“Okay, I’m willing to try.” Her soft voice cuts through my thoughts, easing the worry lodged in my chest.
Then she adds, “Thank you.” And that gentle appreciation nearly sends me over the edge.
We all tense at her gratitude, knowing we don’t deserve it, haven’t earned it. We should be the ones on our knees, thanking her for gracing us with her presence.
Wait—she… accepted?
After weeks apart, a mere wall will be between us. A few bricks and concrete. Something we could destroy with a touch…
But I won’t. No. No matter how tempting it is. No matter how much my darkness insists that if we could touch her…
No.
Jasmine holds all the power here, and she has to know that.
“Who would you like to stay tonight?” I ask, forcing a soft smile.
Beneath it, my darkness is clawing at me, scraping my insides, desperate to escape and force her decision.
Make her see me.
Choose me.
Her cheeks flush and I’m enthralled. Imagining that soft blush of rose spreading elsewhere, painting her smooth skin in heated splotches whilst her scarlet eyes haze over…
“Whoever’s the least busy?” she says, but it’s hesitant.
Rather than simply choosing, she pushes the decision back onto us.
Because she doesn’t want to choose. Doesn’t want to hurt us.
She’s too good for us. Too kind, too unaware of the power she wields.
She doesn’t see that no matter the jobs waiting for us, the work we’ve all set aside to be here tonight, no matter how chaotic our lives become—she is and will always be our first priority.
Our gazes flicker between one another, and Jasmine watches.
“So, we fighting for it?”Sai cracks his neck, left then right and his markings buzz.
I scowl.“I’m sure watching us brawl will convince her she was right to give us another chance. Won’t make us look unhinged at all.”
“Hey, if I remember right, she enjoyed watching us fight.”He smirks.
“On this occasion, I agree with Ezekial,”Julien says, and Sai’s brows slip into a furrow.“Let’s be diplomatic about this. We need to consider who she’ll feel the most comfortable with, and who won’t make… rash decisions.”
Whowouldn’tmake rash decisions? We all would. But who would make theleast?
My gaze trails to my left.“Brother, you’re being awfully quiet.”
“I’m trying to be fair.”
I frown.“Fair?”
He doesn’t respond with words, instead flashing an image of Jasmine soundly asleep on his chest. The shadows in the room explode, Jasmine’s gaze darts to them.
“I know it shouldn’t be me, but that doesn’t stop me wanting it to be.”Kane looks at the others.“We all know who it should be.”Then back to me.
Me.
