“I’mchecking a few things. You dickheads are getting in my way,” Dominic says halfheartedly to the twins.
Dominic goes back to…whatever he’s doing, with the twins looking over his shoulder, giving their input. It’s intriguing watching their group dynamic.
Luc and Jace end up leaning against the wall watching them and talking, I’m assuming about what Luc just told me. Every now and again his eyes flick over to me as if to check I’m still here with a gentleness that warms my soul.
I look around and find Alec sitting at the workbench reading. Seeing the guys totally focused on my car, I decide to go sit and read with Alec.
His eyes flick up and down quickly before he seems to double back like he didn't quite see me properly the first time.
“Hey,” Alec rests the book in his lap.
“Don’t stop on my account,” I hurry to tell him, holding up my own book. He smiles, looking excited for whatever reason.
“So Luc told you?” Alec confirms after we’ve been reading a while.
I look up and nod. "Yeah, he did." I lower my book.
"What do you think?" Alec asks, tapping his fingers on the bench. He's nervous, anxious even.
"I'm not going to run away screaming if that's what you're thinking," I tell him, smiling so he knows I'm not worried.
"He understands it's probably a lot for you to deal with," Alec says, his eyes flicking across the room to Luc.
"I know," I tell Alec. "But I'm fine. It was a shock," I admit, "but he's still Luci. A lot more dangerous than I thought he was initially," I add, "but knowing who he is, what he's capable off…doesn't change the person he is."
For some reason, my words don't seem to reassure him. There's almost a pain in his eyes, hearing what I say. He looks as though there's more he wants to say, like it's on the tip of his tongue. Alec swallows, nodding before he goes back to reading.
It takes me a while to recover. Was that the wrong thing to say? Should I be more worried about this—about Luci than I actually am? I don't think I can. I don't want to be that oblivious person who misses all the signs but I trust him. He saved me, when he didn't have to. I won't forget that.
Besides, I know a few people that someone on the outside would think I’ve lost my mind to be associated with.
I find myself smiling when I get to a certain part of the book. I've read this particular series before and it never disappoints. It's exactly what I need right now.
"They have the exact same expression," Mason says loudly. I tear my gaze away and realise he's talking about Alec and I. The guys have all turned, hearing Mason's exclamation.
"Huh?" I say, eloquently.
"What?" Alec says at the same time.
"You two. You have the same look on your faces when you read," Mason says, waving a spanner around.
I look at Alec and find him looking at me. We both shrug and go back to reading. The guys who had been absorbed in my car laugh loudly.
I sneak a peek over at Alec a few minutes later and see him smiling at the pages.
The guys talk loudly about something to do with cars and I find myself losing focus. It happens a few times before I give up.
"My car cannot be that interesting." I scowl at them for interrupting my reading.
"Come on," Alec tells me. "We'll go somewhere quieter." I give him a grateful smile and follow him through the house onto the verandah. He bypasses the tables and chairs leading me to a daybed on the other end of the verandah.
"I don't remember this being here," I question Alec once we're comfortable.
I really need to call Hannah. I haven’t spoken to her since she left and briefly on the phone but I’d like to check in with her. She’s been amazing to me and I’ll never forget her wisdom and advice.
"We got it for Luc so he wasn't cooped up inside. Clearly, it wasn't enough because he still walked to that clearing." Alec scowls and I hide my smile.
I look at the dark paper that's covering his book.
