Page 193 of Fated to the Hunters
“The centrepieces fell apart.”
“The ones that you made?”
“Yes. It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have stacked them in the box and…” She sniffed, feeling awfully stupid for crying over such a small detail.
“Would you like me to help you?”
“You would do that?”
“Of course.”
She nodded and the second she did, Vince swept her up in his arms and carried her back inside. Once she’d brought everything downstairs, they sat at the counter and glued the rhinestones back on the bows she’d made for the table toppers.
They’d barely started when Mateo and Ezra returned, and she averted her eyes so she didn’t see their suits. Mateo chuckled and she heard his footsteps walk up the stairs. “Don’t worry they are covered.”
Ezra already had her chin pinched between his fingers, running his thumb over her blotched cheek. “You’ve been crying.” When she opened her eyes, she saw his gaze drift to the rhinestones. “Over decor?”
“They broke.”
“No one will care about centrepieces once you enter the room.”
“I care,” she protested.
Seeing where his night was heading, Ezra let out a long sigh and sat to her other side. “Fine. What do I have to do?”
She showed him how to fix each one and repeated it once more when Mateo joined them, insisting on helping too. “Do you need us to do anything else before tomorrow?”
“No. I didn’t have this planned either, but I was getting everything together for your assigned tasks tomorrow, and they just… fell apart.”
“I can’t wait to see everything come together,” Mateo hummed.
She still hadn’t allowed them to know all the details. Everyone had become part of the planning in some way, but Scarlett was the only one who had all the pieces put together. She was nervous, but excited. Part of her still thought it was surreal. In just twenty-four hours, they would fulfil their bond and she would finally be able to call them hers.
“You are tearing up again, love.”
She looked over at Mateo, accepting his offered tissue. “I just can’t believe it’s tomorrow.”
“It does feel quite surreal, doesn’t it?”
“In a good way?” she asked, unable to keep her insecurities at bay.
“A very good and special way.”
“We are very excited to be yours,” Vince agreed.
Ezra ran the back of his fingers over her cheek and softly kissed her forehead. “There is no need for you to worry. All three of us will stand under those branches, eagerly awaiting your arrival.”
She reached up and laced her fingers over his, leaning into the touch. “I love you so very much.”
“We love you too, princess.”
“I would like to cuddle with all three of you tonight.”
An hour later, she sat on Mateo’s bed, waiting for Ezra to join them. Vince was to her left, and Mateo to her right, so she patted her lap to signal Ezra to lay his head there.
“I would like to talk about something before we go to sleep.” Once Ezra was comfortable, one of Scarlett’s hands combed through his hair while the other reached out for Mateo. “I would like you to listen first.Calmly.” The last word she directed to Ezra.
“Of course,” Mateo agreed like the sweet pup he was, while Vince—and shockingly Ezra—gave silent nods.
