“You’re afraid we’re all about to freak out and abandon you. That’s why you didn’t want your Valtrue there so if we did, you could hide your hurt from them and act like it doesn’t faze you.”
“Lambrit,” I warn, and he shakes his head.
“Fine. I don’t want to know beforehand. You can tell us all at once and I can show you how I’m going to stay by your side no matter how the others react. You know, you’ve been trying to get rid of me for like a year now, and I’m starting to take it personally.”
I snort and close my eyes as a smidge of relief attempts to spread through me. “I’ve literally planned countless times how I was going to kidnap you and we’d run away. I have no plans of getting rid of you.”
“Good, ’cause you’re stuck with me. And our group’s growing pretty quickly. It’s going to be hard to kidnap everyone.”
Fuck, he’s so right.
That’s something I’ve thought about numerous times. No matter how private I’ve tried to be with Yemi, Rose, Havar, even the guys to an extent, it’s gotten harder as the days have flown by.
I couldn’t run away or leave them behind now.
“I’m going to go grab the cookies, then we’ll head over there through my door.”
“Do you want me to go ahead and warn all of them so you don’t feel so awkward or wait?”
“A warning for them would probably be nice so I don’t ruin everyone’s dinner.” I laugh, although the thought of him preparing them for me makes me feel a lot better.
At least now when I walk in, I won’t be surprising them. They’ll be waiting for me, and I can just spit it out.
“I’ll see you in a minute then. Everything’s going to be okay. There’s nothing you can tell me that’ll get rid of me.”
Fuck, I hope not.
I give him a smile that’s as convincing as I can make it, then leave my room as he shuts my back door. There’s nothing but silence up ahead and I shake my shoulders out with each step.
“Ready, V?”
“Very ready. They’ll be shocked just as you’ve been at every turning point, so prepare for that, not for them to turn on you.”
“Okay then. Are you going to meet me outside or pop up in Yemi’s house?”
“Oh, I believe I’m going to let my entrance be a surprise.”
“That’s exactly what they need. Another surprise.”
I get nothing in return but a hooting laugh in my mind.
The mouthwatering smell hits my nose as soon as my fingers grip the warm plate Creed’s wrapped and prepared for me. I open the cooker to see where he’s stored the other ones but find it empty and there really aren’t any cookies anywhere else.
Damn, he seriously wasn’t going to share with the guys.
Deciding I’m going to be nice, I grab a small plate from the cupboard and lift the wrapping off the tray so I can leave a few for them.
A note sitting right on top has my fingers twitching.
“If they hurt your feelings, I’ll snatch their souls from them.”
A threat against my friends really should have me pissed off. Instead, a small smile lights up my face as my soul flutters in my chest.
I don’t dare stroke it too hard, but enough to let Creed know I appreciate his dark and deadly support.
Thayla
12
