Suddenly the lips on my neck and shoulder pulled away. I sighed in frustration. I still had my eyes closed.
“What?”
“You haven’t gotten engagement present number three yet,” said Theo.
I looked at them again, unbelievingly. The feel of their hot mouths and roaming hands were fresh in my mind.
“But you’ve already given me so much,” I murmured softly. “More than I ever—”
“Yes, but we haven’t given you this.”
Theo’s arm went up, and his hand opened. Danglingfrom it, by the same intricate chain… was the silver locket.
“This thing brought the four of us together,” he said solemnly. “You loved it once. Maybe you should give it a second shot.”
For a moment I stared at the delicate silver filigree, remembering how many times I’d run my fingers over it. Theo was right, of course. Ihadloved the locket. Back when it represented things wholesome and good.
“Seems like it could be our good luck charm,” agreed Colson.
“I thought we were making our own luck?”
“We are,” he shrugged. “But we could always use more.”
I took it back slowly, feeling the weight of it in my palm. A moment later, they were helping clasp it around my neck. Once there, it settled right back into its spot. Like it had never left.
“Is there a tracker in this one?” I joked.
“Maybe.”
Theo’s look was so serious I actually tilted my head.
“Well we can’t risk losing you again!” he laughed.
“Yeah,” agreed Ripley. “Especially after how yourlastwedding ended.”
There were tears in my eyes now. I laughed through them.
“You run fast,” said Colson. “Very fast.”
“I ride fast too,” I sniffed.
“True.”
“And you just gave me back my motorcycle.”
“With a full tank of gas, no less,” said Ripley.
They pulled me in again. I slid my arms around them.
“Aren’t you afraid I’ll ride away?”
“From us? Nah.”
I smiled, letting the tears roll. In all my life, I’d never felt more loved, more cherished, more desired. My heart felt full of warmth, from within. Like it was being powered by a thousand suns.
“I’ve never run from any of you,” I murmured softly. “I’ve never had a reason to get away.”
“And we’ll never give you one,” breathed Colson.
