Page 89 of Pucking Tangled
She paused and waited. But when no one else spoke, she took a deep breath and continued.
“I care about each of you. Deeply. And I want to keepexploringthis. But I can’t do that if we’re always tiptoeing around each other. If you’re all watching every move I make. Or every move someone else makes, like it’s a competition and you’re all fighting to see who wins.”
Mia rung out her hands, trying to ease her nerves.No going back now, she thought.
“I won’t be the reason you hurt each other, and I don’t want to loseanyof you. If we’re going to do this…if we’re really going to try to make it work, we’re going to need some new rules. First and foremost, we need trust. And we need to agree that no matter what happens between me and each of you individually, thecoreof this house—thisfamily—stays strong. Because, like it or not boys, that’s what we are now. Family.”
Waylon crossed his arms over his chest, catching Mia’s gaze. “Uh, I don’t know Mia. I’ve never kissed my cousin like I kissed you.”
“I’d hope not.” She rolled her eyes at him, but then sobered her expression. “I’m not asking you not to feel things. I’m asking you to talk about them. With me. With each other. Because I can’t carry the weight of your fear and guilt and jealousy by myself. I’ve got enough of my own to manage.”
Luca was the first one to move. He walked to her and wrapped his arms around her, pressing his forehead againsthis. “I love you, Mia. I want this. I wantyou.Everything you’re willing to give me. I’ll try my damndest to make it work.”
Mia pressed a kiss to his lips. “I love you, too, Luca. Thank you.”
“Same.” Casey spoke up. “I’m all in. But I’m going to need a little time, I think. I’m clearly not very good at this.”
She reached for his hand and pulled him into her embrace. “I don’t think any of us are. But we can be.”
“You got one thing wrong, Blondie,” Waylon joined her. “Youarea prize, but not to be won. To be cherished. I’m all in too.”
Finally, Owen stepped close and kissed her temple. “We’ll figure it out,” he promised.
And she believed him.
She believed all of them.
“One more thing. I’m still absolutely counting on all four of you having your wicked ways with me…at the same time. Just so we’re clear. When we’re all ready.”
Waylon growled. “Maybe it would have been better if we just started with that from the beginning.”
Mia laughed. “That would be your way of dealing with things.”
He leaned in and kissed the side of her neck. “You just wait, Mia. Just. Wait.”
“Looking forward to it.”
THIRTY-TWO
Waylon
Waylon had been standingat the garage door for at least fifteen minutes, keys in hand and sweating through his t-shirt like it was 110 degrees outside.
He’d told Mia once to stay out of the garage. No reason. No explanation. Just a wall of charm and a warning smile. And she’d listened.
But the way they connected during their night out had Waylon wanting to give hermore.A peek behind the curtain. A look inside his mind.
He wanted Mia to seehim.
The real him.
Not the smartalec hockey player with a dirty mind.
Mind made up, he left the door ajar and walked into the backyard to find Mia on one of the lounge chairs with her law books open, Skeeter beside her.
He paused and watched her for a beat before he cleared his throat and called out her name.
“Got a few minutes?” he asked.
