Page 41 of Liberating Water

Groaning, I turned back to the dressing room, realizing this was going to be the easiest part of the day. True to her word, Cami dragged me and Maggs all over the place looking for the perfect things to make this outfit pop. Watching Maggs and Cami interact warmed my heart. They were so perfect for each other, and I could easily see the love and affection they had for one another.

It drew me back to the guys and the issues they had brought up about Parker. It had never crossed my mind that they would reject one of their own because they didn’t trust him. Micah might be right that I couldn’t fix this between them, but I did know that I wasn’t going to add to it. I wouldn’t choose and never would. To me, they were each part of a whole that fit perfectly in my life, and I needed all of them.

Once we had purchased everything, we decided we needed to go to lunch at this little hole-in-the-wall Italian pizza place.

“Okay, I can’t do it anymore. You need to tell me what’s going on, Lala. You have been distracted all day, even if you’re trying your best not to be,” Cami blurted once we had gotten our pizzas.

“You’ve known the guys for a long time, right?” I asked Cami.

“They are practically brothers to me. We grew up together, for the most part. Happens when your family has been part of the Elementi for generations and you’re expected to follow in their footsteps whether you want to or not,” she answered with an eye roll. “What do you want to know? Everything we talk about here is between us. Scout’s honor.”

I fiddled with my silverware before I looked up at her. “What’s the deal with none of them trusting Parker? I know Micah has never kept it a secret that he doesn’t like him, but it seems like the others are starting to push him to the wayside.”

Cami frowned and tilted her head slightly. “What do you mean?”

“Something happened in France, but they won’t tell me what. They say it’s between them to figure it out as men. Okay, well, not Jay, but his issue is he’s never involved with things, so that’s not surprising,” I rambled.

“I know that I don’t know them as well as Cami does, but there is something to be said that they are all sharing one woman. All the boys have such different personalities, they are bound to clash. So I understand them saying you can’t fix the problem.” Maggs held up her hand when Cami started to interject. “That being said, communication needs to be one of the top priorities with all of you. You personally might not be able to fix what is going on, but they should be able to tell you what the problem is instead of keeping you in the dark.”

Cami pointed a finger at Maggs and nodded her head. “What she said.”

Slumping down on the table, I hung my head. “How the hell do I get these guys to talk? When we try, it always breaks out into a fist fight or yelling match.”

“Do it in the training center. That way they can get their aggression out in a controlled environment. I know Tony would be happy to help get them to stop fighting against each other. It’s been his one goal since he started working with them five years ago,” Cami suggested. “I wouldn’t mind getting to deal with my own issues with Micah at the moment. The prick.”

“That’s not a bad idea. I have to start working with Tony soon anyway. I can just tell them I want them all there for my first session and then lock them in the gym until they at least tell each other what’s wrong.”

“Oh Lala, I love the way you think.” Cami winked as she took a bite of her pizza. “Now no more talk of boys—this is a girls only event!”

* * *

Cami madesure to give me Tony’s cell number before she dropped me off back at the Manor with all my bags. I waved goodbye to Cami and headed upstairs as I texted Tony, wanting to try and deal with this sooner rather than later.

Lailah: Hey Tony, it’s Lailah, Cami’s friend you helped move in. Could I possibly ask for your help with something?

Tony: Hey Lailah, of course I remember you. Any friend of Cami’s is a friend of mine. You have me curious, what can I do to help?

Me: Cami and Micah agreed to a friendly match to see who is better. Do you think we could make a tournament so that the guys could duke it out and deal with this anger between them?

Tony: I knew I liked you. Yeah I think I could come up with a way to manage those two. We can do it on the 2nd when I see you for assessment.

Me: Assessment????

Tony: Yeah, I like to see what I’m working with before I make up a training regimen. Don’t worry, I promise it’s nothing too crazy.

Me: Sounds good. See you later.

Heading to my room, I saw Micah’s door was open and he was at his computer, headphones on, bobbing to whatever he was listening to. Catching sight of me as I passed, he tore off his headphones and ran to the door.

“Hey, you have a good time?” he asked, leaning against the door jamb.

I held up my multitude of bags and shrugged my shoulders. “Shopping isn’t my favorite pastime, but it’s always great to spend time with Cami and Maggs.”

Micah’s face scrunched up in disgust. “Yeah, I’m glad you talked me out of going with you. That would have been torture. How did you guys go to so many places in such a short amount of time?”

“Cami was on a mission, and I’ve learned it’s better to just roll with it. But I did find the perfect outfit for the party and a few things I needed to pick up in general,” I answered. “I’m gonna go put all this away and relax for a bit. She wore me out.”

Micah stepped up to me and lifted a hand to feel my forehead. “You do feel a little warm. You don’t think you’re coming down with a cold, do you, after what happened the other day?”

Smiling at him, I leaned in and gave him a kiss, letting it linger just a little. “Who knew you could be such a sweet boyfriend.”

Micah grunted as he turned me around by my shoulders and marched me to my room. “Yeah, well don’t go spreading that shit around. Can’t let that reputation stick after all the work I did making everyone think I’m an asshole.”

“Don’t worry, I’m not sure that will ever change,” I teased as he took the bags from me and put them in my closet.

“Oh? And what’s that supposed to mean?” Micah asked, prowling towards me with a glint in his eye.

Backing away from him, I hit the bed and sat on it, looking up at him looming over me. “Oh, just that the sweet moments are few and far between, but I kinda like that since it makes them more special.”

“Not everyone can be a Brayden or a Hudson, showering you with roses and sweet words,” Micah pointed out as he leaned down and nipped at my ear. “Don’t you know that every woman secretly wants a bad boy to call her own? Well, Cookie Monster, here I am, ready to show you all the wicked things you never will get from your two sweet and tender lovers.”

A shiver went down my spine as his words flooded me with need. I knew the moment Micah and I crossed that line I would never get enough of him. Slowly, he kissed along my jaw until he reached my lips and caught my lower lip between his teeth, pulling me to him. As I gave into him, he captured my lips, making me moan without even laying a hand on me.

All too soon, he stood up and smirked at me. “Have a good rest.” And he left me all hot and bothered, not even bothering to glance back at me as I all but growled at him.

“Asshole!” I yelled, throwing one of my decorative pillows in his direction.

“Every day, all day, and proud of it!” he said as he closed my door.