Page 94 of Bleeding Hearts
“Not me, I’m an angel,” Skylar says, but we ignore him.
“Fine, I’m still going to talk to you after this,” Alek warns, pointing at us, and Evan leans in.
“Just no more secrets, okay? We’re family, Lally. There is nothing you can’t tell us,” he murmurs, looking far too sad.
“I know. I just needed to deal with this in my own way, okay? But Alice had her own ideas.” She winks at me.
“Why did you enter the game?” Alek mutters, pointing at Lally.
Biting her lip, she glances at me, and I nod. “I got in some trouble at college. They took my scholarship from me. Unless I pay my tuition, I’m out. The idea of them taking the last connection I had to Tommy broke something inside me.”
“If you needed money, you should have said so,” Skylar scoffs, and he pulls out his wallet and throws a card at her. “Here, use whatever you need.”
Shaking her head, she slides it back. “I don’t want anyone’s pity.”
“It isn’t pity.” Skylar frowns. “We’re friends. We shared snacks. Money comes and goes, but friends like us don’t.”
“That was almost sweet.” Bones pats Sky’s hand.
“Besides, who else will get into trouble with me?” He groans as Bones smacks him.
Lally shakes her head, but she’s grinning, and Evan is watching her. “You know that isn’t true, right? No matter what, this is just a place, not your last connection to Tommy. He lives on in you, in me, and in everyone he met. You can’t get rid of him that easily.”
“I know. I just . . . I couldn’t lose it, okay? I was already lost, and the idea that I would lose my last semblance of normal . . . I saw no other way out.” She stares at the table, looking crestfallen. “I know it was dumb. I wish Alice had never gotten involved, and I’m sorry she was hurt because of my mistakes.”
“We aren’t just worried because of Alice,” Alek mutters. “You’re important to us too, Lally. You’re like another little sister to me. I hate to consider anything happening to you without us there. No matter what occurs, you can always come to us. The door is always open. I might yell and get angry, but I would always help you no matter what.”
“I know,” she admits as she glances around at us. “I do. I just forgot for a while. I lost myself, but I promise I’m better now. I will be better.”
“Good,” Alek grumbles. “You’re still in trouble though.”
We all groan.
Bones nudges me as we sit side by side on the sofa. Lally is on my other side, listening as Alek rants and paces before us. Evan and Skylar are sitting opposite us, sharing a bowl of popcorn.
“How long will he do this for?”
Leaning in, I lower my voice. “When I was sent home for causing trouble at school, he ranted for three hours.”
Lally and Bones both groan, but they sit up taller when Alek stops, pointing at us. “Listen or I will yell. As I was saying, it was reckless, foolish—” He carries on, and we nod stiffly, listening to him tell us all off like naughty children.
When he starts to run out of steam, he stops pacing. “Now for your punishments.”
“Not to fear, my bestie,” Skylar calls as he gets to his feet. “I will punish my boy.”
Bones bites back a smile as Skylar salutes us and grabs Bones, throwing him over his shoulder and smacking his ass. “Bad angel. Let me take you home. I’ll use the whips tonight.” He waves at us, and Bones waves as well as they head to the door.
Laughing, I share a look with Lally before we pretend to be serious when Alek crosses his arms. “I’m still furious.” He drops his arms and kneels in front of us, taking each of our hands. “But I forgive you. Just don’t pull that shit again, okay? Don’t ever terrify me like that again. I can’t lose any more family.”
“I’m sorry.” I never wanted to hurt my brother, and that’s why he’s so angry, because he’s hurt and worried.
“Me too,” Lally promises, and Alek grumbles but tugs us both into a hug.
My head presses against his shoulder, and when I meet Lally’s eyes over his back, she reaches across and covers my hand with hers, and I know she’s going to be okay.
Weare going to be okay.
CHAPTER FORTY
