Renji’s question takes us all by surprise. It’s not like him to broach difficult topics.
We’re silent as Jayce helps himself to another slice, his face emotionless as he doesn’t look at any of us.
“Yes. Obviously. That kind of love doesn’t just fade, even if it feels like it’s shattered you and ground you to dust… It still fucking remains…” he says quietly, his eyes darken and appear almost haunted.
None of us speaks, not knowing what to say to that, and he looks at Carter.
“My question… Did you and Asher ever hook up?” Jayce asks, and I smirk.
Asher’s bi, we’ve known that for a while, but I never ever thought to put him and Carter together. But there’s got to be a reason Jayce asked that, right?
Carter stares at him before narrowing his eyes. “No, wehaven’t,” he replies icily.
Jayce smirks. “Alright, just asking. I don’t think any of us have enjoyed this dumb game and its questions.”
Carter simply scoffs as we open the fourth box and help ourselves to more pizza. But he’s tense for sure.
“But why did that offend you?” Renji asks curiously. “I mean… have you ever had a crush on him?”
“Shut it,” Carter growls, and Renji raises his hands in surrender.
I lean back and stretch my legs out, staring at the sky, a small smile on my face.
Moments like this sure are fun. We continue chatting, teasing and laughing for a while.
But she never leaves my mind entirely.
Why man…
Heaven… I just need to make sure I avoid you, Blondie… because my self-control is fucking waning.
The Path I Choose
Theo
I’ve done my best to avoid her after that, and it’s worked. With training taking up a lot more time anyway, I skip having lunch at the dinner hall, and when she is close, I keep my presence masked. We see one another, but neither of us approaches the other, even if I want to.
This is the best decision for both of us. And yeah, maybe like Jayce, I am avoiding facing her, but there’s a huge difference. They’re mates, in love and, yeah, with a shit-ton of crap they need to resolve between themselves.
Unlike Heaven and me, I have no idea what we are to one another. I didn’t know a few days ago, and I still don’t know now. What I do know is I have caught feelings for her and fallen hard, and it fucking sucks.
She still looks annoyingly fucking hot every damn time I see her, but I stay away. Even when I want to thank her for the potions, since they did fucking work, and I clocked out every night, falling asleep to thoughts of her. Yet, I haven’t saidanything to her, unsure how to move on from what happened between us the last time we talked.
I need to get my shit together. I know time is running out, and when it does, it’ll be time for my next step.
Today is Kat’s wedding, and it’ll be the first time we’re going to be so close for a longer period.
Jayce left the following day, after giving one final speech to his division, who were devastated to see him go. And to Kat’s and everyone else’s dismay, he hasn’t shown up to the wedding.
Seeing Sienna must be fucking hard for him. He loves her, but he just needs time. I don’t know, man. I guess I know a lot less shit than I thought I did.
I’m now sitting on the beach in Puerto Rico, in a huge marquee that’s decorated extravagantly. I’m in a white shirt and beige pants, Kat’s got some weird-as-fuck theme going on where most of the women are in pink dresses and we men look like we’re all fucking idiots matching.
I’ve noticed that the Rossis do a lot of this shit, where they all like to set colour themes and stuff. I’m damn glad I have more brothers; just the thought of having five sisters makes me shudder.
Dinner is over, and so far, I’ve managed to stay far away from Heaven. Speeches have been made, and Kat and Enrique share that they’re going to be parents.
I look over at Skyla and Royce, both happy for the couple, and Skyla’s excitement is genuine.
