Page 118 of A Hurt So Good

“You did a good job raising them, Jarrod.”

“They did a lot of the raising themselves. I’m just glad they met you. You bring out a side of them I haven’t seen in a very long time.”

“What side is that?” I ask. He nods toward the pool, where they all laugh and play around.

“I like them like this,” he adds.

“Me too. They look happy.”

“They are happy, and I know a majority of the reason is you. I wouldn’t ever judge my boys, but I can tell you I never saw you coming. All of them sharing you?” he chuckles. “I didn’t figure that would work out well for them, but it seems I was wrong.”

“If I’m being honest, I never once thought about being with three guys at the same time either. I thought one was enough to worry about, but three?” We both laugh now.

“You handle them well, Arya. I’m proud of you. Of all of you.” Tears burn the back of my eyes as I shake my head, trying to get them to stop. Jarrod looks over and smiles at me. “It’s okay to cry, Arya. It shows you actually have feelings.”

“No one has ever said they were proud of me before.”

“Never?”

“No.”

“Then I’m glad I got to tell you, and you know the three of them are proud of you, too. You’ve done something with your life. You lived through so much at such a young age, and you didn’t let it hold you back. That’s something to be proud of, Arya.” I nod my head and wipe at my eyes, clearing the few tears that fell.

“Thank you, Jarrod.”

“Of course.” He stands and leans down, pressing a kiss to the top of my head before going inside. Sasha walks over, dripping wet, and takes his spot.

“I know you’re not getting some daddy Jarrod action, too,” she says before dropping into the seat that he just left. Now, I do laugh out loud.

“Have you seen those three? I think I have enough to deal with,” I say, pointing out at the water.

“No shit. They drive me insane. I don’t know how you do it, Arya.”

“They’re easy to love. You just have to look past the hard exteriors.”

“Don’t get all girly on me now,” she says, making a gagging sound.

“What about you? Have you found a boyfriend yet since you started the new school?”

“There’s this one guy. He’s cute, but he wears loafers, Arya. Fucking loafers,” she says with a sigh.

“Oh God. Not one of those.”

“Oh yeah. One of those. I think if we can get him to dress better, he has a chance.” I laugh again as she talks about the guy and tells me more about him. He sounds like a good guy, from what she’s telling me.

“Your brothers will hate him,” I tell her.

“They hate everyone. That’s why I have you now. You can help me persuade them.”

“You think they’d listen to me?”

“Shit, Arya. You have those three so wrapped around your finger that it isn’t even funny. They got you a damn ring, for fucks sake.” I look down at the black diamonds on my finger, and I can’t stop the smile that crosses my face. War climbs out of the water and comes toward us.

“What are you girls talking about?” he asks.

“None of your business,” Sasha tells him. She gets up and sticks her tongue out at him before jumping back into the pool.

“I think you’ve had enough alone time, don’t you?” he asks me.

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