Page 122 of The Monster I Am
His six-pack ripples from the cool draft blowing out of the ducted air conditioning system. It’s sweltering today, and despite how I feel being here, I follow suit, pulling my own jersey off and tossing it on top of his.
“Screw this heatwave.” I breathe out, immediately feeling better.
Ry’s gaze drifts down, taking in my sports bra and skirt. “I like the heat.”
“Eyes. Here,” I playfully scald, motioning with my fingers for him to look up at my face.
“Like you weren’t staring at his chest,” Tai teases. “I saw you, perv.”
I face Tai, cocking my brow. “I wasobserving, Beckett. Assessing his removal of clothes to decide if I should do the same.”
“You should always do the same,” he answers back without missing a beat.
Snorting, I drop my bag by the door, heading toward Ry’s kitchen. “Now, who’s the perv?”
After we all grab some cold drinks and snacks, the four of us head upstairs to Ry’s bedroom. I steal one of the beanbags, stretching out to get comfortable.
“Alright, fill the guys in,” Ry directs. “I gave them the CliffsNotes version.”
I relay the events again, touching on both my and Ry’s weird feelings regarding Elliott.
Now that I’ve had all day to process it, and successfully survived the dreaded gym exam, I’m no longer just livid at the whole situation—I’m shattered too.
“It’s taken me so long to get a job,” I explain. “And normally, my first instinct would be to quit. But I feel like I can’t.” Slouching back, I glance between the three guys. “Especially now, with the house and all.”
Hunter’s face is rigid, clear anger mirroring mine. “I could help with the money,” he offers.
“Me as well,” Tai adds. “Maybe it’s for the best. You can always just keep applying to other places. But if this asshole isn’t going to keep his hands to himself, it’s not worth all of us stressing over it.”
The comment makes me laugh out loud. It’s the worst code word ever because none of us arestressedabout this. We’re furious, tired of all the problems that keep popping up at the most inconvenient times. Stressing is just a polite way to say we’re all about to throw hands.
Great—the last thing I need is to be arrested again. Shit… what if Elliott twists the narrative and calls the cops? There’s no way in hell they would make the same mistake twice.
“Look,” I start, giving them both a tight smile. “I’m really appreciative of the offer. But you know that’s not possible.” Turning my gaze to Rylan, I purse my lips. “You’ll just get cut off as well. The chances of a loan flying under their radar is nearly impossible. We can’t fuel the fire when your fathers are extremely volatile right now.”
Hunter scoffs. “Frankly, I don’t give a shit about my father. We’re adults and it’s our money.”
I nod empathetically. “I know. But if it’s in a trust fund or some kind of account managed by them, you don’t have a choice here.”
“She’s right,” Ry agrees, frustrated. “That’s what they want. We’re being pushed into a corner.”
“I just hate that it makes me want to give up,” I confess quietly. “No one has ever made me feel like this before.”
Hunter reaches over, clutching my wrist. Stroking my skin with his finger, he shoots me a firm look. “I know,” he says. “But you’re not a quitter. Remember you’re Bexley Spencer. They have no idea who they are up against.”
I smile at him. “Thanks, Hunter. That’s why I love you. I needed to hear that.”
His finger pauses on my wrist, eyes darkening. “What did you say?”
Shit—that kind of slipped out unintentionally. It felt so natural, a genuine reflection of my feelings toward the three men that have crashed into my life in the most chaotic way.
I have so much gratitude because I don’t think they realize how much they have inspired me to keep fighting back, the strength they’ve given me lately. It’s just easy to forget that he and I have never spoken those words because, while I do feel it, and I’ve expressed that with Ry and Tai, my dynamic with Hunter is still new and raw.
“She said shelovesyou,” Tai repeats, grinning.
I shoot Tai a quick warning glare. Hunter ignores him, eyes locked on me with an unreadable intensity.
“Go get it,” Hunter finally says.
