Page 38 of Wicked Devotions: Part 2

“No, we won’t.” Declan plants his feet as Cy tries to herd him out.

Emerson gives Cy a look of resignation and wraps his hand around Declan’s bicep. “It’ll be okay. We’re just a few feet from the house. Nothing is going to happen.”

Declan glares at him, and he glares right back. I walk over to Declan and wrap my arms around him, resting my head on his chest until he hugs me back. The tension in his body melts away after a moment, giving me the opportunity to plead my case.

“I promise we’ll just stay here and catch up. I’ll arm the alarm as soon as you guys close the door behind you.” I stare up into his green eyes. “Trust is a two-way street. I need you to trust me as much as I do you.”

My words hit their mark, and I feel him deflate against me. “Fine.”

I push to my tip toes and press a kiss against his lips. “Thank you.”

He takes advantage of my proximity and kisses me again. I part my lips for him as he licks into my mouth. His fingers sink into my hair tightening on the roots of my hair in the way that I love. Like he can’t hold me close enough, like I’m his lifeline.

Emerson scoffs when we pull apart and looks over at Cy. “Maybe we should try kissing him when we want something.”

Declan scowls in their direction. “Not if you want to keep your pretty faces intact.”

“You think I’m pretty?” Cy chortles. “You big soft teddy bear of a man.”

“Fuck off.” Declan turns and walks out the door with Cy on his heels teasing him.

Emerson stops and looks back at Saylor. He doesn’t say anything out loud, but they must come to an agreement because she nods and then he sets the alarm and walks out the door.

“Fucking finally,” Lou says. “I don’t know how you deal with them every day.”

“I do,” Emilia laughs. “And I hope you make them beg for it.”

Saylor winces. “Okay, enough talk about them. Let’s eat.”

“Yeah, I’m starving.” Lou grabs the bags and begins passing out food to us.

We sit around the living room and turn on some old episodes ofGrey’s Anatomyto have in the background. As I grab my Diet Coke to take a sip Emilia’s eyes land on my ring finger. Her eyeswiden, and she drops her burger to grab my hand and pull it closer for an inspection.

“What is this?”

Saylor and Lou both pause with food halfway to their mouths. They both look at the ring and then back to my face. Neither of them says anything, they just wait in silence for my explanation.

They surprised us by coming here; otherwise, I would have remembered to take the ring off. I’m not embarrassed or ashamed to be wearing it. I’m just not sure if I’m ready to explain it all in detail to them. Would they even understand? I lucked out with the guys being open-minded, but will these three new friends be the same?

I haven’t had the best luck with friendships. Most of the girls I considered friends in high school dropped me as soon as the scandal broke. I don’t blame them really. My dad was a monster. I would have distanced myself in their shoes, too. It’s not about me, but it’d be a lie to say it didn’t sting, though.

I guess it’s best to see how much these three actually care about and support me now rather than later. I take one more sip and ready myself to lay it all out there.

“Banks proposed this weekend. He thinks that being publicly engaged to someone might deter the person stalking me.”

“How so? I doubt someone stalking you would stop just because you’re engaged.”

It’s time to lay everything out there for them. Right now, they know bits and pieces. That Banks is asexual, and that I’m in some kind of relationship with the guys. But none of them have every piece of the puzzle. They definitely don’t know about my dad and the vile things he’s said and done to me.

“Most of threats I’ve received allude to the idea that I’ve been promised to this person in some way. In all likelihood my dadtraded me for some type of favor. I went with Cillian to see him recently and had hoped he’d be able to explain.”

“And?” Lou sets her drink down. “Did he?”

“No. The only thing that meeting provided me with was the knowledge that my dad doesn’t love me, never has, and I hope he rots in those cement walls for the rest of his miserable life. He didn’t shed light on my stalker situation at all.”

“I’m so sorry,” Saylor reaches over and covers my hand with hers. “You have us, though. The guys. My family will happily take you in, no questions asked.”

“Thank you.” I flip my hand over and squeeze her hand back. “Luckily, I think my mom actually found a good man to marry. Cillian actually seems to care about both of us. Actually, when my father called both my mom and I sluts, Cillian hit him so hard I think he broke his nose.”

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