Our resilience is our greatest weapon.
So, I choose to give her space, for now, because the next time I’m staring into her icy blue eyes, I’m going to own every atom of her stubbornness.
And once I have her, the force of us will beunbreakable.
I watch her bridge the end of the hall, only before slipping away, she peeks over her shoulder.
I meet her gaze with a grin.
Your pain is mine, Cherry.
Annihilate me.
The smell of cinnamon and vanilla, and something sweet like honey, is strong when I walk into the living room, finding everyone sprawled out in front of the TV that sits as large and wide as the wall.
Asher and Harmony are sunk low in the ginormous red bean bag to the side, while Tyler and Chase are stretched out on the gray leather couch, both with their heads buried in their phones.
It looks to have been a slow morning for everyone except Cameryn. I raise my eyes, finding her in the kitchen. She’s bent at the waist, pulling out a pan from the oven.
I lift my chin in acknowledgement when Asher jerks his own in my direction, then I move toward the wafting goodness that has infiltrated the entire room. Moving behind Cameryn, I peek over the top of her when she pulls what looks like muffins out of their holders, placing them on a wire rack at the back bench to cool.
“They smell fucking unreal,” I tell her, placing both of my hands on her shoulders and squeezing. I rub my palms together in excitement, and my stomach groans as I reach for the prepared jug of coffee off to the side. I pour out almost an entire cup before shaking the milk that sits beside it, adding only a splash.
She puts the last on the rack, spinning around and pulling herself up onto the counter. Securing her skull mug between both palms, she brings it to her lips and smiles. “Banana and dark chocolate.”
“Yessss, my favorite.”
Chase corners the bench before snatching one up, and then instantly drops it to the ground.
He looks offended.
“Fuck, that’s hot,” he mutters, his eyebrows curling inward, shaking out his hand like a pussy.
Cameryn sniggers, extending her leg and kicking him in the gut. He takes the blow but latches his fingers around her ankle, threatening to pull her off the counter.
“Maybe because I just pulled them out of the oven, you impatient fuck,” she berates him, still chuckling when she goes for his stomach again.
I rest my ass against the counter, taking a sip of my piping hot coffee when Tyler joins the three of us.
Cameryn tilts her chin up to him when he slides his hands up her bare thighs, slipping his fingers beneath her oversized t-shirt and gazing over her shoulder at what she just finished baking. He takes one; however, he doesn’t have the same reaction as Chase. Probably burnt out all feeling in the tips of his fingers from playing drums—I know I sure as hell have from tangling relentlessly with the strings on my guitar.
He takes a bite and groans.
Chase looks bewildered. It’s fucking hilarious.
I’m across the island as I nod to Cameryn. “Pretty please?” I ask, grinning, and she grabs one, tossing it to me. Then she does the same for Chase before snatching up her own.
“I’m going to see if Blaine wants to come to our show this week,” she states to Tyler around a mouthful of food.
He is nodding before she’s finished. “Yeah, do it. Tell her we’ll pick her up.”
I try to suppress the smile crawling across my lips, but I’ve never been good at hiding my intentions. I even pull myself up onto the front bench, my legs spread wide as I bring my left hand up, trying to bury it with my mug, only Tyler still spots it instantly.
He sees everything.
“What the fuck are you smirking at?” he asks, eyes narrowed, taking another bite.
Chase snorts.
