Page 24 of Claim Me Forever

“Badass?” Winter laughs.

“What? I can curse now.”

"Yes, you can. It’s pretty fucking awesome. Isn’t it?”

“Ahh!” I laugh with her, loving how carefree we get to be now.

“Go change. Then we can head home.”

My laughter dies. “Home?”

“Well, yeah. You’re coming home with Garrett and me, right?”

“What about Ace? Do I just leave?” Winter glances around Ace’s home.

“Do you want to live with him? Above a bar? He also still does missions.” Her brows pull together. “Do you not want to come with me?”

“What? I didn’t say that.” I grab her hand. I do.

“Then, what is it? Is it Garrett? I know this wasn’t the plan.”

“Don’t, Winter. Of course it’s not Garrett, and really, was there a plan past getting out?”

“I mean, the plan was that it would be you and me.”

“It will always be you and me.” That will never change. “Now, why don’t I go change?” I grab the bag off the kitchen island. Winter nods, but I know she wants to say more.

I simply know that I'm not yet ready.

15

ACE

“What’s wrong with you?” Garrett asks the second we cross the threshold into my office.

“What are—" He levels me with a stare. “I want her.” No point fucking hiding it. If anything, my brother should be able to relate.

“Shit,” Garrett mutters. “Does she know that?”

“I’m not sure.” I sink into the chair behind my desk. Libby is still trying to figure herself out. She shouldn't be worrying about what I need.

“You want her for keeps, right? You’re not fucking around.” Garrett steps closer, and there’s an edge to his words. Did he really ask me that?

“You think I’d do that? When do I fuck around?"

He relaxes, shrugging his shoulders. “I don’t know what you do here. You own a damn bar.”

That's bullshit, but maybe how easy I am to talk to everyone does throw people off. This is a small town; if I were to invite someone back to my place, the whole town would know. Gossip is quick to spread around here. Not that Garrett pays much attention to it.

“You chose for us to move here,” I remind him.

“You’re fucking welcome.”

Shit, he’s got a point there. If we hadn’t been here, what would have happened to Libby and Winter? I can’t think about that. My head is already fucked up.

“Libby is so damn innocent and naïve. Sweet too.” I run a hand down my face.

“Snow has mentioned that.” Garrett has been calling Winter “Snow” since he found her passed out on his front porch in the middle of the snowstorm, but I think he calls her Snow because of her hair. Both of the sisters have such blonde hair that it’s almost white. "She's willing to do anything for anyone and is easily persuaded. That's why Snow's been so worried about getting her out of there because she was no longer there to watch over her.”

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