Page 125 of Take What You Want

My eyes grow heavy, and I yawn. I don’t think I could move right now even if I wanted to. Nikolai must sense it because he says to Reid, “Toss me that blanket, will you?”

Soft fabric is laid over the both of us. I can’t help it as I tease, “Tucking us in, Reid?”

“Shut up.” Then he mutters to himself, “Should burn that fucking blanket.”

Reid and Nikolai make small talk as Reid gets dressed but I tune them out, floating in the headspace the two of them put me in. I like it here. It’s quiet.

And in it, replaying everything that just happened, I realize I never needed the validation from them. I needed it from myself.

As I lie here in Nikolai’s arms, I feel it. I’m in tune with my body and its harmony.

I’m not sure if I interrupt them but they both stop to listen when I ask softly, “This doesn’t change anything between us, right?”

Nikolai brushes the hair back from my forehead before pressing a gentle kiss in his wake. “No. It changes nothing, LJ. You’re still mine and I’m still yours.”

I like the sound of that.

“Reid?”

“What? Are you seriously asking that now? It would be a little late.”

“Dude,” Nikolai chides.

Reid scoffs but says, “This doesn’t change anything. You’re still a pain in my ass. I just got to return the favor.”

I flip him off, too exhausted to speak and relief sweeps through me.

Nikolai gives Reid a nod in goodbye and I can feel the weighted exchange the two of them have without even needing to look. They got their closure.

We got it together.

Another secret the three of us are going to be taking with us to the grave.

31

JANE

Icarefully line my lips with my favorite deep red lip liner, then top it off with a cherry red lipstick. This combination never fails me, and it perfectly matches my dress for tonight.

I’m back in Boston for the evening for the company’s anniversary party. Part of me felt like a fraud coming to the event when I don’t think I’ll be staying with them much longer, but I’m still waiting for Arun to formally offer me a full-time position. While I’ve been doing a full workload for him over the past months, he’s yet to extend any sort of contract with me.

So alas, I flew out here to show my face tonight just in case. I’m dreading the party. All the small talk, the schmoozing, the women the men will bring that aren’t their wives…

But at least I get to see Hallie again. Her parents are in town visiting, so I didn’t get a chance to see her when I arrived last night. We’re planning to meet outside and go up to the party together. It’s at a hotel downtown on the rooftop. I expect nothing but the best for tonight. Chester doesn’t like to spare expenses when it comes to spoiling himself and his buddies.

After the final touchups on my makeup, I grab my phone and sit on the edge of the bed. I find Nikolai’s name, and he answers on the first ring.

“Were you sitting by the phone waiting for my call?”

His voice sends a wave of peace over my nerves as he says, “Yes. I was compelling you to call and would you look at that. The universe listened.”

I chuckle and fiddle with the straps of my robe. “I don’t think that’s how that works, but alright.”

“Ye of little faith, LJ,” he says. “I miss you.”

His words warm my heart. “I’ve only been gone for a day.”

“I know. And that’s plenty of time to miss you.”

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