Page 63 of The Air You Breathe

“I wouldn’t be anywhere else,” I said, pressing my lips to give whatever I could to ease his pain.

“Jesus Christ, you guys are so fucking cute.”

Dev and I pulled away from each other to see Ava looking at us like we were a gold mine. She had changed her outfit to go with the new shoes.

“Ava, come one we have to talk.” Dev walked to her. “Let’s go to your room.”

“Omg, are you guys pregnant?” Ava whispered, as they climbed the stairs.

“Ava… ” Dev groaned, and I loved it. I watched them disappear into the hallway, with a heavy stomach and my heart aching for them.

I looked around the house, noticing it was so homey. There were pictures along the wall that lead into the living room. I looked at them seeing Dev and Ava through the years. They were so fucking cute together.

“NO!” Ava’s scream made me flinch. A door slammed shut as I walked to the stairs to see Ava running down the steps.

“Ava.” I held out my hands to stop her from running.

“Move, Darcy,” she sobbed, black tears running down her face.

“Ava.” Dev’s voice was hoarse with emotion as he came down the stairs right behind Ava.

“No, Devlin. No.” Ava tried to push past me. Dev caught her, bringing her into his arms as she sobbed even more. He sank down to the floor, adjusting her so he could hold her better. Dev and I locked eyes as he nodded at me.

His eyes were glassy, laying his cheek on the top of her head, letting his sister grieve his brother in his arms. Just seeing him like this made my heart swell with—love? I apparently had a thing for men who took care of those around him, like their little sisters.

I walked away before I started crying too, just hearing her cry broke my heart. I moved back to the photos I was looking at earlier, seeing Dev as a scrawny little boy. I walked away from the photos to see a beautiful sitting area in the back of the house that overlooked the mountains. I sat in one of the chairs that looked like an egg enjoying the comfy feeling it gave me, admiring the view, and then closing my eyes as Ava’s cries quieted down.

“Darcy?” I was startled, realizing I had fallen asleep.

“Shit, sorry,” I said, looking at Dev in the entrance of the room.

He walked towards me, lifting me up as he sat down and leaving me on his lap so I could rest my head on his shoulder. I ran my hand over his chest hoping to ease some of the ache that I imagined would be there. He lightly ran his fingers up and down my arm, as we took comfort in each other's presence.

“Dev?” a woman was in the doorway looking at us.

“Ma,” he said, when I noticed the familiarity of the woman. She had the same striking eyes as Dev. I got out of his lap, letting him get up to walk over to his mom to embrace her. She whispered something, but it didn’t sound like English.

“Mow grah hoo,” Dev said, pulling away looking down at her with tears on his face. She wiped his tears as she said something else. He nodded his head, kissing her on the forehead and then looking my way.

“Ma, this is Darcy,” he said, as he let go of her.

“Hello, Ms. Quinn,” I said, knowing her through Mary.

“I know who she is, Dev.” She slapped him on his chest, coming over to give me a hug. I enjoyed her motherly warmth for a moment before she pulled away. “Has he fed you?’

“No, we—”

“Come, I have some fresh bread we can make sandwiches out of.” She pulled me into the kitchen as Dev looked at us with a small smile on his face.

This felt like a moment in the relationship where you meet the parents, which made me feel instantly nervous. Dev’s mom started asking me questions as she made us sandwiches, while Dev watched us. I couldn’t help but blush from his attention, feeling like I would never get enough of his gaze as he always looked like he wanted to eat me up.

* * *

“Your mom is amazing,”I said, as we drove back to the cabin.

“She is a phenomenal woman,” he said, keeping his eyes on the road and occasionally looking around us. I knew he was worried that we might be seen by Lucio’s men, and he showed me there was a gun underneath my seat. The further we drove away from his family, the more broody his expression got. He had his hand gripping my thigh in a possessive way as I traced his tattoos up his arms.

I wanted to say something, but I didn’t know what. By the time we made it back to the cabin I could tell he was getting ready to lose it again. He parked the car, getting out quickly, scooting the chair forward to get my stuff and slamming the door hard.

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