jesus, Ror. I’m so sorry.” Parents can really fuck you up. I think we’ve all been traumatized by our parents in some way.
“It’s okay. It made me think she loved me.”
Jesus, this man. It’s like this one simple gift has cracked him open, let him show me more pieces of himself, but somehow, it’s also stitching him back together.
“Me, Ash, Tiernan, and Cillian slashed his tires after that.” He pumps his brows, and I can’t help but laugh.
“Aislin too?”
“Fuck yes. You don’t mess with someone she loves.” He flattens the instructions. “That means you now as well…since you love me and all.”