Page 37 of Stone Temptation
“After those bombshells?”
I clenched my jaw.
“I’m worried about you.”
“We both are,” Maren added.
I kept my back turned. “Don’t worry. I’m sorry I hid this from you. Things will smooth out.” On the verge of screaming, I drew some deep breaths.
“I hate Seth,” Tom whispered.
“He protects you.”
“Doesn’t mean I have to like the arsewipe.”
Maren appeared beside me, curling her cold fingers around my wrist. “Relax, darling.”
Tom came to my other side. “I’ve ruined the morning. Can we reset?” He linked his arm with mine. “This all comes from a place of love.”
I knew that. They both radiated love, bringing so much warmth to my life. But it was difficult to be too open. I never wanted to drag them into drama, afraid they’d get burned.
A swell of depression threatened to overwhelm me. My muscles tensed, every inch of me ready to break apart into dust and grief. I kept those moments of spiraling at bay most of the time, my shields always up. Allowing the crippling sadness in made room for defeat. I would not be defeated. I would not fail Finn.
Never give up.
I gave in, resting my head on Tom’s shoulder. “I’m sorry.”
Both friends rubbed my back at the same time.
“Oh, darling.”
“You’re amazing,” Tom added. “The best brother ever.”
I glanced at him, my lips quirking into a smile. “Thanks for having my back. Both of you.”
“I thought we were rubbing it,” Maren said.
My smile widened.
“Always, mate. Never think you’re alone.”
We had a group hug, Maren’s fishy breath washing over me.
“How are you feeling after telling us?” Maren questioned.
“Honestly? Better than I thought I would.”
She kissed me on the cheek, her lips super cold.
“Can we play Mario Kart now?” Tom asked.
His words triggered a two-hour session, Maren winning every time.
After an hour nap, Tom back home, and Maren relaxing at the top of the lighthouse, I picked up my mote catcher and headed outside.
Silver, resembling a large ice cream scoop, mote catchers snatched motes from the air. Swinging the device, I watched the particles glue themselves to its surface. Kind of like it was magnetized. A button on the handle released particles into whatever receptacle awaited them.
A cackling monster with a seahorse head and the body of a squid rolled across the ground. The suckers on its black tentacles puckered, a buffet of hungry arse holes.