Spencer Laz.
My breath leaves my lungs in a huff and a gasp, and all I can do is stare. A murmur of protest begins behind me at Spencer suddenly appearing like he’s my Prince Charming sent to rescue me from I don’t know what.
Spencer is here.
And then my stunned mind gets dark as images of my father lying in the hospital flash before me. Of Bo or Gunnar in their planes.
Of Kalle— My heartbeat begins to race and I can’t keep up with it because there are so many reasons for Spencer to be here and they have nothing to do with what Grayson was trying to say.
“What happened?” I demand in a high-pitched voice that I don’t recognize as my own.
Spencer steps forward. “It’s okay,” he soothes like he knows what I’m thinking. Because of course, he does. He’s Spencer and he knows me almost better than I know myself. “Everything’s okay.”
I take a giant step back because in my stupor, I’ve moved halfway toward him. “Why are you here?”
A hand on my lower back, two bodies flanking me. My step back takes me into a welcoming embrace of men.
“Can we talk?” Spencer asks.
“Tell me why you’re here.”
“That’s what I want to talk to you about.”
There’s a low growl/grumble from behind me.
My heart stutters as I realize these seven men are…protectingme? Guarding me? They are not going to let Spencer anywhere close to me until I give the go ahead.
He looks like he doesn’t know what to do. Uncomfortable. Awkward. This isn’t Spencer. Spencer can do anything, can fix anything. He always knows what to say.
“We found a brother’s best friend to join the group,” Grayson cuts in loudly. “Spencer will be joining us. I’m not sure we need introductions—”
Grayson is watching this. All the men are watching.
The cameras are recording and here I am, freaking out about Spencer randomly showing up like this.
Joining us.
I take a deep breath. Spencer looks the same as he always does—dark hair that starts out perfectly coiffed but always ends up flopping onto his forehead—but different. He’s wearing a suit from his collection, but even without the tie, he looks out of place amongst the others.
He looks good, but then, Spencer always looks good. “Hi,” I finally manage.
“Hi.” His relief is palpable. Did he think I would send him home without hearing what he had to say? “I need a minute with you,” he says.
I’m not sure I want to hear what he has to say.
This is a lot. I’ve had a really good day, and I’ve just begun to think ofwhat ifswith some of the group. I like the way Jon takes care of me, and how Rand makes me laugh. I’ve enjoyed discovering how Basher drums with anything he can get his hands on, and that, for such a big jock, Tanner is sweet and childlike.
He would run through the birds with me.
But Spencer is here, and he’s going to ruin everything.
“I don’t have a minute,” I snap without thinking. “I have to—I have to get ready. There’s a party and I— What are you doing here, Spencer?”
He stares. He swallows. He takes a deep breath like he’s drumming up his courage, which is so not Spencer.
This is not a Spencer thing to do.
“Lyra. I, ah—” Spencer holds out his hands. “I’mhere for you.”
