bChapter /bb87/b: AJ POV

    I don’t look back as I walk away from her. Not because I’m trying to prove something or because I’m cold or unaffected by what we just shared.

    Looking back is for people who don’t trust what is theirs. And I trust her implicitly, even if she doesn’t trust herself and her instincts right now.

    The path back to the quad is half–shaded, and thete afternoon light breaks through the maple tree branches overhead. The ground is soft under my boots–half mulch and half freshly cut grass.

    I amble across the quad to my next ss, reminiscing about our kiss. The kiss wasn’t strategic and out of desire, even though my body hasn’t stopped remembering what it felt like, It was a reminder to her, and even to me, that I’m not going anywhere.

    Thest couple of days were a lot for her: Her first real date with Hunter on Saturday, then Xavier’s emotional smackdown after the game, us cheering her up at the arcade afterwards, her intimate moment with Hunter when she slept over, and then Sunday morning when her mother again tried to box her into a shape that would never be right for her./

    So, even though not all of it was bad, saying she’s been on an emotional rollercoaster is putting it

    mildly.

    And because La hates getting hurt, she preemptively boards up her feelings at the slightest hint of betrayal or slight by those she sees as part of her inner circle. And, unfortunately, that does not just rte to the person in question, but to all those she holds dear to her. So even though her mom was the culprit, she’ll likely try to shut us guys out as well.

    The next part will be up to us. We will have to show her that we’ll be sticking around no matter how long it takes her to trust again.

    The house is quiet as I step insideter that evening after a day filled with sses that I struggled to get through because my head was with my girl.

    Cade is leaning against the kitchen ind, stirring something in a mug that smells vaguely like chocte, and peering out over the dining table, which can be seen because of the open–n concept of the house’s lower floof, with unseeing eyes.

    Hunter sits at the dining table, his legs stretched out, and his shoulders drawn. And it’s clear he hasn’t touched the bottle of water in front of him because the seal on the cap hasn’t even been

    broken.

    Xavier’s on the couch, flipping a pen through his fingers in quiet loops, his jaw working as if he’s

    Chapter 87: AJ POV

    chewing gum, and his eyes are distant.

    There’s no music ying from the speaker system, and no TV creating background noise to our usual evening routines.

    “She went back to the university earlier today,” I say as I lean against the side of the couch.

    All three of them look up at me, and there is no surprise on their faces. They knew it wasing; we all did after her discussion with Michael yesterday.

    “All the forms are signed, and she submitted everything. It’s official – our girl starts next Monday again.”

    Cade’s the first to speak as he asks, “Did she say anything?”

    “Nothing much, only that she’s still a bit lost even though her studies have been sorted out,” I reply, crossing my arms over my chest.

    Hunter lets out a breath that could almost pass as augh before saying, “Of course she handled it alone.”

    “She always does, like everything else in her life,” Xavier mutters.

    “She shouldn’t have to. Not anymore, at least, with us by her side,” Hunter’s voice is quieter now, more introspective and somewhat sad.

    “She won’t easily ask us or anyone else for anything, our girl is too stubborn for that,” Cade says gently, but with a small smile, as he folds his hands around the mug while looking at each of us.

    “She shouldn’t have to ask, at least where we are concerned. This is where we step up and show her in the small ways what she means to us,” I echo Hunter’s earlier sentiment.

    A long silence stretches between us as we all get lost in our thoughts of La,

    “First thing that needs to be sorted out is that she does not have a permanent roof over her head. She doesn’t deserve to worry about where she’lly her head down every night,” I say as I push off the couch.

    When none of them immediately says something, I continue with a resolve that I feel deep into my soul, “It’s time we moved our girl in with us.”

    Hunter lifts his eyes to mine, Cade scowls into his mug, and Xavier states at a knot in the coffee table’s surface. It’s quiet in the room for a few long seconds as we all internally contemte what this will mean for our dynamic.

    Hunterughs softly, saying, “It felt more like a home Saturday night when she was here than it ever

    Chapter 87: AJ POV

    did, so I’m all for it.”

    “She’ll think it’s too much and that it’s too soon,” Xavier says, running a hand over the back of his neck, not arguing about moving her in, only pointing out any obstacles we might encounter.

    “Then we show her this is where she belongs, whether it’s tomorrow or three weeks from now,” I say as a n forms in my head.

    Cade quickly senses my mood change and sits up straighter. With a half–smile, he asks, “What do you have in mind?”

    “We don’t ask her to move in, but we show her that she is meant to be here, not just in our house but in our lives, by each giving her something, whether a physical item or a truth we’ve kept to ourselves,” I say as my mind starts making ns for my portion of this n.

    As I look around at the others, it’s clear my idea is taking root with each of them. Cade’s smiling like a loon, Hunter has a wistful look in his eye, and Xavier has a determined set to his jaw that he gets just before he steps onto the football field to ughter his opponents.

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