Page 72 of Frayed Owner

“Do not change that,” he said firmly, squeezing my hands when I went to pull away. “You were shocked I could easily figure out where your head was. I’m not amazing. Yes, I pay attention and understand the topic, but… I’m about to sound like I’m saying you’re simple. You’re not.”

“You talk the same language we do just fine, Bev, no matter what your family told you that you’re not like us,” Tracey added gently.

“Yes, thank you,” Winter agreed, nodding. “You do see the world differently from us and that’s amazing. And yes, you don’t always catch onto social situations because of how you grew up.Butyou are articulate, logical—everything better than most your age. They lied to you, Bev. They rigged everything against you to justify what they planned.”

I knew that. I knew that deep down and even at the front of my mind, but hearing him say that and the others agree, helped me. I let out a slow breath. “Can I still think it’s sexy you jumped in with Taylor and reminded him not to be so damn pushy?”

“Yes, I am your knight for that, and I love that you appreciate it and even think it’s sexy. I’m glad we’ve found our line.” He raised one of my hands to his lips and kissed it.

“Well, I just swooned,” Jasmine mumbled as she walked in with her food and Clare.

Clare seemed like she wanted to say the same, but also stared at Winter like he’d grown a second head. We also weren’t in the same place to joke around like I could with the others, so I appreciated her not jumping in and keeping it to herself.

“As someone who was torn down—I know you’re getting a lot of help and guidance. There’s some wisdom I want to hit you with that someone gave me. You aren’t an orphan… But you kinda really are and were abused in the same way I was.”

“Um, now?” I checked.

“Now, because they won’t let it go and would still listen in,” he drawled, slowly looking at Tracey and Jasmine as if daring them to deny it.

They didn’t.

So I shrugged. Okay, sure, weird Friday night dinner date, but… What did I know?

“I had a teacher in high school—an orphan as well and knew how bad things could be—ask me what I saw for myself. Not so much what happy looked like, but what did I see as the goal for adult Winter as a man? He said I needed to stop thinking of it as being better or being best—anythingvaguewas out the window.

“It was time to put specifics on that idea like I was creating a job as adult Winter. What qualifications did he have or require to deserve being a man or adult in our world? And that would give me a clear vision—goals on how to get there just like you add to your resume.”

“Don’t,” I warned when I saw Jasmine open her mouth out of the corner of my eyes.

“Right, sorry,” she sighed. “Rough day. Holding it in for so long makes me a bit—sorry, Winter. Truly.” She let out a slow breath. “It’s actually very healthy, and I wish I’d done this with younger Jasmine.”

I felt good when all of them snorted. But I had one question. “What was the first thing you put on the list?”

“Stability,” he answered immediately. “Adult Winter has stability. He’s someone who knows his path and what he wants. He knows what he needs to do and also how to help those he cares about—be a rock when they need one instead of a fool who adds to the chaos. He gets shit done and is stable.”

“You are a rock,” I praised. “And your friends all—I think you’ve nailed that one already.”

“Not as much as I’d like, but you’ve been a big help in alleviating my greatest fear and way to stay safe,” he praised, reaching out and booping my nose. “And I’m going to give you your first one because I see you as a real adult better than you do.” He waited until I nodded. “Support. Adult Bevin has a good support system after growing up as she did.”

He gestured to the people sitting around us and I followed his gaze.

I felt my eyes burn and hurried to blink so tears didn’t form. He was right. I’d only gotten support from Grandpa growing up until I’d met Tracey and worked with her. It hadn’t ever been enough with everything else bad, and—I’d always wanted more support and help.

Now I had it. Was it perfect? No, but Winter was right and I was on my way to being adult Bevin.

“Thank you, Sir Winter,” I whispered, feeling choked up.

“Always, Lady Bevin,” he said gently, squeezing my hands again. “Let’s finish up and relax for spa night.”

Yeah, that sounded perfect.

18

“What’s wrong?” I asked Winter when we were alone in my room to get ready for spa night.

“I think I was about to be an asshole,” he muttered as he stared into his bag but then winced. “I’m still going to be one because now I can’t not tell you.”

“You’re not an asshole,” I chuckled. “I’m sure it’s fine.”

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