Page 230 of The Sidekick

“That’s why we have us,” Max points at Asher and then himself.

“We can do this, angel. We just haven’t gotten a rhythm yet,” Asher assures me.

“Don’t give up at the first hurdle,” Max says in a pleading tone.

“I panicked,” I confess and shake my head. “What a mess.”

The door opens and Trevor comes back in, taking deep breaths. He closes the door behind him calmly and sits back down.

We wait in tense silence.

“I think I’m ready now,” he mutters. He still sounds angry but it isn’t the rage that he had a minute ago.

“I’m sorry for saying that, Tera,” he continues without looking up at me. “That was not what I meant at all.”

“I’m sorry too,” I tell him quickly.

He glares at me in a more subdued fashion.

“I threw us all in the deep end and I barely walked through the door.” I shrug sheepishly. “I want a tied-up bow and a happy ever after and that’s not how life works.”

“It can be,” Asher says with narrowed eyes.

“Not without work,” I remind him. “I’m not afraid of a little heavy lifting.”

“Me either,” Max grins and glances at Trevor. “Obviously.”

“We take our time,” Asher says thoughtfully.

“Get to know each other,” I add in.

“And see where we go from here,” Max finishes happily.

“I can see it now. I’m fucking outnumbered,” Trevor wipes a hand down his face. “Yes, we all need to know each other better. I agree. No, I don’t want to keep Asher out of the house or from seeing you. If he spends the night it’s the guest room only. For right now, can that be enough? No boundaries crossed until we’re all ready?”

“Sounds good,” Asher looks at Trevor with a frown.

“I’m good with that,” Max pipes in.

“Yes,” I nod happily. “Thank you, sir.”

All three of them look at me with varying expressions. Asher’s eyebrow is raised, Max is smug. But Trevor’s eyes have darkened as his hand falls from his face. He licks his teeth, eyeing my kneeling form and nods.

“Then we’re good.”

***

Andi doesn’t call, she texts me. She’s busy moving Shade’s car so that the a-holes can’t find him there. I know South will recognize her from descriptions so I’m not too worried about a meeting between them.

All four of us load up for the adventure. I wish I felt mischievous about it but all I’m feeling is anger.

“I don’t feel like this is enough anymore,” I mutter as I watch the scenery pass by.

Asher is next to me in the backseat of Trevor’s truck with Max in front of me.

“We agreed,” Trevor reminds me and glances back. “Not too much.”

“Yeah,” I sigh sadly. “But now the power cutoff is a no go. They won’t even be here. I hope they stay away forever.”

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