“Sometimes, it’s better not to know what’s in it,” Ansel says just loud enough to be heard over the blender.
“He’s not wrong,” Abbott replies.
Hiding a smile, I watch as Abbott sweetens the smoothie and pours it into glasses before sliding it in front of Bellamy and Winter.
“Bottoms up,” Bellamy sighs, clinking his cup against Winter’s. Their appetite is slowly returning to normal, but the glasses Abbott grabbed are on the smaller end.
It’s better to get something in rather than nothing.
“It’s still early. You can go back to bed, watch movies on the couch, whatever you want,” Ansel says. “If you decide to paint…I’m just going to give you the phone I bought for you.”
“We need a phone?” Bellamy asks, amused.
“It’s a big house,” Shiloh shrugs. “We keep talking about getting a PA system, but the phone works just fine. In case of an emergency, yelling might not do the trick.”
“That’s smart,” Winter admits, watching as Ansel sets up the phone.
“It’ll take a little bit to fully boot up, but here are our numbers to put in,” Ansel says, pushing a piece of paper over with the phone.
“How is the smoothie?” I ask, watching as Bellamy and Winter drink it down.
“It’s really good,” Winter admits. “I could barely tell there was any spinach in it.”
“I don’t think I can recreate that,” Bellamy says, placing the cup on the counter.
“It’s a good thing I don’t mind making it,” Abbott shrugs.
Ansel grabs the glasses and blender and quickly washes it. Bellamy glances at him as if he’s not sure what to do and I move over to bop him on the nose.
“We’re all used to just doing things,” I tell him. “We actually enjoy taking care of each other and you.”
“Truth,” Shiloh says. “Our runs usually are two hours long. We all have our phones on vibrate if you need us.”
I guess I’m not the only one suddenly nervous about leaving the house without them.
“Think you’ll be up for a picnic today?” I ask on the spur of the moment.
“I’ll handle the food,” Abbott says immediately, already keen to run with it.
Bellamy and Winter gaze at each other, and it feels as if they’re having an entire conversation together. For all I know, they are.
“Going outside would be really nice,” Winter says finally. “It’s been too long.”
Shiloh closes his eyes for a moment, feeling the pain our pack does at the longing in those words. Fuck, they were sold over a year ago. I can’t imagine not feeling the sun on my face, or the night air on my skin, knowing I’m free.
The only thing I can say is that people who steal people’s lives are fucking evil. I keep thinking it, a mantra in my mind, but when Shiloh opens his eyes with murder in his gaze before wiping it away, I know I’m right.
The streets will run with blood for this.
Tilting Bellamy’s face up, I kiss his lips with a brush of mine, a promise of sorts before doing the same to Winter.
I have to get out of the house so I can break down there. I can’t let them see me lose my shit in our bright, happy kitchen. I will not taint our home in this way.
Bellamy and Winter accept my kisses without a thought, another sign that they feel the pull strongest with me. I’ll gladly be their tether and protector, but God, is it shredding my soul to watch them find their footing again in the world.
“We’ll be back,” I say with a smile I know doesn’t reach my eyes. “What are you going to do while we’re gone?”
“Watch cartoons,” Bellamy decides. “I want to do something silly just for the sake of it.”
