Page 174 of Scandalous

“Do you still want to be with us?” he says, waving toward the guys.

“Do you guys still want to be with me?” I frown.

“Yes.”

“Absolutely.”

“Without a doubt.”

The guys say at the same time.

“What we want right now doesn’t matter. I’m asking you. This affects you the most. Did this make you change your mind?”

Taking a deep breath, I try to gather my thoughts. The entire plane ride back, I couldn’t think about anything else.

“I want to be with you,” I say, looking Ezra in the eye before turning to the others. “All of you. This doesn’t change anything for me, but I would understand if it does for you.” Taking a deep breath, I look back at Santi. “I love how you enjoy spending time with me in the kitchen and are always up for exploring the outdoors with me.” I look at Liam. “I love how you always make me laugh. Ezra might control everyone, but you are the glue in this family.” I look at Drake. “I love how you just roll with everything but are also a voice of reason. You are the one who balances everyone. Most of all, I love watching the way you two love each other,” I say, looking between Drake and Liam.

They look at each other and smile at each other softly. Turning back to Ezra. “I love you because you know when to push. You’re constantly making sure all of our needs are met. But even on your worst day, we know you love us.”

“I might have been the glue at one point,” Liam says, looking between the guys before turning back to me. “But I’m not anymore. That’s all you, babe.”

“You make us better men, and we love you for it,” Drake says.

Santi cuts in. “We love how you smooth out our edges.”

A phone ringing cuts him off and we all groan.

“Seriously, doesn’t everyone know we were having a moment?” Liam quips.

“Sorry, that was mine.” Ezra frowns as he pulls out his phone. “I’ll call my cousin Letty back later,” he says, sending it to voice mail.

Before we can say anything, it starts ringing again.

“Bloody hell, I better answer this, or she won’t stop.”

Thirty-Nine

“I’m a little busy right now, Letty,” I say, annoyed.

“Whatever you do, don’t hang up,” she pants. “I need to talk to you.”

“What is it?”

“Are you alone?” she asks as a door shuts in the background.

“One moment,” I say as I stand. Without saying anything, I leave the room and head down the hall to the bedroom I sleep in. “Okay, I am now,” I say as I shut the door.

“I saw the news,” she says as I walk across the room and sit on the bed. “The online paper I work for actually ran the story.” She pauses. “Sorry about that.”

“Spit it out, Letty.” I sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose.

“I know who sold you out,” she blurts out.

“How?”

“Do you really want to know?” She laughs awkwardly. “Just know I fell asleep in my office and was there late.”

“And in the middle of the night, you stumbled upon the evidence?”

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