Page 50 of Theirs

“Great, I hate to drink alone,” he said, bringing back two glasses half full of an amber liquid.

I raised my brow at him. This was unusual for Easton, he rarely drank during his lunch hour, much less drink this much.

“You ok?” I laid a hand on his shoulder.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” he said, opening a container and digging in.

“Easton,” I said with a little authority.

He took a deep breath, letting his head hang down as he rested his elbows on his leg. I gave him a moment, figuring all he needed was a little time. When he didn’t say anything, I grew worried.

“Easton, I?—”

“I think I might be way in over my head with Vincent and Noemi,” he said in a rush. “I don’t know what is happening and I’m scared shitless.”

“Are you developing feelings for them?”

“Noemi has been struggling because of an ex and Vincent and I found out about it on Halloween,” he said looking up at me. “I have never wanted to physically hurt someone the way I did that night. She’s?—”

He stopped talking, biting his bottom lip like he couldn’t say what he wanted to next.

“You care for her,” I said, knowing it wasn’t a question anymore.

“More than I should,” he admitted, running his hands through his hair. “Vincent took charge, fixed things for her and we spent all weekend together and we didn’t even have sex.”

Easton looked worried and anxious.

“What do you want, Easton, for me to tell you what you want to hear or what I think you need to hear?” I rubbed his back.

He turned to look at me. “Would it be weird if I wanted you to tell me it was ok? Or…”

I knew exactly what he needed. Easton’s parents had really fucked him up and I hated that even almost ten years later they were still in his mind, ruining his confidence.

“I’m not going to tell you it's ok. That is not for me to decide,” I said, cupping his cheek, hating how vulnerable he looked. “Don’t let them ruin what you have with Noemi and Vincent. I saw the way you looked at them and it really seems like more than a contract, but don’t go in thinking you don’t deserve this or that they are going to be like your parents.”

“It’s easier to keep everyone at arms?—”

“Length because it's easier to walk away if you don’t care,” I said, realizing that Easton and I were similar in so many ways. “I might know a thing or two about that and all I can say is, if you never put yourself out there, you might miss out on the biggest happiness in your life.”

My words hit me hard.Hello, Pot.

“What if they don’t feel the same or they walk away?” he sighed, another hand running through his light blond hair.

I didn’t know the answer to that, but I knew Easton deserved to see where this could go.

“If the contract ends, will you regret meeting them?” I pulled my hand from his face grabbing one of his hands.

“Never,” he said immediately with no hesitation.

“I think that is your answer,” I said, squeezing his hand. “I know we think we can protect ourselves by being standoffish, but the older I get, the more I wonder if I’m not hurting myself more by pushing everyone away.”

He turned his body towards me, studying me. I wasn’t one to share my feelings ever.

“Daddy issues?”

I laughed. “Nah, mommy issues, my dad drank himself to death. Now that you’ve said that, it makes sense you like Vincent because I don’t know who else would give better daddy vibes.”

He laughed and his handsome face looked more relaxed.

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