Page 126 of Loving Ladybug: Part One
“Me, too.” I gave her forehead a kiss. Forehead kisses make everything better.
“I’m not going back. I’m doing fine.” Tears streamed down her face.
I gave him a look to let him know that we’d protect her wishes at all costs.
“I know. Last year at NYIT. Wow. Also, that final one with the six overtimes was insane,” Matty assured, not moving closer to her.
Her head ducked. “I… I thought I saw you at the game.”
“Lenny and I were there. Joe, Papa, and Babo, too. It was so hard to keep Babo from finding you afterward. We were trying to respect your request for independence,” he told her. “I’ve caught a few of your games, which are still terrifying to watch. I feel like your leg is going to snap off any time you go into full butterfly.”
Oh. There weredefinitelysome complicated things going on here.
“I do my yoga, I see the physio, I’m okay,” she assured. “Papa came? He hates me playing hockey.” Her nose scrunched.
“The dads love you, which is why you always get your way, eventually. They just have to be assholes on principle first,” he told her.
That, too, I could see. Especially if any of the dads were alphas. They’d want to protect their youngest, shield her, and get their way.
“I don’t like that.” Gwen scowled. “Now you’ll tell the dads and they’ll get me and…” She started to cry and Clark stroked her hair. “They sent me away. They don’t get to keep me only when it’s convenient,” she sobbed.
Her fear, her tears, put me on edge and I growled at Matty.
“Buttons,” Matty soothed, putting his hands up in surrender. “I don’t have to tellanyoneI saw you. Also, even though the dads are assholes, when you left last time, theylet you go. They kept their distance and hoped that you’d come back when you were ready.”
“I don’t want to talk about it.” She flinched.
“You never want to talk about it, which is a big part of the problem. Eventually, the lies you tell yourself are going to catch up to you.” His voice gentled. “The dads are getting old, Buttons. I know how much not going to the grandparents’ funeral hurt you. How will you feel if something happens to one of the dads, our siblings, or your nieces and nephews, and we can’t tell you because you block us?”
“If I talk to any of you, they’ll find me.” Her chest shook. “It’s bad enough I talk to Lenny sometimes.”
“I’m glad you talk to Lenny.” A pained look crossed his face. “While the dads are worried about you, they’re not going to kidnap you and take you back to Vancouver.”
She gave him a defiant look. “Why not? It’s what happened last time.”
“You werehurt,Buttons. You needed the hospital and when you were released, you needed to be cared for. I’m sorry they always fuck things up when it comes to you,” her brother soothed.
My hands fisted. Who’d hurt her?
“I’m sorry we didn’t protect you better. However, not dealing with it isn’t helping you. I guess you haven’t told them that story? Sorry, not trying to boundary stomp. I’m genuinely worried.” Matty gave her an apologetic look.
“I try not to tell anyone that story. Ever.” Salty sadness filled her scent as she burrowed into Clark’s arms.
My heart broke for her and everything she’d been through. I’d give everything to make it all better. She deserved the world, and it seemed all she ever got was heartbreak.
Chapter Forty-Four
Gwen
My worst nightmare came true, as Matty brought up what happened in my second year in New York. What caused my nightmares. What I tried to forget.
“You don’t have to tell us anything,” Tenzin assured.
I should tell them. Especially before we got too serious, in case what I’d done was a deal breaker and they wanted to leave me. But at this moment, I wasn’t ready.
“Hey, whatever it is, we’ll still love you, Gweny. We love you so much,” Clark said. “We all have unhappy things in our past and it doesn’t define us.”
Shit, I needed to hear that.
