Page 8 of Saint

“Even after…everything?”

Lake shrugged. “Relationships aren’t easy.”

“You don’t know anything about romantic relationships,” he snorted.

“That’s true. But everything I’ve heard about them indicates they take work to strengthen and grow. That’s what I want for us, Nix. I want this to work. I don’t want either of us to feel trapped by that mark on your neck.”

It was a bit hypocritical, considering he’d been the one to put it there, without asking for Nix’s consent beforehand, but they’d been through that more than once already, and Nix was tired.

“I don’t want to fight anymore,” he confessed. “I want to try and make this work too.”

“Tell me about your cousin,” Lake said. “Tell me what she was like. What you were like after she was gone.”

“Why?”

“It could help.”

“I don’t want to.” He pursed his lips. “Tell me about you instead.”

Lake frowned. “What about me?”

“Anything,” he said, then corrected, “Everything.”

“We could be here all day.”

“Good. I don’t think I can face anyone else right now.”

Lake searched his expression and then pulled him in close, settling his chin on the top of Nix’s head. “Where should I start?”

“What were you like as a child?”

He grunted. “Incorrigible.”

Chapter 3:

West set the metal tray with the single cup of steaming tea on the ground by the door and retreated a step so that the voices inside faded. It was tempting to eavesdrop further, due to both curiosity and worry, but he could execute more self-control than that.

Nix seemed to bring out the best in him.

Go figure.

He’d always been opposed to long-term relationships. He’d never really had a great example growing up, after all. His parents had hated each other. Yejun’s were in constant competition to see who could bring in more fame and prestige. Lake’s had died too soon, but West had always secretly been convinced eventually they would have fought and resented one another too.

For him, there was just Lake and Yejun and that was enough. Then his best friend had brought Nix into their circleand things had slowly but surely changed. A part of him was still uncomfortable about that fact, about this new existence, but for the most part, he was adjusting, and in ways he didn’t even realize until much later.

Forget what Lake wanted,hewanted to keep Nix. Which meant his friends needed to make good with Nixie so they could get back on track toward the perfect life.

“What are you doing?” Yejun appeared at the end of the hall, snapping West out of his thoughts. He started to approach, pausing when West waved him off and joined him instead.

“Let’s go to the kitchen,” he suggested.

“But I have to report.”

“Not now.” He turned Yejun around and forced him to retreat back the way he’d come. “Let them have some space.”

Yejun glanced over his shoulder at Lake’s bedroom door. “Are they making up?”

“They apparently already have.” West was aware that Yejun knew that much already, but he didn’t call him out on it. June had always prided himself on his connection with his emotions, but the reality was, he was always the first to lose it when it came to matters of the heart. “They need more time alone to work things out between them. You’re going to have to wait your turn.”

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