Page 45 of Endless Harmonies

“You’re going to kill my fiancée,” Roark says goodnaturedly as he steps outside.

“You’re ruining my woods with your fuckery,” Greg chortles. We can’t help ourselves.

“Nah, we’re making them better. They have personality,” Ror says, his lips twitching.

“So are we invited to this wedding?” Greg teases.

“Oh my goodness, yes!” I gasp. “Jordan is kind of in charge of planning, and I haven’t asked him if he’s inviting anyone.”

“I’m teasing.” He grins, holding up a wedding invitation proudly. I really didn’t even realize that Uncle Jordan was sending them out. “Small wedding in St. Augustine, Florida sounds perfect, Lennon. I’m damn happy for you.”

Relaxing, I nod. “Thank you, it felt right. A wedding away at the beach seemed like the perfect way to celebrate our day. It won’t be as cold as it is here, either.”

Greg keeps talking to Roark, but my attention wanders. Time is moving so fast. I’m going wedding dress shopping tomorrow, have intensive therapy appointments up until the wedding at the end of the month, and we’re still writing music.

“Penny for your thoughts, Lennon,” Greg prompts when he realizes how quiet I’ve been.

“Hmm? Just thinking about how much I have to do,” I explain. “My therapist wants to work on reducing the damage Dr. Xav did by lessening the hold of that word.”

I don’t even have to explain as he nods. “What is she planning on doing?”

“She wants to take me back to the moment with the agent and relive it so I can remember it all,” I wince. “Then from there, we’ll reduce my reaction to it through exposure therapy. Dr. Bradley wants to use it in a controlled environment to see if I can control my responses. The issue is…”

“It’s a damn risk,” Roark mutters.

“It is. What if I snap her neck?” I groan.

“Dr. Bradley is a military doctor, which means she has combat training,” Greg admits. “If she can’t take you, she deserves a broken neck.”

“Not helpful,” I hiss at his snickers. God, he’s so morbidly inappropriate. “I just want to be able to hear the word without being worried I’m going to go on a murderous rampage.”

“Lenny, Dr. Xav had to command you to hurt people for that to happen, right? Just hearing it without the command… Do you think it would have the same reaction?”

“I don’t know,” I muse, thinking. “I just worry that someone will find his notes and try to use me as a weapon. Is it an outcome that’s even possible? Maybe not. This is the shit that sometimes keeps me up at night, though.”

“Then, you should see if she can minimize the negative connection to that word,” Roark rumbles.

“If you’re okay with it, I can come to your appointments?” Greg asks. “If something happens, I can help bring you back.”

“So can I,” Orion says, stepping onto the porch. “You won’t hurt anyone, Little Love. You’re stronger than that. Even that night in the hospital, you hurt the people who harmed you. That agent owes her life to your strength.”

Greg nods. “Ina told me she saw the Angel of Death that night, and you were her. You can do this.”

“Okay,” I murmur, blowing out a breath. “Greg, I can’t ask you to take a few hours out of your day three times a week for this. It’s just too much—”

“That’s intense,” he murmurs. “I still don’t have a problem doing it if you need me though.”

“Orion, are you good with coming?” I ask. “Could you possibly hurt me if I freak out?”

“I won’t hurt you,” he growls. “Even with increased strength, I can hold you down. Leave the knife at home though. I don’t feel like being stabbed, Lennon.”

Snorting, I shrug. “Fair enough. Okay, so we have a plan. I think it’s time to come inside before I also fall asleep out here,” I yawn. “This chair is way too comfortable.”

“You needed it.” Roark grins, helping me up and gently taking Saira with him. “Dinner is ready for us too. I hope lasagna makes you happy.”

“Fuck, it makes me happy,” Greg chuckles.

“Don’t mooch off the neighbors!” Miguel yells over the fence, making me smirk.

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