She nods, but it’s unconvincing. I don’t push, though. This is something she’s going to have to overcome on her own, but not alone. Never alone. I’ll show her through our friendship what she means to me and how I really see her.
“So…I can’t really tell if you’re excited to have four boyfriends or not?”
“Riven,” I shout as Yemi gasps.
“What? I was just asking. Damn. I mean, the way ol’ Discovery got on his knee, I was waiting for him to propose right then and there.”
“Oh gods, he did. Then he made that kissing comment.” A harsh breath pours from her as she jumps off the bed and starts pacing once again. I glare at Riven. “No, they can’t expect or think that, right? You all are the first to do that.”
“That we’re aware of,” Amick adds, not helping at all.
“You do not have to be anything to them that you don’t want to be. Don’t listen to any of my men.”
“Your men…your four men who make up your Valtrue.” She throws her hands up at me like that is answer enough.
“Okay, well, we’re a little different.”
“Okay, and so? Apparently, so are we.”
Errr, she kind of got me there.
“Still. That needs to be the least of your worries right now. The only thing you need to focus on is getting to know them and going from there. No other life-changing decision needs to be made tonight, tomorrow, or even the next. One day at a time, Yem.”
She places her hands on her hips and tilts her head back so she can stare at my ceiling that has no better answers than what I gave her.
After a quiet moment, she sighs.
“Guess it’s time to face them.”
“You don’t have to if you aren’t ready to.”
“I am. Sort of. Avoiding it is making my nerves worse. Might as well get it over with and go from there.”
I give her a pinched smile as I stand, then link my arm through hers.
“I’ll walk you.”
A formidable wall, made of Creed, blocks our way as we approach my back door and I arch my brow at him.
“I warned Sevryn not to hurt any of them.”
We both snort at him. “Thanks for that. Hopefully, he listened and my house isn’t destroyed.”
He grunts as he opens the door, checking outside for himself first before letting us pass. My hand roams over his arm as I slip by him and my soul shivers. His gentle caress has all the stress leaving my shoulders.
Silently, we take the small path from my back door to hers and with each step, she trembles a little more.
“You got this,” I murmur as she hesitates to turn her handle.
She straightens her shoulders and nods as she finally opens the door. Two steps in, we both freeze as all four of her Valtrue members whirl around from where they’re standing at the counter.
“Yemi,” Doren breathes, taking a step forward, but Sevryn halts him with a grip to his shoulder.
I’d roll my eyes at him if this moment weren’t so tension filled.
“Hi.”
The four men all release subtle breaths with her whispered word. I untangle myself from her but lean in close as I give them my back.
