Page 65 of Never Moving On

Blanketed in my sorrow, I slip into a heavy sleep, one I hope will wash away the shitty events of my life.

I'm just so tired.

Ryan

"Fuck!" Korren's yell has me pursing my lips in agitation. Seriously, what the hell is up with these two? Normally, they are far more collected and less eager to let anger get the best of them. It's not good for our girl right now.

His darker counterpart is no better as he stabs the eggs half to death, muttering curse words under his breath.

"Guys, calm down." Footsteps on the staircase draw my attention to Nolan making his way down, except he stops mid-stride halfway down. A horrified look crosses his face before his body turns to look back. "What's wrong, babe?"

His head snaps back to look at me so fast I internally cringe. "She's crying. Can you not hear that?" My chest twinges when his wide eyes fill with a shimmer of tears and guilt. A question lingers in them, one he doesn't know how to express right now.

"Go lay down with her, Nolan; it's okay." I avoid looking behind me at the two who caused this mess. Why couldn't they have fucking waited for Eve to leave the room or, I don't know, texted each other?

My man still hasn't moved from his hesitant spot on the staircase. I frown up at him once I make my way out of the kitchen. "Will you come with me?" I swear everything inside of me melts at his whimpered question. I don't know where his anxiety is coming from specifically, but if both of my loves need me, then you bet your ass I will be there.

"Come on. I need a snuggle." The other two can figure their shit out. Eve hasn't been home for even twenty-four hours, and we keep messing up left and right. At this rate, she should just be eating and sleeping, not dealing with any of the bullshit the world around her has to offer.

Smith and Brown better have some good fucking news, though.

"Careful where you point that thing." I give Nolan a gentle slap on his tight ass wagging in my face.

"Hey!" The smirk he sends me over his shoulder lights up my entire fucking world with fireworks. Thank fuck I can still make him smile.

Snagging his belt loop before he can take the left down the hallway to Eve's room, I tug him, so his back is plastered to my chest. I bend and nuzzle behind his ear, having to hold back my groan at how his breath snags in his throat. My hands trail their way around his sides and latch around his waist.

"Everything is going to be okay, my love."

"You don't know that," his words tumble out on an exhale as his body deflates into mine. The firmness of his pert ass sinks into my hips, encouraging my feet to widen to accommodate his perfect body.

"I do know. Want to know why?" I don't hold back the urge to nip at his earlobe. I also don't wait for him to respond; he needs to listen. "I know everything will be okay because our Evie is home and in her warm bed. I know because, while she may be crying, she also has a family wanting to hold her and help her through this. We may not know or understand everything she is going through, but none of us will allow her to go through it alone. Do you hear me?"

He sucks in a shuddering breath and makes my own chest rumble with emotion. "Remember what I told you when she first came home? Evelyn is not broken; she is stronger than we give her credit for." I drop a kiss on his jaw and continue, "Don't forget that our woman has survived unspeakable things and still has the capacity for love, kindness, and laughter."

I can tell by the way his shoulder blades relax against my chest that what I said has settled some of his worries. A soft moan slips out when he turns in my hold, making his ass graze my cock.God damnit. Nol's huff of laughter and his own tented shorts are all I need to know he is just as affected by me as I am by him.

"I love you." I bite my lip when I catch sight of his dilated eyes and barely manage to hold in my snarl of need when he presses his front against me, our dicks creating the friction they so desperately need.

"I love you too," my words come out scratchy and filled with desire. Just as I slant my lips over his, a hushed whimper from across the hall has me pulling back before anything can truly begin. "You okay now?"

He nods, fresh tears peeking through his lashes. "Thank you," he whispers. "Let's go cuddle our girl."

I couldn't agree more.

Taking the lead, I gently knock on her door and press my ear to it, trying to hear if she tells us to go away. I hear nothing, so I open the door and just about burst into tears at the sight before me.

Is this how Amiri and Korren felt last night when they walked in to see her panicking?

"Sweetheart?"

No answer.

Looking up at Nolan, we share a silent conversation...I take the left. He takes the right. "I need cuddles," he murmurs as he slides under the covers beside her.

"Me too, baby girl. It's cuddle time." She doesn't protest when I slide my arms under her and draw her onto my chest. A small sigh ripples my shirt, putting me at ease that she's comfortable with us being here right now. Just as her body begins to melt into me, Nolan's hand snakes underneath her waist, drawing a huffed gasp out of me at the warm touch his knuckles make on my exposed side.

I narrow my eyes at him over her head when he giggles and jostles all three of us with his shaking shoulders. I'm about to shush him because we came in here to cuddle and comfort our girl, not fuck around, but Eve beats me to it.

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