ALEXANDER “What’s going on, man?” “Nothing.” He said a bit too quickly before running his palm down his face. “It’s just been nice having people around again… my people. I’ve been alone for so long. No matter how many tickets I sent or how many times I called or texted, my family hadn’t shown up
BAILEE As I woke, my body was stiff and overly warm. Brinley was curled into my side, her head on my shoulder, sleeping partially on top of me, and I sighed in relief that she was actually here and safe. I stared at her for a long while, worried that she would disappear and I would wake up alone,
BAILEE “You’re being weird,” I muttered to Ben as he sat across from me at the dining room table. “You are weird.” He threw back, and the corner of my lips pulled up in amusement. There he was, back to himself. “Is this about the Range Rover because I came into some money recently, and I can
ALEXANDER The sign over the front of the building was chipped and outdated, something I hadn't noticed until now. I took a second to stare at it for a moment longer as I waited for Ben to get Brinley out of her car seat. He was a good uncle, but man, had it been satisfying to crack a few ‘Manny -
ALEXANDER “Oh, Alex!” My foster mother, Kaylee, exclaimed, and I tensed in surprise as she rounded the table to wrap her arms around me. It felt like a trap. It was a cold, cruel trap. “Love, let’s sit down and let him get his bearings. It’s been a long past few days, I’m sure.” My foster fathe
ALEXANDER “We are sorry, son. So sorry.” Nial said, and had I not gone through the training I did for the army, I would have cracked as he called me son. Instead, I just nodded. There was nothing more I could ask of them besides regret and an apology. Anything else seemed unreasonable. “How ca
BAILEE My lips pulled up into a smile as I was roused from my sleep to the feeling of gentle kisses being peppered along my shoulder blade. The rough scruff of Alex's beard slid against my skin so delicately that I shivered from the pleasure it sent through me. That had always been my weak spot,
BAILEE “Are you mad at me?” I asked, and Ben looked at me briefly before returning to Brinley. “No, why?” He asked, and my molars ground together at the two-word answer. “Oh, I don’t know. Maybe it’s because you won’t look at me, and every time you talk to or text me, it’s like pulling teeth to
BEN It was odd pulling up to the house and finding there wasn’t a single paparazzi in sight. After today’s news, I expected them to be ready to break down my gate for a story, but no one was there. Instead, a blacked-out SUV sat across the street, and my stomach twisted when I realized it was pro
HAVEN I needed to get out of the house. Staying inside was driving me crazy, and I couldn’t take it anymore. My last job interview was a week ago, and while I keep applying, no one wants to hire the woman all over the tabloids with a sex tape. Our PR team managed to get it taken down, but it stil
BEN “Rangers player Benjamin Evans is today’s hot topic. Now fans were petitioning for him to be traded for his performance last season. Even I wanted him gone, and I’ve followed his career since he was being scouted.” The reporters around him laughed, and I gritted my jaw. “I know. I remember hi
HAVEN Ben’s leg bounced all through breakfast, and I couldn’t help but look over my shoulder every few seconds to the large window behind me. The way his eyes kept scanning it made me feel like someone was about to repel from the roof and crash through it at any moment, or there was a sniper some
BEN Was it weird to be shopping for engagement rings at this moment? Yes Still, I couldn’t help myself. It was the first place my mind went when I woke up this morning. If Haven was so comfortable around me and loved me so much that she was willing to let me fuck her in the ass, then I would bet s
HAVEN “Have you ever done this before?” Ben asked, and I shook my head. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath before stepping back. “How did I get so lucky?” His question, with the sudden loss of his body heat, made me blush, and I pushed off the counter slowly. I could only assume, with him
HAVEN “Did he say anything to you?” Ben asked as we settled into our room for the night. Siri had passed out on the car ride home, and Ben made it look so easy to transfer her from the car to her bed. I had never succeeded in doing that without waking her up. “No,” I said, meeting his stressed
BEN He was so close to them... so close to my family, and there was nothing I could do but watch. “Evans! Head in the game!” Coach screamed, but I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the scene before me. Security was coming down the steps toward him, and he threw his head back laughing before walk
HAVEN I was so scared that Ben would be angry at me for going behind his back and calling his parents that I hadn’t even told him they were coming. They were staying at a hotel near the stadium and were ecstatic to meet Siri. That was my big regret with this surprise. Ben didn’t get to introduce