Page 50 of Finding Peace
I want it to be perfect.
“I am incredibly grateful,” I begin sweetly, “for everything you’ve done for me since Christmas. Truly. But… this is the first time in thirty-two years that I have ever had a space that was mine.” My voice steadies. “It may just be a guest house on your property, but it’s still mine. And I’m not ready to give that up. I—I don’t want to lose whatever independence I have left,” I add softly. “I need to hold onto that.”
Lawson’s expression softens.
The steel fades.
“I get that,” he says, his voice gentler now as he steps closer, stopping in front of me. “I don’twantto take that from you. But the safest place for you right now is in the big house. With all of us.”
I hold his gaze.
And that’s when I see it.
Not control.
Not dominance.
Fear.
Realfear in his eyes.
And when I glance at Jasper, I see it there too—hidden under bravado.
Lincoln’s is quieter, but it’s present.
Even Beau, who tries so hard to keep everything light, is watching me like I’m something fragile.
They’re not trying to cage me.
They’re trying to keep me free.
But in order to do that, they need to keep me breathing.
So, I exhale slowly. “Fine.”
Four sets of shoulders visibly relax.
“But,” I continue, pointing a finger at Lawson, “I’m sleeping in the guest room. I am not flip-flopping between the four of your rooms every night like some kind of emotional Airbnb.”
Beau snorts while Jas chokes on a laugh, all while Lincoln fails to look like he’s not doing the same.
Lawson’s lips lift at the corner. “Deal,” he says.
The sun continues to dip lower behind the trees, painting the sky in streaks of gold and blue as the five of us stare at one another.
After a moment, Jasper squeezes my hand. “C’mere.”
He pulls me gently into his chest, and I wrap my arms around his waist, careful of his ribs this time. Beau steps in next, sliding an arm around us both. “Group hug?” he teases.
Lincoln joins without a word, and Lawson’s hand finds the back of my neck, thumb brushing gently against my skin.
We stand there like that for what feels like an hour.
Wrapping ourselves in the love each of us has for one another.
Eventually, Beau pulls back. “Alright,” he says, clapping his hands together. “Let’s get pretty boy inside before his nose swells any more.
“I heard that,” Jas mutters.
