Page 82 of A Hurt So Good

“She deserves more, Har. Sasha deserves more. Once their mom is gone, that girl deserves the world.”

“You’re right. They all do, and so does Denz. I get why we did things the way we did back then, but we have more to look forward to now,” I add.

“Exactly. I don’t know how you and Denz feel about this shit, but I think we need to relook at our lives and situations.”

“I never thought I’d hear that from you,” I laugh.

“Fuck, Har. I never thought I’d say it either, but Arya makes things different, makes me feel different.”

“I get it, War, I do. I feel the same way.”

“So we talk to dad and Denz tomorrow?” I nod my head before getting comfortable next to Arya. I reach over and brush her hair away from her face and just look at her. I don’t think she could have come into our lives at a better time, and I don’t think there’s a better woman for us. I just wonder what’s going on in her head, what she thinks.

With a sigh, I lay back and closed my eyes. It shocks me War is thinking this way. I’m usually the one who has these kinds of thoughts and looks at the bigger picture for the rest of us, but not this time.

I keep my eyes closed, but sleep doesn’t come. When I open my eyes, I see Arya staring back at me. Her bright blue eyes stay locked with mine, and it’s as if all the air is being sucked from my lungs. She has power over me, and I don’t think I give a damn that she does.

“Why are you awake?” I ask her, reaching over and running my fingers along her cheek.

“I had a bad dream,” she tells me.

“About what?”

“My dad.”

“Want to talk about it?” She shakes her head, and I nod.

“Do you think they’ll ever stop?” she asks softly.

“I don’t know. Dreams are like reminders. Sometimes you hate them, sometimes you don’t.”

“What do you dream about, Har?” I smirk at her.

“You.”

“You do not.”

“Yeah, I do. I dream about having a life with you,” I tell her.

“What kind of life?”

“Whatever kind you want. I don’t know if you know this, but you basically hold the three of us in the palm of your hand, Arya.” Her lips part as if she didn’t already know that. Her eyes shimmer with unshed tears, but she doesn’t let them fall as usual.

“You guys mean a lot to me,” she whispers.

“We’re not going anywhere. This is us now.”

“How do you know the other two feel the same way?” I chuckle.

“I know my brothers. In fact, before War fell asleep, we were talking about you.”

“What about me?”

“That you deserve so much more than you are given right now.”

“I’m content with what I have, Harlon. I don’t need more. I just need you three.”

“And you have us, but we want you to have the world, too.”

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