Page 116 of A Hurt So Good

“You keep dropping like that, I’m going to fuck you again.”

“Is that a promise?” she asks, looking at him over her shoulder.

“Didn’t I hurt you enough already?”

“It hurts so good.” Damn, that girl is on fire. We all laugh as she looks between us. “I love you guys,” she says.

“We love you too, little bird. How you liking that ring on your finger?” She looks down and runs her fingers over it before smiling.

“I love it. It makes me feel connected to each of you.”

“You think you can handle us for life?” I ask her. She chews on her bottom lip for a long second, nodding her head.

“I think I can do that.”

“Even when we hurt you?” I ask.

“Like I said, it’s a hurt that’s good.”

Now, I sit back and look between everyone. I can see just how much we all mean to each other. In this moment, we’re complete. And that’s exactly how it’s going to stay.

We let Arya have her fun and keep drinking even though she’s had enough. We’re celebrating War being back, and that’s enough for us to give her space.

She leaps off War’s lap and stumbles down the hall toward the rooms. When she comes back, she has an arm full of sheets, pillows, and blankets.

“What the hell are you doing?” I ask her as she drops them all into a pile.

“We’re all sleeping together tonight,” she announces.

“And you’re doing what?” Denz asks her.

“I’m making us a bed. You guys are going to have to fight it out over who sleeps where, but I call the middle,” she slurs as she lays the sheets out on the floor. We watch her do whatever the hell it is she’s doing, and when she’s finally finished, she stands with her arms out wide.

“It’s perfect!” she declares.

“You’re perfect,” I tell her. She smiles at me before grabbing a pillow and dropping down into the middle of the bed she made. She lays down as War climbs out of his chair and lies next to her. Denz moves next, getting on the other side of her as I watch them all.

“Don’t worry, Har. Just because you’re not next to me doesn’t mean you aren’t with me,” she mumbles as sleep tugs at her. She’s right. We don’t have to be next to her to be with her. We’re always with her in her heart.

And she’s always with us, in ours.

I don’t go to sleep right away, opting to stay up and just be here. The guys mess with Arya a little, causing her to laugh a few times. I can’t help but smile. She’s happy, and that’s all we’ve ever wanted for her.

Eventually, the laughter wears down, and they all fall asleep except me. I just can’t stop looking between them.

When I was younger, I didn’t really see the point in family. My mom was who she was, and that wasn’t a good mom. She was never there when I needed her, and to a point, I hated her for that. But dad? He did everything he could for us. We were the ones who chose not to live here often, opting to stay on the other side of town and do our own things, but dad was always there. He made sure that we were okay.

I look at her, and it kind of pisses me off we didn’t stick around with dad more than we did. He’s done nothing but try to get us on the right track since we were kids. Sadly, it didn’t always work.

I’m glad we’re all here now, though. We can all work together and provide for Arya and Sasha the way they deserve to be provided for.

I see Arya lift her drunken little head, turning to look at me.

“Why aren’t you asleep?”

“Why aren’t you?” She grins at me and climbs off the floor, careful not to step on either of the guys as she comes toward me. When she’s close enough, she sits next to me, but I shake my head. She smiles bigger and climbs into my lap exactly where I want her. I wrap my arms around her and just hold her tightly.

“Are you okay? You’ve been pretty quiet,” she says softly.

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