Page 245 of Entangled

At the mention of Kasey, Jayk’s head tips back in defeat.

“She’s a little shit.” He doesn’t wait for a response before he straightens and turns back to the house. “Fine. Whatever. You’re fucking welcome. Try not to fucking die.”

“Thank you,” Lucky singsongs after him.

“No, wait.” I’m hurrying over to him before I’ve even decided to move.

He might be staying, but I’m leaving.

I catch Jayk’s wrist, and he flinches as though the contact sizzles.

“I need more time, Eden,” he says, quietly enough that I don’t think anyone else can hear.

“I just need to tell you?—”

“Hey, Jayk!” Kasey calls from the porch, a big grin on her freckled face. “Come show me how to fix the tap!”

Jayk scowls over at her in exasperation. “Do you not know how to say please, you little shit?”

She makes a bored face at him, and he mutters under his breath.

He gives me a brief, distracted glance. “Two days.”

Jayk tugs his wrist free of my grip, then leaves before I can say anything else. Why does it feel like I’m always staring after him?

Sighing, I turn back to the others, and several heads quickly snap back around to look at their packs.

Subtle.

Lucky winks at me, though, before looking around at the Rangers. “Should we gethima friendship bracelet? He’s feeling left out again.”

“Heisbeing left out again. You guys are shitty friends,” Ava mutters, swiping a round of ammo. “None of you even came to say hi when he got back. You take him for granted.”

Lucky, Beau, and Jasper turn to look at her, identical frowns on their faces.

Dom keeps his gaze on me, though. “Eden, you don’t have to be here for this. The next few weeks will be busy around here. We need to keep getting Bristlebrook ready to handle this many people—your garden could make a big difference to a lot of people here.”

Ah. Of coursehe’snot focused on the romantic interplay.

Though I do have some frustratingly foggy memories of being in his arms. I remember him smiling under the apple tree, his eyes like warm honey.

I remember almost telling him about freeing Alastair and Mateo.

I tell him gently, “I’m not staying at Bristlebrook. I’m coming with you.”

Next to him, Beau stiffens, and he scoffs a disbelieving laugh. “No, darlin’, you’re not. We only just got you safe. Your pretty little behind is staying here.”

“I’m afraid I must agree with Beaumont.” Jasper’s eyes are serious as he buckles his pack. He’s in a set of Lucky’s Ranger kit again, but he looks more comfortable in it now. “You’ve only just started training, Eden, and distractions in the field can be deadly.”

I lift my chin. “Respectfully, I’m not asking. I’m informing you of my decision.”

Lucky assesses me—far more seriously than I’m used to. Heather keeps handing out the ration bags to the armed civilians, but she slides me an amused smile.

My eyes find Dom’s, and I tense, ready for an argument from him, too.

Bonfire smoke still lingers in the air, and it smells like Jaykob’s barn. My ears won’t stop ringing with Jasper’s scream when Lucky was pummeled by bullets. Things are just starting to come together. I can’t lose them again.

I can’t losemyselfagain.

---