Page 150 of The Heart

“It’s not pity,Colton.” He raises his voice, then gets frustrated and runs his hand through his hair. “It’s understanding. I’m an orphan too, remember?”

I watch him carefully, thinking about that.

I did forget.

I forgot he’s an orphan, that his sister took off and doesn’t want anything to do with him. I forgot how alone he was before they found Leena, before he realized he could be with Luke too. I see now that if anyone understands the type of loneliness that I’ve been through, it’s him.

And I just fucking left him without saying a word. I left all of them.

I put my face in my hands, feeling like a complete dick.

I hear him take another breath before speaking again. “You have a key because we like having you around. And I didn’t tell Luke we should let Leena fuck you only because he could tell she wanted to. I told him that becauseyoudeserve to be happy too, Colton.”

I just stare at him.

Who is this man?Is he being serious?

I think… maybe he is.

“I don’t know where the hell you fit into our relationship either. But I know we want you home. Come home. Please. I think Leena might cry if you’re not there in morning, and you know how much I fucking hate when she does that,” he says and I chuckle.

I do know, because I knowthem.

“What about Luke? How does he feel about all of this?” I ask, because I honestly don’t know.

“It was Lu’s idea to make you the fucking key, Colt.”

—

I follow Sebastian into their bedroom–ourbedroom I suppose, setting my duffle quietly onto the floor so I don’t wake Leena. She’s naked, barely covered by a sheet, and all curled up in Luke’s arms. Her face is buried in his bare chest and her long black hair falls to the bed behind her.

There’s just enough moonlight coming in from the window that I can see the little black heart I tattooed on her shoulder.

I smile.

It might be my favorite tattoo I’ve ever done.

I watch Sebastian strip down to his briefs, then crawl into bed next to Luke. The man is still mostly asleep, but he manages to roll to his back, keeping Leena tucked against him. He tips his chin up toward Sebastian and their lips find each other in the dark. They are both smiling as they share a kiss that is slow, sleepy and passionate.

It’s beautiful.

I pull Leena’s necklace from my pocket, and stare down at it for a long moment.“So we don’t lose you,”is what Luke told her when they gave it to her. And Leena tucked it into my bag, because she didn’t want to lose me.

I let out a breath, then strip down to nothing before crawling into bed beside her. I kiss her tattoo, and she starts to stir.

“Colt?” she says, rubbing her eyes and turning toward me. She lets the blanket fall down to her waist, but she doesn’t care.

She knows she’s beautiful.

“You forgot this,” I whisper, reaching around her perfect neck to clasp the necklace. My fingers trail over her skin, straightening it so the three little hoops rest perfectly at her collar bone. She reaches up, holding my hand to it.

“What are we going to do tomorrow?” she asks, and I love the random questions she comes up with when she’s half asleep.

“It’s Monday, Leena. Don’t we all need to work?” I chuckle.

“Mondays fucking suck. And we just got back. We can work harder on Tuesday, right guys?” she directs toward Sebastian and Luke.

“Whatever you want, sweetheart,” Sebastian says. He’s already half asleep himself, one thick arm draped over Luke, who has reached up to hold it tighter to him.

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