It’s too fast. Too soon.
Which means there’s still hope!
But is there really?
She was broken last night. And I can’t fix whatever she went through. I understand completely why she was triggered, and I wish I could step in and make it all better. But she doesn’t want to let me do that. And maybe it’s not my place anyway.
You can’t heal someone else.
You can help, if they let you, but it’s ultimately up to them.
Shit, I wish I could do more.
I want to call her. Check that she’s okay. I want to text Jed or Tobin or… shit, I wonder how Nix is doing.
Ricky, that little fucker.
My insides churn as I step around Grady, popping two slices of bread into the toaster.
“It’s a crowded house this morning,” he murmurs as Nylah and Carson stroll into the kitchen as well.
“Let’s move to the dining table.” Zander stands with Zoey securely in his arms. Sienna grabs their plates and trots out of the kitchen with Blake and Grady in their wake.
“See you in a second!” Wily calls from his post behind Satch, who’s frying up something delicious.
“Is that bacon?” Nylah sniffs the air. “Is there enough to go around?”
“I can put more on.” Satch grins. “We’re doing scrambled eggs too, if you want in on that. I’ll cook them up as soon as the bacon’s done.”
“Yes, please.” Nylah moves to the fridge to grab the carton of eggs. “How many more should I add? Caveman, you having any of this?”
“Yep.” He walks out of the pantry with a box of Pop-Tarts and holds them up with a grin. “Dessert.”
“Ew.” Nylah’s face puckers. “That’s not even food.”
“How did they end up in the house?” Wily takes the box off him, reading the packet. “Dude, these expired over a year ago.”
“They’re Pop-Tarts.” Carson grabs the box back. “This shit can’t expire. There’s so much sugar and fake crap in here, it’ll probably last a century.”
“Then why do you want to put it in your body?” Nylah’s expression is pure disgust. “That’s so gross.”
Carson gives her a dry look and shakes the box in the air. “I don’t like wasting food.”
“Whatever.” Nylah laughs. “Please, just chuck that crap out and find something else. I’ll cut you up some fruit for dessert, although we’re eating breakfast, which is technically not a meal that requires dessert.”
Rolling his eyes, Carson drops the box into the trash can, then scoops Nylah up around the waist when she gets within range. “Maybe I’ll have you for dessert instead.”
She lets out an adorable squawk when he scrapes his teeth across her exposed shoulder. She’s wearing one of those sweaters that’s so baggy, it can barely stay on her body.
“You’ll be calorie-free,” Carson murmurs, and Wily booms with laughter.
“Dude, you’ll be burning calories. Win-win!”
Satch giggles as she removes slices of crispy bacon from the frying pan and loads it up with more. She glances at me then, her expression sweet. “Do you want some?”
“Uh… no. I’ll just stick with peanut butter toast, thanks.”
“Okay.” Her expression softens as she takes me in, her head tipping to the side. “Are you all right?”
