“Let’s get you upstairs.”
I nodded and let him lead me toward the front door. But we turned before we went inside, both of us searching for Kingston across the lawn. Both of us waiting for him to come find us.
Without a word, Landon brought me to Camelot Courtyard to grab my things from the sleepover, which felt like a lifetime ago, and then to my room to change for bed.
“I need to be with him tonight. But tomorrow, can we…talk?”
He searched my face for answers I couldn’t give him yet. “Of course,” he said. “Come find me when you’re ready.”
I nodded, glancing at the adjoining door across from his. “Is Max…?”
“I left the cabin before him.” His jaw tightened slightly. “After we finished cleaning up. I’m not sure if he’s back.”
I pulled out my phone and sent him a quick text.
Unsurprisingly, he sent back the bathtub emoji, which brought a much-needed smile to my face.
Slipping the phone into my backpack, I turned to Landon. And after he kissed me good night, he opened the door to my room and waited as I walked across the hall to Kingston’s.
When I lifted my bracelet to the sensor above the handle, his brow furrowed. He winced as the lock clicked, and I opened the door. I wanted to ask him what he’d remembered. What he saw when that happened.
But, after everything Kingston had shared, I couldn’t bring myself to push him out of the dark.
“Are you okay?”
With clenched teeth, he nodded and forced a smile. “I’m good. Don’t worry about me tonight. I’ll see you in the morning, beautiful.”
“Okay.” I chewed on my lower lip, glancing between the open door and Landon. “Buns, I?—”
“I know.”
I wanted them both with me. I wanted all three of them sleeping beside me at night. Somehow. Although, logistically, that fantasy required some preplanning.
But tonight, I needed Kingston.
And Landon knew it.
So, with a soft smile, he nodded toward Kingston’s door. Letting me know he wasn’t going anywhere. Letting me know we’d have our time, so I could spend tonight where my heart needed to be.
And I went inside, listening for the soft click that followed once I was safely tucked in Kingston’s room.
As I waited for Kingston, anticipation built in my chest. My heartbeat quickened, and my feet refused to stay still. Even with the somber veil over the day, nervous excitement thrummed through my whole body.
I couldn’t sit, moving from the chair to the bed, using the restroom to brush my teeth and wrangle my wind-swept hair, and finally, changing into my cutest sleep shirt.
Okay, fine. Yes, I wore more lingerie under it than usual.
So, sue me.
But the fluttering in my belly, rising up to my throat, left me eagerly waiting for Kingston to come find me. Anticipating the end of what we’d started on the mountain. And feeling like it was happening for the very first time.
In a way, it could be, if the night led where I hoped it might go. But even if it didn’t, we would get there. It was inescapable—the need to be connected with him.
And I couldn’t wait.
In that moment, I didn’t doubt his feelings for me. No fear that I was just a pawn in a larger game he intended to play. No hesitation, as he walked into the room and his eyes lit up at the sight of me standing there.
“Hi.”
