Page 101 of Tangled in Knots

Looking around, I notice we're the only ones in the restaurant, and I wonder if that’s done on purpose.

“The Kelly brothers insist that they feel responsible for me in a way, and want to be my friends,” I say. “They’re easy to talk to. At one point they said something that made me smile for real. I even laughed a little, and it threw me. It was really embarrassing how quickly I went from laughing to crying.”

“Your emotions are stretching their muscles,” Aisling says with a small smile. “It makes sense to me.”

“The Kelly brothers probably feel like shit if things went sideways at the auction,” Shaw says.

I feel anger at his words, because it went so much worse than just sideways. The scent of burned cookies fills the air, the first time in a while that my scent has betrayed an emotion. It’s as if my entire being became muted.

“Sideways maybe wasn’t the right word,” Shaw amends, swallowing hard.

We’ve been left alone for most of this conversation. A waitress brought us water and then completely disappeared.

“The Kelly brothers sound as if they’re good for you,” he tries again.

“I think they are too,” I say, nodding. “It’s another tether keeping me firmly grounded in reality at least. I feel as if I need as many of those as possible.”

“I will say that I think I’d miss you if you drifted off, Adira. I don’t like many people, but I want to help you however I can,” he says. “Fight to stay, even when it gets hard. Can you do that?”

Lips trembling, I nod. “I’ll do my best,” I promise.

“What’s your go-to thing to eat lately?” Shaw asks, recognizing I’m going to have a hard time eating.

“I bet we can talk Mr. Lars into making smashed banana toast,” Aisling says with a smug smile.

“He has me addicted to them,” I sigh. “I make variations of it with different fruit when I’m not hungry but know I need to eat. The one he made me was the best, though.”

“Guess we’re going to the cafe,” Shaw says, tossing some money on the table. At my glance at it, he shrugs. “They closed the restaurant so we could talk.”

Crazy fucking alphas.

CHAPTER 22

1 Week Later

DAMON

Iwas homeschooled because my father decided it would be easiest while I was training with my brothers. He refused to have a dumb as rocks son, though, so he hired tutors for me.

A few didn’t last very long, but the one that did was my favorite. I lived for that one on one time, though I pretended to be bored. Mr. Mills was let go on my eighteenth birthday, and Dad told me I was done with school. I don’t know how my education is going to measure up with college courses.

Jed bought another car last week when it became obvious that it would be needed. Today is the first day of classes, and he and Kane are planning their campaign to speak to the Minnesota families.

People hate what they fear, and we’ve made a reputation for being insane motherfuckers who will only heel for Rock. It’s what my father wanted us to project. He was the boss after all.

Dad hasn’t once reached out to us, and the break has been nice. A part of me doesn’t believe that it’ll last very long. I’m trying to stay positive though.

My backpack is filled with a notebook, a new mini laptop to take notes, and pencils. My books are back at the rental, because I didn’t want to lug them today. I’m not sure if I’ll need them for classes, and a lot of professors have their lectures online.

I feel in control over my new adventure, but Adira is the one variable I can’t control. I don’t know how she’ll react when she sees me. There are a lot of ways this could go.

Opening the doorway to the building of my first class, I know she’s in this science class as well, because Morris told me. It’s a freshman course necessary for graduation, so if I wasn’t who I am, I could pretend it’s accidental that I’m there.

Unfortunately, that’s not possible.

Sucking in my bottom lip under my teeth, I stalk through the halls, hoping to at least get a glimpse of my girl. I’m not sure how far I want to push this yet, so I’m allowing fate to decide.

If Adira wasn’t currently shutting down the bond as much as she is, she’d be able to feel me. However, her choice is going to be the reason for her surprise.

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