Page 125 of Broken Prince
I know I can’t run forever. I plan on messaging Kai back after I get through this dinner with my family.
Winter and Justin are going to be there, too. Both of their parents are away for the holiday, and my mom and James were more than happy to have them over. So, at least I won’t be totally alone.
God, I am not looking forward to this at all. How am I going to look any of them in the eye?
I still can’t believe that night actually happened, and I hate how much I loved it. Fucking hell, did I ever love it. The way Owen talked, the dirty words that left his mouth, the confident masculinity. And the way Logan just lost all control, this primal need for me and only me. It was a new side to both of them I’ve never seen before.
Would I have if I had gotten to know them?
“You just going to stand out here all day?” Winter asks me as she comes to sit next to me. I’ve been sitting on the edge of the fountain for the past hour, just staring at the front door, thinking.
“Maybe?” I sigh, looking at my best friend.
“You're a big girl, Laney. You can do this. You're the one who got yourself into this situation.”
“Thanks for reminding me,” I groan, leaning forward with my face in my hands.
“Do you know how hard it is to see both my besties hurting? Elijah is doing his best to give you the time you need, by the way. If you don’t think anything will happen between the two of you, maybe you should let him go. Let them all go.”
The idea has my stomach rolling and panic fluttering through me. “I don’t think I could ever let them go, Winter, not really.”
“But you can’t leave them in a state of limbo for the rest of your lives either. They’ve told you what they want, now you need to tell them what you want.” I go to open my mouth, but she keeps talking before I can say anything. “And before you say the stepbrother thing, or the Stacy thing, you need to think. What matters more? The chance your parents get upset or you being unhappy. You’re adults, you don’t even have to tell your parents right away if you don’t want to. And if they love you, like I know they do, they will just want you to be happy.”
I hate how right she is. Am I the one who’s made all this more complicated than it needs to be? Thinking far more into it than I should have.
The idea of messing with my mom’s happiness, of letting her down, scares me. I never want her to be disappointed in me.
“Fine,” I sigh. “Let’s say I agree with you about the stepbrother thing. That doesn’t change the issue with Stacy. She doesn’t want me with Logan. She doesn’t want anyone with him. And until she’s out of his life, it could never work.”
She doesn’t say anything because she knows I’m right. “I’m gonna head back inside. Supper was just getting served when I came out to get you. Justin, the guys, your mom, James, James’ sister and her stepson are in there. Jefferson, her husband, couldn't make it due to work.”
I forgot about that. Mom mentioned James’ sister was going to be there. I didn’t get to meet her at the wedding because she was out of the country on a business trip and couldn’t come.
“I’ll be in soon, I just need a few more minutes.”
She smiles and nods before heading into the house.
“You can do this, Laney. You’re an adult, and if you’re going to make adult choices, you need to deal with the consequences. Go in there, talk to them. That’s all you’ve got to do.”
And tell them what? That I’m willing to stop denying them and give in? What about Kai? Can I just let him go?
Is Kai even an option anymore? I’m sure he hates me, probably moved on.
No, I don’t think he has because every morning, he hangs outside my dorm for an hour, just in case I wanted to run.
I never go outside. I miss it. I miss running with him. The freedom of feeling safe when he is around.
I’ve been tempted to come back here in the morning and run within the walls of the property, but that’s stupid.
“Here goes nothing,” I sigh and finally get my ass inside the house.
I’m met with a chorus of voices and a mix of mouth-watering smells. I want that turkey and gravy more than anything. And my mom’s mashed potatoes are to die for.
Following the voices to the dining room, I grow more and more nervous the closer I get. At least Benny is going to be here; he’s the one I can’t wait to see the most. I bet he’s grown so much already. I can’t believe he’s ten months old.
The first person I see through the entrance to the room is Mom. She’s sitting at the end of the table, James on her right, Benny’s high chair on the left.
She turns her head and smiles when she sees me. She stands up and walks towards me. “There’s my sweet girl.”