Page 235 of Hymns of the Broken
“You alright, Trouble?” Jasper’s voice breaks the silence as he runs his hand up and down her arm.
Sawyer nods, and I swear I feel the tension bleed out of her, as she laughs. It’s quiet, but it’s real. “Yeah. I’m just…really fucking happy.”
I grin and nudge her with my nose, pressing a kiss into her hair. “Yeah? Not too overwhelmed? You did go from living alone to now living with two rockstars.”
She laughs, and the sound goes straight to my chest. “Overwhelmed, but in a good way.”
I watch her, cataloguing everything. Her flushed cheeks, her eyes all soft and shy, the way she looks at Jasper and then at me, like she can’t believe this either. I get it. I don’t think I’ll ever believe it.
Then she looks up, voice barely more than a whisper. “Can I ask you both something? Is this…real? I mean, is it really going to be all three of us? Not just for tonight, not just while everything feels perfect? Do you guys—” She bites her lip. “Do you really want me? Really love me? Both of you?”
The question guts me and I see Jasper tense, see the flicker of worry in his eyes. I realize this is going to take a lot of reassurance and communication. Which is no problem, I don’t mind telling her every single day how much she means to me. I just wish she could see herself through our eyes. She’s had it rough for so long that it’s just going to take time for her to accept the love we give her.
Jasper rolls over, pulling her close until she’s all but smothered. His voice is raw, nothing like the cocky asshole the world thinks he is. “Sawyer, I’ve never loved anyone like this. Never even thought I could. I don’t give a fuck what anybody thinks—this is real. You’re it for me. And if it means I have to share you with this idiot—” he shoots me a look, but it’s all warmth, “—then I’ll do it every day for the rest of my life.”
I can’t help but laugh, nerves finally breaking. I lean in, kissinghercheek, letting my forehead rest against hers. “I didn’t see this coming,” I admit, voice shaking. “But I don’t want anything else now. Not if it means losing you. I’m in, Sawyer. For real. I fucking love you.”
Her eyes glisten in the dark, tears clinging to her lashes. She looks at both of us, like she’s telling herself it’s real, that she can trust us to take care of her heart. “So we’rereally doing this? All three of us.”
Jasper presses his forehead to hers, wiping away the tear that slips free. “Yeah. We’rereallyfucking doing this.”
I pull her back against my chest, wrapping my arms around her waist, breathing her in. “You’re ours, Sawyer. For as long as you’ll have us.”
JASPER
Sawyer’s leg is hooked around mine, her cheek resting on my chest. Riot’s armis slung over her waist, his hand splayed over her stomach like he never plans to let go. The room is quiet, shadows drifting over bare skin, the afterglow making everything feel slow and safe.
Sawyer shifts a little, tracing lazy circles over my ribs. “Can I ask something else?”
“Anything, baby,” I murmur, smoothing her hair back.
She bites her lip, glancing at Riot, then me. “What about…families? Like, what do we tell them? Or do we even tell them at all?”
I sigh, honest for once. “I’m not gonna lie, it’ll be a lot. My mom—” I stop, shake my head, “—she doesn’t get a say in my life anymore. My brother already knows, and he’s happy for us. If people don’t understand, that’s on them.Ijustwant you.I don’t care about anyone else.”
Riot squeezes her waist, grinning. “My parents barely survived the last tour drama.This’llprobably kill ‘em.” He laughs, but there’s no real fear in it. “But seriously…fuck ‘em. I don’t think they will care, though. We’re not living for anybody but us.”
Sawyer’s eyes get all watery, but she smiles. “And do you ever think about kids?”
The question catches me off guard, but it strikes a deep chord. I’ve never thought about having kids. Hell, I didn’t think I’d find somebody that I’d want to be with for the rest of my life. I turn my head to look at her, and suddenly I want that future so bad it hurts.
“Hell yeah, I do. You’d be the hottest fucking mom walking around with my baby.” I grin, letting her see how much I mean it. “I’d want that. All of it. The mess and chaos and tiny hands and you—barefoot in my shirts, belly all round and glowing.”
Sawyer blushes, laughter breaking up the nerves.
Riot smirks, rolling onto his back, hands behind his head. “Yeah, well, don’t count your tattoos before they’re inked. Might not even be yours, Reign. Might be mine.”
I shoot him a look. “You wish.She’snot gonna let you knockherup first. She loves me more.”
Sawyer giggles, curling closer, shaking her head at us both. “You’re both insane.”
I lean in, kissing her sweetly. “I want a future with you—whatever it looks like. You, me, and whatever little monsters we make.”
Riot slides a hand over her stomach, voice suddenly serious. “I want that too. Us, no matter what.”
Sawyer lets out a shaky sigh, tears slipping down her cheeks, but she’s smiling.
And for once, the future doesn’t scare the shit out of me. Not with her…and I guess Riot too.
