Page 83 of Vicious Deception
“As long as Rhett wants,” Elliot replies, “but I can’t imagine he’ll want to drag this out for too long. I think we’re all ready to move on.”
“Definitely.” Resting my head against Elliot’s chest, I close my eyes. Days ago, I was desperate to see him, hoping it wouldn’t be my last time. Being in his and Oliver’s embrace feels all the more sweeter now that I have them again.
“I’m never letting any of you go ever again,” Elliot murmurs.
Oliver tightens his arms around us. “I’m holding you to that.”
“Hey,” Meredith says, and we break apart when she and Benny enter the kitchen. “I was gonna put a movie on for Benny. Figured you all might want to join?”
“Sure, Mom. I’ll make some popcorn.”
I help Oliver gather bowls, and we carry everything into the living room together. Unsurprisingly, it looks like Benny already has a movie picked out.
Rhett steps into the living room after us. He looks freshly showered, and while we’re all still tired, it doesn’t seem like he has quite as much weighing down on him. His eyes land on me, and he opens his mouth like he’s about to say something, but then he closes it.
I give him a questioning look, but he shakes his head and settles on the love seat. Before any of us can join him, Benny climbs onto it with a blanket and a bowl of popcorn.
“Oh, hey,” Rhett says, pulling a small package out of his pocket. “I have something for you.”
Gasping with delight, Benny snatches it from Rhett’s hands. “Gummies!”
Rhett smiles. “From Axel.”
That makes Benny’s face fall. “Where is he? Will I get to see him again?”
“Probably not. He wanted me to tell you goodbye, and to take care of yourself. I’m sorry, buddy.”
“Oh,” Benny says quietly, staring down at the package.
Meredith presses play on the movie, probably assuming that the best thing for Benny right now is an immediate distraction. Oliver and I sit on either side of Elliot, and Meredith and Andrew take the armchairs.
I’m so happy to be doing something like this again that it’s hard to pay attention to the movie. It’s different than normal since there’s more than just the four of us here, but not in a bad way. This can be a new normal.
It’s still good. We’re all safe, we’ve finally reached the last stage of our plan, and no one is standing in our way anymore.
We’re getting everything we wanted,I realize, my gaze falling on Benny and Rhett.And more.
. . .
Once the movie ends, the boys go to bed, and Meredith heads home. I was beginning to wonder if she was going to spend the night here, but I guess Andrew is sleeping in the room she normally stays in. She seems reluctant to say goodbye to Oliver, though.
I’m exhausted, so I shower and get ready for bed. This time, when I pull one of the guys’ old T-shirts over my head, it doesn’t make my eyes sting with tears. Instead, I inhale, taking in the scent of laundry soap and smiling.
There’s a knock at my door, and when I open it, Rhett is standing in the hallway. A soft smile forms on his lips when he takes me in.
“What?”
“I just like you in my shirts.” Leaning down, he brushes his lips over my jawbone. His hands grasp at my waist, pulling me tightly into him. “And in black.”
Warmth floods my body, and I wrap my arms around his neck. Rhett wastes no time in kissing me. As he does, he backs me into the room and nudges the door shut with his foot.
We had some time together yesterday, but most of it was spent sleeping—or having sex. It’s what we needed, but I feel like I haven’t had any time to catch up with him.
“I thought about you,” I whisper in between soft kisses. “I thought about you so often. All I wanted was a chance to hold you again.”
Rhett’s arms come around my body until he has me flattened against his chest. My head rests on his shoulder, and I breathe deeply as the scents of cedar and sage wash over me like a balm to my soul.
We were only apart for two weeks, but it felt like months—years.I don’t think there was ever a point where I took the guys for granted, but now I know for sure that I never will.