Page 39 of Players and Pages
“Talk to me, Dani,” he said gently, tucking a stray curl behind my ear.
The care in his touch had tears welling up in the corner of my eyes as I blinked down at the floor. For some reason, the truth spilled out far too easily, "Yes, I just never dreamed that my life would be something out of a book. I'd just be the chubby, funny side character, never the star. Sometimes I don’t know how to take it."
At my words, he pulled me into his arms. I sank into the touch easily, my body responding before my mind could overthink it.
"Don't you ever talk down about yourself again," he told me in a firm tone before he ran his hands down my back a little. "I love every inch of you and if you give me the chance, I'll show you. Over and over again. These curves? They’ve been taunting me and I am dying to worship them like you deserve."
"That's sweet of you," I told him. "I love my curves most of the time. There are just some things that make me forget it."
Cy poked his head in the backdoor. "Plates?"
He frowned at the sight of us, sensing a deeper moment, but I was already moving.
"Shit, coming up. I hope I didn't overcook Jackson’s steak," I said as I pulled back from Griff to grab them. "Cups are in the cabinet next to the plates."
I pointed to the left side of the open cabinet before I hurried back outside to the grill.
"Hopefully, you were serious about it being almost burnt,” I groaned as I lifted the lid. It wasn’t burnt, but it was definitely well done now.
"As long as it's not pink at all, I'll eat it," he smiled back, not bothered in the least. His dimples flashed, reassuring me.
Clicking off the grill, I pulled the last steak off, keeping it separate so we could tell whose was whose.
"I just need to grab the sides and we’ll be ready to eat," I told them as Griff came out juggling four glasses in his hands.
Jackson scrambled up to take two of the glasses as I took the steaks inside. They were just as aware of each other as they were of me. I loved that about these guys. They weren’t just pack, but real friends and teammates on top of it.
Griff's words calmed me but I needed to breathe for just a moment before I headed back out. They hadn't ever made me feel unwanted but those nasty emails kept playing over and over in my head.
It started with one. Then two, then escalated. It wasn’t clear if it was a bunch of fake accounts run by one jealous person, or multiple, but they had gotten to me over the course of the day. Each worse than the last, picking me apart from my looks to my demeanor. Nothing was safe.
One more exhale and I grabbed the sides and headed back out to my mates with a smile on my face.
Those emails weren't their fault and I had to remember that.
They were here because they wanted me. Curves and all.
I always promised myself I’d find someone who wanted me, appreciated my curves and extra softness like I did, and they seem to be exactly what I wanted. No,needed.
Jackson helped set the table and handed me a glass as I took my seat.
"Are you okay, sweets?" he asked, looking me over. I was hiding it well, but I guess they were learning my tells.
"Yeah, it was just a long day at the store and I have a headache, but I'm glad you guys are here," I answered. I didn't want them to think that I didn't want them here. "I'll grab some medicine when we go back inside."
"I can run and get you a glass of water and some meds," he offered easily. They were always so quick to make sure I was taken care of.
"This right here will help, too," I told him, raising my glass up to my lips.
That earned a laugh from all three of them.
"Smells like Jackson's steak is perfectly burnt, let's eat," Cy said as he held out a hand for me.
I took it and he pulled me closer and placed a kiss on the top of my forehead.
"Feel better?" he asked sweetly.
"Yes," I answered breathlessly.
