Page 43 of Thor

“I see Jonah every day. I’m an Ol’ Lady, aren’t I?” I ask with a head tilt. Sara nods and looks around the group, but everyone is trying their hardest to not look my way.

What the hell?

Maybe they think I can’t cook. I haven’t joined them in the kitchen since I’ve been here. I’m not the best but I did learn a thing or two from my mom. If given directions, I’m good to go.

“I promise I can cook. Just give me a few tasks. I really want to do this. I don’t want to sit around while you all bust your butts cooking all this food,” I plead.

Cara opens her mouth but before she can get a word out, I hear Jonah call my name. “Be right back,” I tell them. I hop off my stool and walk toward the door.

Cara places her hand on my arm with a smile. “This is why we don’t want you cooking tomorrow.”

I frown and keep striding for the door.

What does that mean?

Chapter Twenty-Two

MADISON

Striding toward the dining room I see it's empty, so I head for the common room. As I enter the room, I open my mouth to ask Jonah what he needs, and my mouth drops open.

My vision is blurred with tears that quickly spill over. For over three years I’ve been waiting for this day. Now that it’s here, I can’t believe it.

Is this real?

I almost want to slap myself to make sure this isn’t a dream. If it is, it’s a cruel one. “Mom? Dad?” I croak out.

Not even a second later, I’m engulfed in their arms as we cry. My dad places a kiss on top of my head and squeezes me tighter. I don’t know how long we stay like this, but the sound of my brothers’ voices breaks us up.

“You’re hogging her. Move over,” Ethan chides.

Mom and Dad move out the way and my little brothers have their turn. They squeeze me in between them both and I cry harder. I feel them chuckle against me and plant kisses on top of my head like Dad did. When they pull away, I notice just how much they’ve grown.

Austin was seventeen when I left home, and Ethan was fifteen. Now they’re young men. I smile up at them, still holdingon to their arms, not wanting to let them go. I’m afraid they’ll disappear the second I do.

My tears haven’t stopped, and Ethan wipes them away. “Sis, stop crying. You’re going to make me cry and I really don’t want to do that in a room full of badass bikers,” he whispers, so Mom doesn’t hear him curse.

I giggle and look between my parents and brothers. “H-how are you here? H-how…” my breath hitches as I try to control the sob threatening to break free.

“Jonah arranged it,” my dad tells me.

I turn to Jonah and he’s standing to the side with a huge smile on his face. “You did this?” I ask him.

“With the help of the guys.” He nods.

I let go of my brothers and run into Jonah’s arms. When I’m close enough, I launch myself at him, and he catches me, holding me to him. Wrapping my arms around him, I bury my face in his neck. “I love you so much,” I cry.

“Love you too, baby.”

This is so embarrassing. I’m crying like a newborn baby in a room full of people, but I really don’t care. I’m so overwhelmed with emotion at having my family here. This is the best thing that anyone has done for me in a long time. Jonah holds on to me for a few moments before he sets me down on the ground. Grabbing my hand, he walks us over to my parents.

My mom stares at our linked hands with open disdain. She isn’t happy. As excited as I am about having them here, I dread the conversation that’s coming ahead. Every FaceTime call I’ve had with my parents since I’ve been here has been filled with warnings to stay away from Jonah.

It won't be easy to convince them to accept our relationship, but theywillneed to come to terms with it. I can't live without him. I’ve done that for ten years and I won’t do it for another second. Not even for them. I love my parents but asking me towalk away from Jonah is like asking me to walk away from my heart. He owns it.

Always has.

Always will.

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