And I actually mean it.
Because Gemma is everything I didn’t know I needed.
“How areyou, Bed?” Mads asks.
I know he means after the attack. I know he means if I’m keeping out the invasive thoughts.
I sigh and slowly nod. “I’m… trying? I guess you could say. Just keeping my fucking mind off of it. The beach helps. We went surfing at sunrise. There were some killer waves, dude. You guys should come just to get out there.”
“I’m always game for the beach,” Zeb says. “And seeing your dad. I like your dad.”
“How are you doing otherwise?” Mads asks. “Like… do you need us?”
“I always need you guys,” I say, something about the question and the way they’re staring at me making my heart seem even more full than it’s ever been. “I wouldn’t be here without all of you… But to answer your question, I’m okay. Now.” My eyes move to Reed, and he holds up his pinky finger, to which I do the same.
“What the hell?” Zeb says. “When did I become your ex?”
“If there’s one thing Reed Matthews doesn’t do, it’s act like a bulldog when I tell him I have a problem,” I say pointedly to Zeb.
He settles back on the couch, mouth twisted into a sour pout. “Yeah, fine,” he says. “That’s fair.”
“At least you’re self-aware,” Andi teases him.
I sit back and hit the double-pedals again. “Hey, are we doing this?” I ask.
There’s a knock on the door from their side, and Andi stands up to answer it. She presses her hand to her stomach, her wince so mild that if I hadn’t been watching her, I wouldn’t have noticed. Mads catches her hand when she passes him, and the way he peers up at her… there’s a sparkle of something new in his gaze.
I stare at Mads, willing him to look my way so I can telepathically communicate my question to him because I could just be making shit up in my head. And when he catches my eye, I raise my brows, and he winks at me.
“Shut up,” I excitedly mouth to him.
Is she pregnant?
I want to ask outright; however, with the way they’ve been battling this, I don’t know that it would be a good idea, especially if they’re not ready to tell people.
Mads draws his fingers across his lips like he’s zipping his mouth closed, and I nod as Reed and Zeb finish settling their bet money.
“Okay, did we settle on the beginning?” I ask them.
“Oh, wait—sorry—” Andi comes in front of the screen again. “Hey, Bon. Kade has a moving truck with your things. Do you care if Wren and I set up your apartment?”
My brows narrow. “Oh. Um. Yeah, that’s fine,” I say.
I shouldn’t be surprised.
Obviously, my things were getting moved.
There was a dead body in my apartment, for fuck’s sake.
“What’s wrong?” Zeb asks.
“Ah, nothing. Nothing.” I straighten on my stool, sticks up. “Let’s go.”
By the time we wrap up, I’m sweaty and starving. We’re almost at a place to start recording before RagnaRock, and I can’t wait to hear it all come together. If we end up playing it at the festival, it’ll be the most epic fucking thing ever.
I’ve barely been off the phone ten minutes, still coming down from the creative high, when Gemma sticks her head in the door.
The sight of her immediately brings a smile to my lips.
