Page 11 of Forbidden Impulses

Then again, whenever I spoke about staying on after the eighteen months, he certainly didn't tell me no either.

Regardless, no matter what happened between us at the end, he introduced me to a whole different world. If I was still going to the expensive therapist my parents used to pay for as a teenager, she'd have told me it was just partof some childhood trauma because my parents didn't give me enough love and attention, but no matter the reason, that part of me was in there. She wanted out, and she wanted love. And I needed to stop ignoring her.

But before I can do that, I need to put on my big-girl pants for a bit and face the music I made last night. And this morning.

A soft knock draws me from my inner musings, but before I can answer, the door slowly opens and Suzie peeks her head around the door.

"Is it safe to come in, honey?" She sends a timid smile my way.

Instead of answering, I jump up and rush her, wrapping my arms around her in an enormous hug.

"Oh my goodness, Suzie! I'm so sorry for being such a bitch last night. I don't know what the hell I was thinking, and I'm the worst friend in the world and you shouldn't have ever let me come stay here with you. Will you ever forgive me?" The words tumble from my mouth before a hiccupping sob escapes me.

Suzie—thankfully—hugs me back, pushing her face into my neck and crying with me. Both of us have always been big 'showers' of our emotions, which made it much easier for us to get along in the initial get-to-know-you phase.

"Don't be an idiot," she gets out between sobs. We clutch each other for a while until our tears quiet down.

Suzie grabs us some tissues and once we've cleaned up some, she takes my hand and pulls me to the bed where we both sit cross-legged, with our hands clutched together in front of us. "I love you, even when you're doing stupid things. But you might have to grovel a bit with Ethan and Cole. They're pretty pissed at you."

My stomach plummets at the reminder of the people in the world just outside the bedroom door. Iamworried about how upset Ethan and Cole are with me. But I'm even more worried over what happened between me and Lorcan earlier.

"And your parents?" I ask Suzie, refusing to look at her, instead opting to stare at our entwined hands.

"Well, Monte was pretty damn mad when Ethan phoned them last night asking for help, but they seem okay now." The bed moves with the movement of what must be a shrug from Suzie. "Honestly, I'm a little surprised. I expected them to be livid. At both of us. But when I stepped into the house this morning, they both hugged me and told me to come get you for breakfast."

My head shoots up and I look at Suzie, trying to decipher her micro-expressions like I'm some kind of expert suddenly. "Both of them? Together?"

Her brows draw together in a confused frown. "Uh, yeah. Why?"

"No reason!" I practically shout before rushing to change the subject. "Do I have to go to breakfast?"

Suzie's bright giggles fill the room before she tugs on my hands. "Of course you do. And then you need to get packed because Lorcan also told me we'll be going to Aspen for the next week!"

She's so excited, she's vibrating on the bed, and all I can do is try to come up with excuses to stay behind in a house that isn't my home, without its inhabitants.

Yeah, that would be too weird, right?

"Suze," I start, trying to interrupt her diatribe of excited babble as she tells me about all the fun we'll have on the slopes and all the sexy men who will be there to distract and help me get over my heartbreak. "Honey, Ican't let you guys pay for me to go on holiday with you. It's already too much for me to stay here for free."

Suzie frowns at me, her lips pinched as if she's trying to think of the best way to combat my argument. And then her face splits into a huge grin before she jumps off the bed, grabs my hand and pulls me behind her.

"Know what? I'll let you tell my dads that, and see how far that gets you."

Oh, fuck no. There is no chance in hell that I am telling either of those men anything for the foreseeable future. I'm going to walk into that kitchen with Suzie, like the adult I am. And then proceed to adult like a boss bitch and ignore the crap out of both Lorcan and Montgomery while I apologize to Ethan and Cole.

Then I'll pack my bags, move into the cheapest motel I can find and get a job as a waitress or something. Who cares if my soul dies a little at the thought of never seeing either man again? And never finding out what Montgomery’s lips feel like against mine.

Chapter Nine

Annie

Suzie wasn't wrong. Ethan and Cole arepissed off. Not only did I put their sister in danger, but I mortally offended their honor or something because I didn't allow them to look after me and hid from them like a toddler playing hide and seek.

Okay, all kidding aside, I do feel like shit for hurting their feelings, for fighting with Suzie and for causing Cole to get into trouble after I ran away.

"I still can't believe Peter tried to punch Cole!" I say to Suzie as the two of us work together to clear up the breakfast dishes after everyone had their fill and the men excused themselves. Lorcan tried to tell me to leave it, but I so steadfastly ignored him he eventually shrugged and exited the room with the rest, leaving me and Suzie alone.

"I know. I haven't seen him since we've broken up, and haven't heard a single word from him in all the time since then, so really, what the fuck was he thinking?" she mused as she took one plate from the drying rack.

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