Page 110 of Tormented Kings
“Erin, love, you better get in here before my son eats all the damn cookies,” Mark calls out.
“That boy and his sweet tooth,” Mom sighs as she steps back. “We’ll talk more later?”
“Yeah.” I smile. I feel like shit for keeping so much from her. I’m honestly surprised that she’s okay with me dating more than one person.
The question is, would she be this okay with me dating Grayson, too?
Would dating my stepbrother be crossing the line?
“Okay, I was not expecting that,” Declan says, pushing his glasses up his nose.
“Same,” I say guiltily. “I really should have told her sooner.”
“It’s normal to not expect a parent to be okay with something like this. Especially in this society,” Declan reassures.
“But my mom isn’t like most people in this society. Neither is yours.” I look at Collin. “I should have known.”
“Don’t beat yourself up over it, Sunshine. Let’s not focus on that, but be happy we can be a little bit more open around one another.”
That has me smiling. “Yeah. I’d like that.” I know he’s been feeling a little left out with the guys being able to be around me all the time. It’s not that he’s a teacher that's keeping him from me; he didn’t seem to care much about that before. It’s his father. His stupid, useless father. I need to ask him how everything regarding that asshole is going.
“So, are you two going to move out of the doorway and let the little lost soul standing out there come in, or what?” Collin asks, and I frown.
“What?”
Collin turns the handle and pulls the door open. Standing on the doorstep is none other than Preston.
“What are you doing here?” My statement has a protective edge to it as I step in front of Declan.
Preston shifts from one foot to the other, his blond hair longer and shaggier than normal. He looks guilty. His hands are shoved in his pockets, a lost look in his eyes.
He doesn’t look good; he looks tired, defeated. Damn it. Damn this man for making me feel bad for him.
“I invited him,” Collin says. “He’s my brother, and I’d like to spend Thanksgiving with him.”
“This isn’t your house,” Declan grumbles. “You don’t have the right to invite anyone over.”
“I’ll just go,” Preston mutters. “It was stupid of me to come anyways.” But he doesn’t move, he doesn’t leave.
“Get your stubborn ass in here and talk to the two people your head over heels for. Don’t make me beat your ass, little brother,” Collin growls.
“They clearly don’t want to see me,” Preston snarls back.
“Sadie, Declan, take this dumbass into the study and talk to him. Do not leave until you have all your shit out on the table. Preston here is done being a raging asshole.”
“Tell me again why I even talk to you,” Preston spits.
“Are you not here to apologize to them?” Collin asks.
“He doesn’t have anything to apologize to me for.” I look to Preston. “That would be Declan.”
At the mention of his name, Preston’s eyes finally lift up to look at the man behind me. I see the regret and pain in his eyes.
Preston likes Declan, he might even be in love with him. If he would just work with us and not act like there is no hope of them having a future, he would see he’s not alone.
It feels like someone is fisting my heart as I stare at him. I’ve never seen him so vulnerable and broken. Tearing my gaze away from Preston, I look over my shoulder at Declan. His eyes are glued to Preston, his jaw clenched.
“Do you want to hear what he has to say?” I ask Declan.