Page 59 of Dev

“You never told methaton the way here,” Alicia scolds Millie when I’m finished. “Welcome to the Girl Squad.” She snatches her away from me to hug her tight, and looks up at me warningly.

“Does this mean you're gonna stop being an asshole now?” Alicia questions.

“Don’t push it, I think it’s gonna make me even more of one.” I take my girl's waist and drag her back on my lips, letting thewhole club see that she’s mine now. Hands bang on tables, they whoop and cheer, and while our lips hold together, Millie’s tears turn into happy ones.

“I think they might be happy for us.” She looks up at me.

“Welcome to the club, Millie Dawson. Remember that you asked for this.” I grin back at her. Surprised at how relieved I feel. Staying away from her and denying myself wasn’t easy. At least I don’t have to do that anymore.

“It’s great that everyone's so supportive, but it doesn’t change the situation with my parents,” she sighs when reality drags her back down to earth again. “I know if I go home, they’re going to make me leave and I–”

“You're not going home,” I tell her sternly.

“But I have to, I’ve got nowhere else to go.”

“You can come home with me.” I shrug, knowing that it’s a little forward and will probably scare her, but it’s the perfect solution.

“Come home with you?” She repeats my words back to me.

“I sure ain’t gonna let you stay anywhere else.” I let her know I mean that by frowning at her.

“Dev, yesterday you couldn’t stand the sight of me; you didn’t even want me here, let alone living in your house.”

“Yeah, well, yesterday was different. I’ve crossed the line and there's no going back. All or nothin’, remember?” I kiss her in case she’s forgotten.

“What happened to you?” She pushes me back and laughs like she can’t believe this is real.

“Let’s just say I’m takin’ a different approach to life from now on. And for the record, there was never a time when I couldn’t stand the sight of you. This…” I press myself tight against her so she feels my hard dick against her stomach, “is what the sight of you always caused, and now you know from experience that it ain’t an easy thing to hide.” I raise an eyebrow at her.

“Is it really okay for me to stay with you?” I can see from the way her eyes are sparkling that she likes the idea.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way, baby girl.” I kiss her again, because after all the time I’ve spent holding back, I can’t get enough of it.

“We need to knoweverything.” Eden waits until Dev gets called away by one of the others before she drags me back into the chair and puts me in the spotlight.

“Well, you know my father’s running for senato?—”

“Not about that, about you and Dev! When did this drastic change of heart happen?” Alicia rushes me to the point.

“This morning. I heard a rumor he was leaving town, so I left work and went to his place to beg him not to, and it just kinda happened.” I give them the short version, still unable to believe it all myself. I’m so scared that any second he’s going to revert to his old self.

“Things like this don’t justhappen; this is Dev,” Freya points out. “He doesn’t show affection like that, he’s…I’ve never even imagined him wanting an old lady before.” She looks across to where he’s at the bar with Ruckus and Wrath, and when he catches us watching, the smile he gives me makes me go all warm inside.

“Do you think Corey would be okay with this?” I ask them, knowing how weird it is. Corey’s only been gone a month, and I’d hate anyone here to think I was being disrespectful to him. “He’s the only person I’ve ever gone to for advice before; I can’t help wondering what he’d think.” It’s times like these when I realizehow much I miss him, and how we were only destined to ever be friends. Corey always gave the best advice and made me feel so confident about everything I did.

“He’d want both of you to be happy. He wouldn’t have liked the way Dev was pushing you away before. You know how much Corey loved the club; he wanted you to be a part of it with him,” Alicia reminds me.

“I think that was what was holding Dev back.” Lettie sits back in her chair and assesses the situation. “Grief and guilt come hand in hand. I feel bad every day for getting to see all the things Rory does, knowing that Saul’s missing out. I hate the time we wasted not being together while he was alive. But I can’t change it. Instead, I have to remind myself how lucky I am. Saul wouldn’t want me to be sad when I look at our little boy and watch him grow. He’d want me to enjoy every second of it.”

“He absolutely would.” Alicia looks moved as she takes Lettie’s hand.

“And Corey would want the same for you and Dev. Don’t blame yourself for finding happiness together. You got yourself a good one. Dev was always my marry inkiss, marry, kill,” Peyton confesses.

“You're engaged to my brother!” Eden reminds her.

“Yeah, but the guy you're with can’t count.” Peyton looks back at her.

“That completely changes the game.” Freya sits back and starts looking around the room.

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