Recovery by Nicole Dykes (best time to read books .txt) 📗

stands, dressing quickly. “I’m going to go to dinner with Quinn, sort of a goodbye thing.”

I nod, not wanting to take away any time with her friend. I know she needs it. “Will you be back tonight?”

I don’t care if I sound desperate. She nods and grabs the door handle, twisting it and leaving me on the bed.

I force myself to get dressed and then go to Finn’s room. The fucker is wearing only boxers and has claw marks all over his chest when he pulls the door open. “What time is it?”

“Almost six in the evening.” He chuckles, shrugging and taking a seat on the sofa in the hotel. “Your guest still here?”

He shakes his head and leans back. “Nah.”

I close the door and take the seat next to him, the weight of my conversation with Mya on my mind. “So, we going tomorrow or what?”

I’ve avoided a definite answer, and he’s given me space. “I don’t know.”

“What’s not to know?”

He knows, but he wants to hear it. “I can’t get her out of my head. She won’t go.”

“All attached.” He shakes his head, feigning disappointment.

“Yeah.” I smile. “I’m in love with her.”

He turns to me, and now he looks genuinely surprised. “Damn.”

I nod. “Yeah.”

He’s smiling as he tilts his head back again. “So, you’re going to give everything up for a chick?”

“Nah, I’m going to get everything when I finally convince her she wants me too.” I lay my head back too. “Since I met her, all I’ve wanted is to keep her safe.”

He shakes his head. “I never understood you.” He’s smirking again. “But I suppose you have a lot of your dad in you, man. You want to save her. She has a dark past.”

“Don’t we all?”

He nods his head. “Yup. She’s lucky to have you, but I don’t think she’s going to make it easy.”

Now I’m the one with the smirk across my face. “I hate easy.”

“Clearly.” He punches my arm. “You’ve seen darkness. You’ve seen tragedy. And you still somehow hold on to the light. You’re exactly what she needs.”

“You’re gonna miss me,” I joke, trying to lighten the mood.

He swallows tightly as he looks up at the ceiling. “Yeah, I am.”

Well fuck, Finn.

I wasn’t expecting him to make it all real, but I don’t know how I’m going to do this without my best friend by my side.

Still, I know what needs to be done.

For Mya, I’ll happily rearrange my entire life.

I don’t want to say goodbye. I hate goodbyes.

But I know I need to let them all go. They paid for the hotel for two more weeks, and Quinn gave me instructions to let her know if I need to stay longer.

Of course, I won’t.

I can’t take anything else from them.

They’re leaving for the airport. The shuttle is here at the hotel and about to leave. Their things are being shipped. It’s really happening.

I spent the night wrapped in Jase’s body, saying goodbye in our own way, over and over again.

But never saying the words out loud.

Everyone gives each other hugs, Quinn tears up as she hugs Tommy and tells him she’ll kick his ass if he doesn’t send pictures of his new kid very soon.

He tears up too, and then she moves to me, hugging me so tight I think she’ll crack a rib. “You’ve always been like a little sister to me. Please, please call if you need anything.”

I know she doesn’t want to leave me here. She’s grown up so much since the last time I saw her. “I’ll be fine.”

She hugs me tighter and then finally releases me. Logan gives me a hug, and then they climb in the shuttle.

Finn surprises me with a big bear hug of his own, whispering into my ear, “Take care of him.”

“What?” I pull back, but he’s grinning wide as he releases me and hugs his best friend.

“Don’t knock her up right away. Make her work for that shit.”

Jase pats his back in their manly hug. “Shut the fuck up.”

Finn laughs and shoves him away. “I mean it. Although the kid will be fucking gorgeous.”

He winks at me and climbs into the shuttle, and I stare at Jase, totally dumbfounded. “What’s going on?”

Quinn blows me a kiss, her face telling of her knowledge. The shuttle pulls away, and I turn to Jase, ignoring Tommy and James’s gigantic smiles.

“What are you doing? Why aren’t you leaving?”

He takes my hand in his. “I’m not going.”

I look behind him at Tommy and James. “Are you going to rebuild with them?”

He shakes his head, and Tommy snickers. “No. I’m going with you. We’re going to start our future.” He wraps his strong arms around me. “I’m going to marry you as soon as you let me. And I’m going to knock you up as soon as you’re ready. And no matter what, I’m not letting you go. It was never an option.”

I shake my head, but I don’t push his body away. “You’re insane.”

“I talked to Spencer last night. He’s moving to St. Louis when he turns eighteen to work with Rhys. So, he’ll be okay. His birthday is soon.”

“I can’t go to St. Louis.”

He chuckles, cupping my face in his hands and tipping my face up. “I’ve been paying attention, woman. I get that.”

“So, what are we doing?”

“There’s a town about an hour south of here. Population 823. They have this plot of land that’s perfect for us. A place in town we can rent while they build our house and cheap real estate in their downtown.”

I swallow, looking into his eyes. “That’s a lot of investment.”

“I’m for it. I’m ready. We’ll live out in the country. I don’t want farm animals, but if you do, we can figure that out . . .”

I laugh and shake my head. “No. Cows freak me out.”

He laughs at that. “We’ll build a house, and we’ll have a quiet, safe life.”

“We can’t hide from tornados.”

He smiles and releases my face but hugs me to him. “We’ll build a