Page 58 of When You Stayed
Taryn moved with me as I exited the room. “But I was going to stage his house with nice things! I wanted to pull a Sweet Home Alabama on his ass.”
“No. Just this.” I said, storming toward the front door. I wasn’t using the damn basement window again.
“Wait, you can’t go through the front!” She tried to keep up with me.
I held the box close to my chest and yanked the door open. “Watch me.”
FOURTEEN
FORD
I feltridiculous holding the massive bouquet of roses.
There were several eyes on me as I used my free hand to loosen the top button of my dress shirt. My dad glanced over at me, and I knew he was trying to tell me to stop fidgeting. We weren’t in our cuts, and it made me feel naked without it.
“One more hour, Ford.” My dad warned, leaning in close.
I gave him a hasty nod. This wasn’t anything new for me, but now that I had stepped into the role of president of the Stone Riders, it seemed difficult to leave my house without my cut.
There was also the fact that Royce Quinn had once again found a way to slide beneath my skin. I’d ignore the worry that she’d never left and that she might actually be in my very veins. For two glorious seconds, I thought we’d have peace, and I had daydreamed what that might look like. I should have known, like always, it would look like a fight, her pretty pink lips pursed tight as she fought against the slew of curses, she likely wanted to throw at me.
Her sapphire eyes glimmered with anger, and that rosy flush that crept up her neck and even tinged the tops of her breasts. When Connor had suggested moving her, I didn’t even give him the chanceto suggest anything other than placing her head in my lap. I knew she was pissed at me, and fuck if I hadn’t been pissed at her, but something visceral cracked open my chest at the idea of her being anywhere else.
Once Connor left, I had traced Royce’s face and gently pushed pieces of hair away from her brow. The drawer I hadn’t allowed myself to open in such a long time was exposed and spread everywhere in my chest. It was a mess of things I hadn’t gathered back together yet, and for the time being, I was letting it all sit there. Until I was strong enough to build all that shit back up once more.
She made one crucial mistake with me, and that was revealing that she didn’t like Jasmine sitting in my lap, or me spending any time with someone other than her.
Royce was possessive of me…jealous even.
Fuck, that thrilled me.
It was a rope in a sea of stars that I would tug on, yank and mangle into submission if I had to, because while I had been angry with her all this time, I finally realized I didn’t need to be.
My dad’s elbow jamming my side had my head lifting.
The lights were still low in the auditorium, and my sister took the stage again as the star performer of the night. There was a name for her role, but fuck if I remembered it. She’d been dancing since she was a little girl, and I knew her having her own showcase, and even earning a spot in some prestigious dance academy was worthy of all the accolades she constantly received.
Tonight was one of those showcases where Mom, Dad, and I showed up for the full two hours and then went to dinner together to celebrate her. Ellie flitted across the stage like a leaf blowing in the wind.
She was graceful and nailed every single turn, leap, and whatever else the fuck she did.
As a big brother, I was proud, but I was also distracted.
Killian: Wanted to pass this along- Royce found it today while she was up at the cottage.
*Attached image*
Why the hell was Royce up at the cottage? Had she been there alone? Son of a bitch.
The audience clapped right as another text came across my phone.
Rev: Two wolf cubs were just spotted leaving your house.
My eyes narrowed on the screen, making sure I read that right.
Me: As in Royce and Taryn?
Rev:…
