Maybe they weren’t, and I was just spiraling because this was my first relationship, and we went all in, hot and heavy with the “L” word and everything really soon.Maybe this was just a hiccup.Relationships had hiccups all the time.Raina and Jagger had one in the beginning, and so did Maverick and Gabrielle.Was this just our hiccup?
It didn’t feel like a hiccup.It didn’t feel like something where I could hold my breath for a minute and eventually my abdomen would stop spasming.This felt real.This felt fatal.
“You need to talk to him,” Gabrielle finally said.“If there’s anything I’ve learned from when I fucked up with Maverick, it’s that communication issoimportant.Emotions were heightened.He was afraid for the foal.Whatever he said or did, I don’t think he meant it.”
Raina nodded.“I fucked up with Jagger.And he totally called me on it.Said that was a dumb reason to end things.So in his mind, they didn’t.That we just had a disagreement, because adults disagree from time to time.”
“I think I just need to give him some space to process everything.It’s been a rough day, and we’ve spent so much time together recently, maybe he just needs a break.He’ll talk to me when he’s ready.”
“A break from you?”Raina asked, her brows shooting up.“You’re like theleastannoying person on the planet.I wouldn’t ever need a break from you.Now, me?I can definitely see somebody needing a break fromme.I’m a lot.”
Gabrielle snorted but didn’t disagree.
“But not you.I don’t see how anybody would get tired of or fed up with you.”
“Don’t roll your eyes,” Gabrielle scolded.“You know she’s right.”
“I also noticed that you didn’t argue with me when I said that I wasa lot.”Raina glared at our eldest cousin, but Gabrielle just ignored her.
“Normal people have more experience with heartache, relationships, and navigating the surrounding chaos,” I said.“But not us.I’m freaking thirty-two-years-old andjusthad my first orgasm, my first boyfriend, and I have no idea what to do now that my relationship is going sideways.Fuck!”I growled.“I hate our parents.I hate all of them for what they did to us.”
They both nodded.
“Yeah, you can bet I’ll be celebrating like the fucking antichrist when I find out my dad is finally dead,” Raina said.“I’m not one for orgies, but I might just have one because fuck him.”
That made Gabrielle and me smirk.
“Have you guys ever thought about … reaching out to our nieces and doing what Aunt Dolores did for us?”Gabrielle asked.
I shook my head, grateful for the distraction and change of topic.
“No, but that’s a fantastic idea,” Raina said.“I’d be on board with that.Get more girls away from that life.And hopefullybeforethey’re saddled with the children of those awful men.”Her yellow-green eyes went wide.“Not that I’d trade my kid for the world, but you know what I mean.”
“We know,” I said softly.
“I’m so grateful to Aunt Dolores for helping us get out.”Gabrielle swallowed, and I could tell she’d been thinking about this for a while with the way her brows knitted together and her jaw grew tight as she spoke.“We need to pay it forward.”
Just as I was about to agree, Maverick, Jagger, and Sam appeared, coming out of the barn.Sam looked sad, but Maverick said something to her and she perked up.
Gabrielle hopped out and joined Maverick, both of them climbing into his truck, while Sam squished in beside me and Jagger jumped in the front passenger seat.
“Everything okay?”I asked my kid, sweeping my hand down the back of her head.
“Why didn’t you come out?”she asked.
How did I answer this?
“I … I’ll check in with Tom a bit later,” I finally said, not really answering her at all.
“That’s not an answer.”She gave me a weird look.
Dammit.She was too smart.
“Did Tom ask where I was?”
Raina turned over the ignition, and we started to make our way up the driveway.Maverick and Gabrielle followed behind us.
“No.But it’s weird you didn’t come check on Raven or Midnight.Don’t you care about them?”
