The reminder wasn’t needed, but I understood his reason for saying it.Lula Mae wasn’t one to handle rejection well.We’d heard the rumors of how she had pursued Storm Kingston in the Georgia branch once.Her insanity had caused issues for him and his now wife.
I didn’t move as I watched Elsie and Wayon go over to the sitting area near the fireplace and take a seat.Too close.I started to move, but Kash’s hand clamped down on my upper arm, squeezing tightly.Right.I was supposed to be entertaining Lula Mae.They were going to help us get to Telos.
I jerked free from his hold.“Let’s get your drink,” I said through my teeth to Lula Mae, then stalked toward the bar.
I wasn’t going swimming.We were going to stay right fucking here, and we could all …visit.
Twenty-Six
Elsie
I gave Cressida a reassuring smile as I walked with Wayon to the sitting area in front of the fire.Although I wasn’t okay, I wanted her to think I was.
My heart was racing in my chest, and it had nothing to do with Wayon and everything to do with Forge.He had been … possessive.Of me.And I’d stood up to him.When I really just wanted to curl up against his chest.
I was proud of myself, anxious about his reaction to it, and nervous to be out here with all of them after I’d done it.The way Forge’s eyes had lit up as if a fire had been ignited behind them made me shiver, but not entirely in a bad way.The only way I could think to describe it was excitement.He excited me in a way no guy ever had.Until him, I hadn’t known this reaction was something that happened to people.
“I …” Wayon began to say, then paused as his gaze flickered over my head.An amused curl to the corner of his mouth appeared, causing me to glance back.
Forge was carrying a beer as he headed in our direction.Lula Mae was right beside him, saying something as she gazed up at him in a way that made my fingers itch to slap her.Forge nodded his head once to whatever she had said, but his eyes dropped from the threatening look he was giving Wayon to me.They softened only slightly.He was angry.My stomach fluttered wildly.
“Looks like they aren’t going swimming,” Wayon said casually.He didn’t sound worried about Forge or pissing him off.It was almost as if he was enjoying it.
“Hey,” Cressida said quietly, jerking my attention off Forge’s approach to see she had come to sit beside me.
I watched her lower to the spot on the sofa as she cut her eyes toward Forge, then back to me.Kash sank down on her other side, sighing heavily and stretching an arm out on the back of the sofa.
“Guess we’re all gonna stay outside and chat,” Kash drawled sarcastically.
“It seems that we are,” Wayon agreed leaning back on the seat before propping his right ankle on his left knee.He cut his eyes over to me.“Didn’t realize we’d draw a crowd.”
I didn’t have a response for that, so I said nothing.
Forge took the seat directly across from me while Lula Mae sat beside him, so close that her body was pressed against his.Not what I wanted to be forced to watch, but I didn’t have much choice.I had forced this, although I didn’t know this would be the outcome of my standing up to Forge.I only did it because he’d been dancing with her.I’d been jealous.
“So, Kash,” Wayon said, “how’s it feel to be back home?”
“Considering the circumstances, not real fucking good,” Forge replied.
“I can answer for myself, brother.”
Forge shrugged and took a drink from the bottle in his hand while his eyes came back to stare at me.
I swallowed nervously.
Lula Mae shot a glare my way, then leaned up to whisper into Forge’s ear.I immediately turned my attention elsewhere.I glanced through the windows to see everyone was still in there, talking.Then over at Cressida, who gave me a tight, nervous smile.
“It’s good to be back.Even if the reasons why suck,” Kash told Wayon.
“Yeah, I’m sorry to hear about your mom.”Wayon sounded sincere.
Neither of the Savelle brothers said anything to that.But I understood it.He was sorry.That didn’t fix anything.It didn’t ease the pain.It felt like a filler word when someone didn’t know what to say.
“I don’t believe they want to talk about that, Wayon,” Lula Mae said.“If we are all gonna sit out here together, then we could at least be entertaining.”Her gaze passed over me and went to Cressida.“You’re new around here too.Did you come back from Alabama with Kash?”
“Uh, no, I—”
“She’s been with me, living rent-free in my head considering she’s owned my soul since she was sixteen.I came home and found her.Made sure she wasn’t getting out of my hands this time.”
