Page 50 of Too Safe

Decker’s brows come together. “Shit. Sorry, man. How are you feeling this morning? I should have led with that.”

Locke flexes one hand on the tabletop. His movements are slow and methodical. When his hand clenches into a fist, he winces, shaking his head and puffing his cheeks out with a heavy sigh.

“My knees are screaming. Hands and wrists, too. I’ve got three spoons to my name today, tops.”

“What do you need?” Decker’s demand is laced with sympathy. He sounds so docile and caring, I almost laugh. Is this a joke? How can someone be so infuriatingly bossy and cold, yet so genuinely kind where his friends are concerned?

“Rest. Ice bath. Maybe a massage. I thought I’d head to the field house later if I feel up to it.”

Decker’s shaking his head before Locke even finishes. “I’ll get a trainer to come to the house. Finish eating, rest, and take care of yourself. If you can make it to the Boatyard, that’d be best.” His eyes flick to me, and although they don’t linger for more than a moment, I’m still hit with the daggers behind his glare. “That way Josephine has someone besides Kylian to keep her company.”

A scoff escapes me. I’m right here. Right fucking here. And still, he’s talking about me like I’m a child who supposedly needs not one, buttwobabysitters?

“And you?” Decker asks, turning his attention to Kendrick, who’s standing behind the chair he vacated and gripping the top rung with both hands like he can’t wait to escape the room.

“All good, Cap. My utensil drawer’s overflowing.”

Decker smirks. “Love to hear it. But if you start—”

“I will,” Kendrick interrupts, seemingly anticipating the lecture Crusade was about to launch into. And with that, he strides to the door.

Decker rises from his chair as well, the movement making my panic flare. Because Kylian hasn’t said a word to him about our plans.

Should I bring it up now and risk Crusade’s intervention? He implied that we’re all leaving the house today, but when?

I’m desperate for my own things. A lifeline. A reminder of who I am. Why I’m here.

If I don’t get off this damn isle and make it back to my uncle’s today…

I swallow past the nerves and shoot my shot before the guys can leave the dining room.

I jump up quickly, and the legs of the chair grate against the floor so loudly there’s no way they didn’t leave a mark. I wince but steel my spine.

“Kylian agreed to take me back to Sam’s so I can get my stuff today.”

The room goes silent as chaotic energy crawls up my throat. A blush creeps up my chest along with it, but I don’t care. I need my shit. I needed it, like, yesterday. And I freaking deserve to have the comforts of home here. My own clothes, my schoolbooks and my laptop, my makeup, the jewelry from Alice, and the few other possessions to my name.

Decker’s eyes rake over my body. Despite wearing Kylian’s shorts and an oversized sweatshirt, the heat of his stare bores into my skin. I inhale to stop myself from shudderingagain.

It’s like he has X-Ray vision. His glare is as strong as the force of the goddamn sun.

I’m going to need a lot more willpower and at least 100 SPF to protect myself from the intensity of Decker fucking Crusade.

Cocking one brow, he smirks.

“Did he?”

Beside me, Kylian hasn’t said a word. Not that I need him to, I guess. But a little backup would be nice.

I look between the two men, watching as Decker’s cocky expression turns into a quizzical frown.

Kylian, on the other hand, just keeps shoveling food into his mouth.

For several seconds, Decker scrutinizes me silently, forcing me to fight the urge to fidget. The guys, though, are unaffected. Locke is ignoring us, and Kendrick is slouched against the doorframe, looking borderline amused.

Finally,finally, Decker tilts his chin. “Be back in two hours.”

Two hours? Indignation swirls up into a storm of outrage. “It takes forty-five minutes to get off this goddamn isl—”

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