With a sad smile, he pulled me into his arms and kissed the top of my head. “I hated it here, too. Until you walked through those doors. And I trust Kingston to find a way out of this. For all of us. I have to believe he considered every possible scenario for how this might play out.”
I couldn’t bring myself to tell him that wasn’t completely true. But I trusted Kingston, too. Even if he hadn’t thought of everything. I trusted him to find a way forward.
I had faith in his plan, even if I didn’t know all of it.
“I need to find Max and figure out where his head is at with all this. I don’t know what he knows yet, but I don’t want him on the outside.”
“Do you want me to try talking to him?”
My eyebrows rose. “If by that you mean, settle your differences so we can cuddle together before everyone gets here, sure. But I take it you’re not quite there yet?”
Landon frowned. “Kingston says he’ll come around, but I don’t know how to heal something when I’m not sure what caused the injury in the first place.”
I cupped his cheek, extending my neck to kiss him. “I don’t think that’s true, Buns. I think it’s part of you. Seeing who people are and finding a way to help them let go of pain. The difference this time is that what hurts Max…also hurt you.And I know you said you can’t share much with me about what happened last year, but I’m here. If you want to talk about it.”
He cupped my face. “Have I told you I love you today?”
I pursed my lips. “Not this morning.”
“Well, I do. Thank you for being so understanding about all this. I know it’s a lot to take in.”
“It is, but…I’m just glad you guys are being honest with me and talking to me about these things. That’s what I wanted.”
He stroked my cheek with his thumb. “Yes, and about that honesty, don’t think I forgot what led to everything with Max the other morning. I’ll always help settle you when you wake up like that, but after the way everything came out about your dad, I’d like for that honesty to go both ways, so I can be there for you and you don’t bottle it up…If you’re ready to talk about it.”
“Ugh. I guess that’s reasonable.”
I rolled over, flopping onto my back in a way that made my tits bounce. Hoping he’d get distracted. And while his eyes darted to my chest and took a minute to unglue, he shook himself out of it.
Damn that replenishing supply of self-control he had.
“The other morning, I had a nightmare.” Releasing a heavy breath, I flipped over onto my belly and turned my head to face him. “It wasn’t like the other bad dreams with things that had already happened.”
He stroked my hair back from my face, then rubbed my back. Drawing patterns on my skin like he always did. I traced along with him in my head.
“It wasn’t even clear, just a lot of nameless faces pulling you all into the dark. I won The Quest but ended up with some old guy. So, that was creepy as fuck. But, I guess, given this new information about the inner workings of high society, it makes sense.” I sighed, dropping my eyes to the comforter. “But Icouldn’t do anything about it. I hated feeling that way. So…powerless. Helpless.”
His sympathetic smile amplified my need to deflect.
I scoffed airily and lifted my chin.
“You probably haven’t noticed this about me, but I prefer not to be a damsel in distress.”
He humored me, feigning shock at my announcement. “You don’t say? Yes, thatisbrand new information.”
“I hide it well. Some might also say I’m not stubborn at all.”
That made him snort.
“Alright, don’t push it, Lady.” He kissed my forehead before he responded with a more serious tone. “No one is pulling me away from you, and I know Kingston…and I have to believe Max”—he wrinkled his nose but playfully—“will fight with everything in their power to keep you, too.”
He wrapped his arms around me, and I breathed easier. “I’ll fight with everything in my power to keep you guys, too.”
Chapter Fifteen
While Landon went on his run for the day, I hunted for one giant burnt marshmallow.
I didn’t find him in his room, so I wandered over to the bathroom, assuming he’d worked out that morning and was cleaning up. The locked door confirmed my suspicions.
