Page 82 of Fighting the Darkness

“I’m so glad you’re alright,” he murmurs against my hair. “We were so worried about you.”

I nuzzle into his neck, knowing that we’re making a scene, but not caring. “I’m okay. Just tired and hungover as hell.”

Wilder releases me with a smile. “Then let’s get you some food. I already had the server bring us a carafe of coffee, so that should help.”

“Coffee?” I perk up at that, already dropping into the seat beside Wilder and pouring myself a cup while the guys laugh at me. I shoot them the finger as I doctor it, and then I forget all about them as I lift it to my lips. I hum as it hits my taste buds. As much as I’d like to say that I immediately feel better, I don’t. But coffee makes everything better.

As soon as the guys get settled, the server appears to take our orders. I haven’t even looked at the menu and have no desire to. “One of you order for me, please.”

They look surprised, but it’s not like they don’t know what I eat. Hell, Griffin’s the one who makes my nutrition plan. I trust them so much, I don’t even listen to what they order.

As soon as the server walks away, all of their attention is on me.

Griffin leans forward on his elbows, looking nervous. “We want to talk to you about something.”

“Okay?” I stare at him over the rim of my coffee cup.

“We want you to move in with me and Griffin,” Soren blurts out, and gets a nice spray of coffee spewed across him in payment.

“I’m sorry. What?”

Griffin rolls his eyes, tossing napkins at Soren. “Idiot. You deserved that. Look, Freya, it’s killing me—all of us really—to have you so far from us, not knowing what your stalker could be planning. Wewouldlike you to move in, whether that’s permanently or temporarily is up to you. Soren’s just canceled his lease and will be moving in this week. It would be just as easy to add your stuff to his truck and do it all at once.”

I pick up the carafe, pouring myself another cup of coffee as I consider his words. It’s not that I don’t want to live with them, and I’d love to get out of my parents’ house, but it feels so fast. We have only officially been dating for a couple of months. I take another sip before turning to Wilder.

“What about you? There was no mention of you in Griffin’s statement.”

Wilder shrugs. “I think you’d be safer living with the two of them.”

“That’s not what I meant, and you know it, Wilder. You need to man the fuck up and act like an adult. I’m so over this hot and cold bullshit.” I shake my head. “I love you, you moron. I want to be with you, but you need to decide what the hell you want. If you want out, then just say so. It’ll hurt, but I can deal with that. What I can’t deal with is this not knowing. You’re either in or you’re out. You need to decide.’

Wilder looks like a deer in headlights, eyes wide with his mouth opening and closing, but no words come out. He glances at Soren and Griffin, but they say nothing as they stare at him. I know they support me in everything, including this. But to see them sitting there, waiting for the same answer as I am... It kind of kills me. I didn’t think about how this could be affecting them. I’ve let this go on for too long. I’ve been hurting all of us, and I hate that I didn’t see it until now. But at least now I know.

Wilder shakes his head and pushes to his feet. “I-I... I can’t do this right now. I’ve gotta go.”

And then he’s gone.

He left meagain.

I drop my coffee cup, lifting my hands to my face as tears fill my eyes, my heart feeling like it’s shattering. I really thought this was the moment. I thought this was when he’d tell me he was ready—that he loved me. Instead, he ran like the coward he is. He didn’t even make a decision before he took off, but I guess that’s a decision in and of itself, isn’t it?

“Goddamn it,” Griffin curses. “I’ll go ask the server to pack up the food to go. Soren, get her to the truck. I’m taking both of you to my place.”

I want to thank him, but when I open my mouth, all that comes out is a sob. Soren picks me up straight from my chair and heads for the truck, murmuring in my ear the entire way.

“He’s an idiot, sunshine. No one in their right mind would say no to you. He’s a coward. He’s so in love with you, and he still keeps fighting it. Fuck. Don’t worry about that right now. We’re going to take you home and tuck you into Griff’s bed and take a nap. You’ll feel better after you get some more sleep.”

I wish I thought sleep would help, but I know it’s going to take a hell of a lot more than sleep to make me feel better about this.

But hey, it’s just a broken heart. It can’t be any worse than losing my brother, right?

Chapter Thirty-six

Freya

“Comeon,Freya!”Sorensnaps. “Where is your head? You’re better than this!”

Shaking my head to clear it after the blow I’ve just taken, I turn to him with a shrug. I don’t know what he wants me to tell him. I tried telling both him and Griffin that I wasn’t up for training today, but they convinced me I’d be fine. I’m not.

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