Chapter 13

13

LARKIN

W e were ninety minutes in, and I still had no idea what movie we were supposed to be watching.

The power had come back on less than an hour after Gabe left, which was about the time Skye showed up. She gave Rhodes a hug and told him to shut up when he said she didn’t need to stay.

We had all made our way into the living room where I quickly scrambled to clean up my clothes, avoiding eye contact with Remy and Skye. I ran back to my own house to take my shower before coming back to Rhodes’.

Everyone was already camped out in the living room with the tv on. I hesitated a second in the doorway, reading the room.

Remy and Skye were curled up together on the loveseat, Skye reading from the ereader Remy had gotten her for Christmas while Rhodes and Remy watched the end of a show.

For a second I wondered if I should sit next to Rhodes or give him space, but the second he looked up, the tight lines around his eyes easing when he saw me, the choice was made. I went to him, sitting down as close as I could and snuggling into his side.

No one spoke as the next movie had started, and I couldn’t pay attention.

I wanted to look at Rhodes, to stare at him and study him until I knew what was happening in his head. Despite his arm wrapped around me, I hadn’t felt this far away from him in days.

God, I wanted to go back to this morning before Gabe and Remy had shown up. When it was just us in bed.

My stomach swooped at the memories of us together. In bed.

In this very room.

Blinking back the sudden rush of tears I felt, I glanced around the room. My gaze caught on Skye, who looked completely perplexed as she looked at her screen.

“You okay?” I asked, my voice making everyone look at Skye.

Her frown deepened. “What’s a plenipotentiary instrument ?”

Remy choked on the water he had started drinking. He quickly set the glass down on the end table beside the loveseat, twisting to look down at her. “ What ?”

Skye pointed at the screen, her nose still wrinkled in confusion. “It says—”

“What are you reading?” he asked with a laugh, still coughing.

“ The Duke and His Sword ,” she answered, looking up.

I couldn’t help but start laughing. “Why are you reading that?”

“Because it had good reviews? And it was one of those unlimited books I got,” she said defensively. Mallory and Gabe had gotten her an annual unlimited reader membership to go with the ereader Remy bought.

“So, what is it?” she asked again, looking at Remy and then me.

Even Rhodes seemed to have turned his attention to us for a moment.

I exchanged a look with Remy.

“Um—”

“Whatever, I’ll look it up,” she muttered, pulling her cell phone out and typing in the phrase. She was quiet for a second while she read.

Then her jaw dropped open, her cheeks heating. “Oh.”

Remy’s shoulders shook as his arm tightened around her. He bit his lower lip and looked away, eyes laughing.

Skye sighed, flipping the cover shut on the device. “I guess I should have realized this was a sex book when he started calling his sword his ‘torrid extension’.”

I laughed behind my hand, darting a glance at Rhodes to see a thin smile tugging at his lips.

“Maybe you skip that one, babe?” Remy suggested, kissing the top of her head.

“It had good reviews,” she muttered, but turned off the screen with a small grin. “But I was getting sick of Lady Tarabella and her constantly sweating petals. That couldn’t have been healthy.”

I giggled harder, ducking my head into Rhodes’s side, relieved when I felt his laughter, too.

For one perfect second, everything felt normal again.

Then Rhodes’s phone rang.

He sobered instantly, all traces of happiness gone and that void was back between us. I shivered as he stood up, pulling his phone from the charger and answering it. He stepped into the next room, effectively cutting us all off.

I leaned back against the couch, pulling my knees up to my chest and wrapping my arms around them with a deep sigh.

Skye got up from the love seat and came over, sinking down next to me and hugging me to her side.

“How are you doing?” she asked softly.

I heard Remy get up and head into the kitchen, trying to discreetly give us space.

I sniffled, the wave of tears threatening again. “I don’t know what to do. Last night was so... perfect. And now everything’s a mess.”

Skye bit her lower lip. “So, you two are together now?”

I slowly nodded. “Yeah. I think so.”

“You think so?”

“The last couple of days have been amazing,” I told her honestly. “We both talked about us and decided we want to be together. And last night we...” I blushed, trailing off.

Skye nodded slowly. “Gotcha.” She gave me a small smile. “I’m happy for you.”

“Everything feels so up in the air now, you know? Like the bubble around us burst and I’m not sure where we stand. I want to talk to him, but that sounds pretty selfish, you know? Trying to figure out where I stand while he’s dealing with this.”

“What do you want?” she asked me softly.

I leaned my head against her shoulder. “All I want is Rhodes. And I want him to know I’m here for whatever he needs.”

“For what it’s worth,” she said after a beat of silence, “he seems better when you’re around. The second you walked back in the door, he relaxed just a little bit. I can’t imagine what he’s going through, but you need to be there. Let him know you’re there, but also be willing to give him some space.”

She shrugged lightly, looking back towards the kitchen where Remy was now on his phone.

“That’s how Remy got through to me,” she added, a smile drifting across her face as she watched him pace to the window, quietly talking to whoever had called. “He didn’t push, but I always knew he was there. I was so used to being on my own and not depending on anyone, that I wasn’t sure I could. I mean, I had my mom growing up, but you know how bad it was. It took me a while to really let Remy in.”

“Rhodes never had any family to rely on,” I murmured.

“Not true,” she argued. “He’s always had you and Remy and Katy. Gabe and Mallory, and your parents. But right now his world just got rocked. He might need to be reminded of all the people who love him. When things go sideways, it’s hard not to fall back into survival mode and push everyone away.”

“I just want to go back to yesterday,” I whispered, sadness lacing my words.

“I know.” She leaned her head against mine. “When do your parents come home?”

“Tomorrow,” I answered. Part of me was glad—I loved my parents and had a great relationship with them. But I also knew it would be hard spending time with them without Rhodes seeing something he never had.

And now never would.

“And your birthday is Monday,” she said, trying to cheer me up.

I wasn’t exactly looking forward to my birthday. I knew there would be a party—there always was. My parents loved making a big deal out of my birthday and the fact that it was New Year’s Day. They threw a big New Year’s Eve party that doubled as my birthday party every year.

The last thing I could think about right now was a party.

Remy came back into the room, and we glanced up at him.

“Katy’s coming home,” he told us, sitting back down.

I wasn’t surprised. As much as Katy and Rhodes gave each other a hard time, they were basically siblings.

Skye nodded next to me. “She told me earlier she was going to try and get home for the... funeral,” she finished softly.

“There isn’t going to be one.”

All our heads snapped around to see Rhodes in the doorway, his phone clutched tight in his fist.

“What?” I asked, finding my voice first.

Rhodes looked away. “The ground is too hard for a burial. Besides, dad would’ve hated it. He would rather have his ashes spread on the mountain, so that’s what I’ll do this spring.”

“Are you sure?” Remy asked slowly. “We can still have a memorial.”

Rhodes snorted, his expression grim. “What for? My dad had barely been a functioning pack member the last decade.”

“For you,” I told him. “The memorial would be for you. To get closure.”

Shrugging, he pushed his phone into his pocket. “Consider me closed.”

Remy exhaled hard. “Rhodes—”

“What do you want me to say, Remy?” he snapped suddenly. “You want me to stand up in front of a room full of people and tell them what a good guy my dad was? About all the memories I have of him teaching me to ride a bike or go camping? I can’t do that because that’s all shit your dad did. My dad sat in that chair,” he wildly gestured to the recliner no one had touched, “and drank his life away.”

Remy leaned forward, resting his forearms on his legs. “I get that.”

“Do you?” he challenged, eyes flashing with so much bitterness and anger that made my heart ache.

“Because you don’t know what it’s like to come home and make yourself dinner every day. To see all of your friends have these amazing parents and families. I had me , Rem. So I’m dealing with this the way that’s best for me .”

“You have us,” I said softly. “You have me.”

A shadow crossed his face. “Really, Lark? You still want to stick around after this?”

I froze, my heart stopping. “What do you mean?”

“I’m the kid of a deserter and a drunk,” he spat. “Is that really something you want?”

I got to my feet suddenly, ready to shake him. “I want you , Rhodes.”

“I’m a mess,” he said softly, shaking his head. His voice broke on the last word.

“Then you’re my mess,” I replied, walking over to him. “I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere. You aren’t alone, Rhodes.”

I barely rested my hand against his chest before he was hauling me into his arms, his mouth coming down intense and demanding as he kissed me until I was dizzy.

He pulled back, resting his forehead to mine. “Thanks, baby girl.”

“Anytime,” I returned just as quietly, fisting my hands in the fabric of his shirt.

He kissed my forehead. “I’m going to go to the garage. Work on the bike.”

“You want company?” I offered, wanting to stay with him.

He slowly shook his head. “I think I need to be by myself for a little while. It’ll help to focus on the engine for an hour or two.”

“Okay,” I said, trying to smile. “I can make us all something to eat?”

I could see he wasn’t hungry, but he gave me a nod anyway.

“Thanks, Lark.”

I shrugged. “No big deal.”

“I mean... for being here,” he said in a single breath. “For staying.”

I wrapped my arms around his narrow waist, hugging him tight. It took everything in me to let him go. To watch as he headed, alone, to the garage. I didn’t move until I heard the door shut.

“Finally,” Skye muttered behind me.

I spun around.

She smiled at me, her green eyes sparkling. “It’s about time you two got your shit together.”

Remy smirked, nodding in agreement. “I’m glad you’re here for him, Lark. He needs you.”

“He needs all of us,” I corrected.

“But he needs you most,” Skye said as I walked by.

I sighed, brushing my hair away from my face as I walked into the kitchen.

I needed him most, too.