Page 4 of Survival

He didn’t miss a beat, just holding me tighter for the several long minutes I clutched myself to his strong form. He didn’t relax his hold until I loosened mine, and my legs slid down from his waist to stand again. Jet still didn’t let me go, just holding me to him.

“I missed you so much,” he said in my ear, and I laughed, wiping the leftover tears from my cheeks.

“You have no idea. Like crazy. I’m so glad you’re back.”

“Me, too.” He pressed another kiss to my head, finally easing his hold, and I stepped back, looking up into those eyes that were the calm to my storm. We just stared at each other, taking so much in from each other’s gazes. He’d missed me, but this trip to Greece had been needed. He’d gotten answers. Some closure from things he’d always questioned. I could feel it. But there was more there he wanted to tell me, too.

“You look beautiful,” he commented, locking his fingers with mine. He pulled my hand up and placed a kiss on my palm. My heart skittered.

“Hi, Annie, dear,” Helen said from behind Jet, a pleased yet tired smile on her face. I flushed, lost in the oblivion of just Jet that I hadn’t realized his family was near. They all looked weary and stiff, Colton and Harper scowling with what looked like lack of sleep.

My eyes slid past them to Helen, and I gave her a smile back. “Hi. To you, too, Stefano.” I looked at Jet’s dad. “I’m really sorry about your mom. Was the trip okay? Did y’all make it there to see her in time?”

He gave me a slight smile through what I could tell was exhaustion, several carry-on bags in his hands. “Thanks, Annie. The trip was okay, and yes, we made it in time. I’m glad we went. It was…cathartic.”

“That’s good.”

“Jet, are you going to introduce Annie to your cousin?” Helen cut in.

“Yeah.”

My head whipped back to him, confusion now covering my features as he motioned for me to turn around.

“Annie, this is my cousin, Nic. Nic, thisisAnnie.”

Neither of us moved at first, like we were both frozen.

“Hi.” Nic was the first to unfreeze and hold out his hand, a tight, not entirely sincere smile gracing his face.

It was like I was staring at a carbon copy of Jet. Maybe a half inch or so taller and with a body structure that wasn’t quite as thick, but he was still built and had the same soft, black curls. Except he styled them with a little more care, smoothing gel through them so that they landed neatly against his head. His eyes were almost the exact startling shade of blue, but deeper, more like sapphires. Even his facial structure was the same, only older, his cheekbones and jawline a little more defined with age. That, coupled with the way his smile didn’t quite reach his eyes, gave him a harder look.

My eyes traveled down, taking him in. From his form-fitted sweater style shirt to his designer, relaxed fit jeans and expensive Oxford’s, he was preppier than Jet. His style was closer to Tucker’s really, but still too polished. He oozed money in a way that Tucker didn’t even though his family had it.

Nic started to withdraw his hand, rescinding his artificial smile, and I jolted back to life.

“Oh, my God. I’m sorry.” I grabbed his hand before he could completely pull away. “I was just surprised. Nice to meet you.”

“It’s nice to meet you, too,” Nic replied in a perfect, posh British accent.

My eyes widened at the sound, and a single laugh escaped my lips before I slapped a hand over my mouth. Nic’s eyes widened as mine shot to Jet’s.

“I know, right?” He grinned.

“What?” Nic asked, clearly annoyed.

“Sorry,” I apologized again. “I just wasn’t expecting the accent. I mean, I know I should have, I guess. I know where you grew up, but it’s just…it was weird.” I ended on a shrug.

Nic rolled his eyes. “I’m going to go wait for my bags,” he said before walking off.

“That’s probably a smart idea,” Stefano replied. “Thanks for coming to pick us up in the van, Annie.”

“No problem.” I pulled out the keys, handing them over as Stef followed his nephew. Harper trailed on his heels while Colton leaned against Helen, and she ran her fingers through his dark hair, pulling him close.

“We better go help, too. Be thinking about where y’all want to eat.”

I turned back to Jet, wrapping my arms around him once again for another massive hug, seriously just in heaven that he washere. That I could touch him again. And then I heard his stomach growl against mine.

I laughed as he let me go, and he grinned, taking my hand. “Come on. Let’s go get my stuff so we can get some food.”