Lincoln leans forward so he’s square in my line of sight, making sure he reads every shape my fingers make. A sleepy, crooked smile tugs at his mouth.
“We’re here because you are,” he says simply.
Milton reaches up, his hand taking hold of my foot, pulling my attention. “You’re ours,” he says, before slipping back into half-consciousness.
My eyes shoot to Korbin. He doesn’t move, but he does speak. “Because you don’t get to go through anything alone. Not anymore.”
My breath catches.
My hand shakes as I sign.
Thank you.
I seem to be saying that a lot with these three.
Lincoln sits up, leaning toward me, takes my covers and my trembling hands with his, stilling them.
“Anytime. We mean it, Bayleigh.”
For the first time… I believe them. All three of them.
34
Milton
I roll over,my back killing me and my arm half asleep. I can feel the weight of a heavy blanket laying on top of me, one I don’t remember falling asleep with. A thick, soft blanket is tucked around my shoulders like someone actually gives a damn about me. For a second, I float there in that hazy space between sleep and reality.
It takes a minute for me to realize where I am, as memories of last night begin flooding back.
An amazing night out with Bayleigh, Lincoln, and Korbin.
Taking her home.
Benton shouting in the driveway.
Bayleigh crying.
The three of us bringing her home with us.
The things we admitted to her in the middle of the night… the ones I was sure I’d imagined.
I lift my head off the hardwood floor, neck stiff, and—yeah, there she is.
Bayleigh’s curled up on the couch, blanket balled under her chin, her long lashes barely touching her skin. Her lips areparted slightly with the cutest little bit of drool dripping onto the pillow.
Lincoln’s sitting on the other end of the couch, coffee in hand as he watches her like she might shatter if he looks away. Fearful that her presence is only a dream for all of us. I glance over and see Korbin in the recliner; sometime after I fell asleep he managed to recline back. His arms are crossed over his chest, his body turned slightly to the right. His chest rises evenly as he snores softly.
I can’t help but let out a small snort. “We should record him. That way the fucker can’t claim he doesn’t snore.” My words come out softly, not wanting to wake Bayleigh, before I remember she can’t hear. She’s so amazing that I keep forgetting that small fact.
“He’d deny it. I’ve already done it.” Lincoln lets out a little laugh as I slowly stand from the floor, arching my back as I stretch.
“Is there any more coffee in the kitchen?”
Lincoln nods his head, stands, and walks toward the kitchen with me falling in step behind him. He goes straight to the coffee pot and pours me a cup.
I pull out a chair and sit down, placing my elbows on the table and resting my chin on my hands. I make sure to bat my eyes at him when he turns around and heads toward me with two cups in hand. “Well thank you, lover boy.”
Lincoln shoots me a murderous glare as he sits down across from me, holding my cup hostage. “Shut up.”
