Page 97 of Three of a Kind

I nuzzle my face to his hand. “I’m not sure I should leave Liberty. She was really upset earlier.”

“She’s got big feelings, but I think at least some of that was her feeding off your guilt and stress.” He shrugs as my eyes narrow. “Hey, it’s just a theory.” He laughs, a low and throaty sound that shouldn’t affect my system the way it does. “I know you’re worried about all the changes, but kids are resilient. She’s also young enough that she probably won’t remember any of this when she’s older.”

“Yeah,” I agree, exhaling heavily.

“I do think it’s important that you tell her about the baby, sooner rather than later. She needs time to adjust to the idea.”

“I know.” My stomach drops thinking about it. “I was terrified she would repeat it to the wrong person,” I admit, gnawing on the inside of my cheek.

“I get it,” he says earnestly. “But after everything that we’ve learned recently, she won’t be going around him ever again. That means, when you’re ready, you can tell her.”

I nod as my eyes ache.

I have no idea why I feel like I’m going to burst into tears.

None at all.

Maverick gets up, and I can hear him shuffling around the bed as my eyes stay clenched shut.

Yes, I feel betrayed by Avan, but life is getting better. I’m bonded to three amazing guys, who have done nothing but work to keep me and Libby safe.

Maverick lies down behind me, running his hand over my stomach. “It would be a lot for anyone to process. You’ve held it together all this time. If you need to cry now, no one is going to judge you.”

My lip trembles as my head shakes.

I can’t cry.

Libby is asleep, and the last thing she needs is to be woken up by me in hysterics.

Maverick moves his mouth close to my ear. “It kills me knowing how hard you are on yourself. We all make mistakes. You can grieve yours without beating yourself up about it. Avan is a manipulator of the highest order, but you caught on. Shit is hard right now. It’s not going to stay that way forever.”

“Thank you,” I whisper, running my hand over his.

“Always, sweetheart.” He kisses my temple. “I’m always going to be here to look after you. And, occasionally, to remind you to be kinder to yourself.”

Maverick is a great guy, and something about being close to him soothes my system on a foundational level. It makes me wonder how different our lives would be right now if I didn’t run that night in the bar.

Then again, if I hadn’t left, I wouldn’t have met Noble.

“You should go check on him,” Maverick says against my cheek, like he can read my thoughts in the bond. “Gunner took Haze out for one last run. If you want to sleep in there, I can stick with Libby. Or I can come grab you before I fall asleep, and we can both sleep in here with her, like we did last night.”

“Are you sure?” I ask, trying to feel him out in the bond.

“I’m positive.” He sends steady comfort back at me in the link, and my entire chest pulses with warmth. “But I’m going to need a kiss before you go.”

I grin, struggling to turn to face him. “Gladly.”

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Noble

I’m not at one-hundred-percent, but I’m in much better shape than I was last night. It’s still not smart to push my luck, so I’m in full sloth mode.

I’ve napped on and off throughout the day, to the point I’m probably going to have trouble sleeping. Normally, I’d hit the gym, but in my current condition, I couldn’t even join Gunner to take Haze for a walk.

If nothing else, this experience has been humbling.

I have to rely on Bless to box up my computer setup and get it over here in one piece.

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