He looks up as I walk in. “Well? Are we declaring war or peace?”
I drop down beside him, exhausted. “Neither. Ceasefire, for now.”
He raises an eyebrow. “That sounds like feelings happened.”
I groan and let my head fall back against the headboard. “They want to get to know me again. As adults.”
Sean nods slowly. “And?”
“And I… may have cried.”
“Oh shit.” He sits up straighter. “You cried? Real tears?”
I shoot him a look. “Don’t make it a thing.”
He throws up his hands. “Hey, I’mproudof you. You never cry. You bottle that shit up like vintage wine.”
I laugh a little, surprised by the sound of it.
He leans his head against mine. “You okay?” he asks gently.
I think about Nik’s arms. Axel’s voice. The truth they gave me. The weight I’ve carried for years that finally feels a little lighter.
“Yeah,” I whisper. “I think so. I want to be.”
“Perfect.” He pulls us down into the bed and wraps me in his arms, spooning me. “Let me know what I can do to help, Baby.”
I pull the covers over us.
“Just keep doing what you’re doing. Just keep holding me.”
Chapter 32
Aro
The next morning, I’m woken by Axel bouncing on the bed.
Some things never change.
“Axel—what the f—”
“Princess!” he grins, way too chipper for this hour. “We’re staging a prison break.”
“A prison… what?” I grumble, not even close to awake enough for this.
“We’re breaking you out of here. Johnny’s… out. Sean gave us the green light. Nik and I are taking you on a field trip.”
That has me flying upright, the blanket pooling in my lap. “Really?”
“Really. Get dressed. We have a busy day planned.”
I squint at him, suspicious. “What kind of busy?”
He wiggles his eyebrows. “The good kind. Coffee, sunlight, maybe some emotional whiplash.”
“Sounds… on brand,” I mutter, swinging my legs over the edge of the bed.
“You’ll love it,” he promises, already halfway out the door.
