Page 86 of Deadlier Obsessions

“It nearly destroyed him, hell, he was on the path to self-destruction when it happened, but Jesus, I think we kinda saved each other back then. He tends to just tell people he was a bad seed and got kicked out, but yeah, who’d tell this story if they don’t have to?”

“I guess we all got metaphorically fucked in the ass by our families, huh? Maybe we were always meant to find each other, so we can heal the damage done by those we relied on as kids.I know one thing for sure, we’re going to be the best, most fucking present and forgiving parents there are. No kid of ours is going to have a story like that to tell.” I can’t stress how much I fucking mean these words, because that’s the thing about poor parenting. You can either follow that same path of disaster, and fuck up the next generation, or you can get your head out of your ass and realize you have more to offer. That you can do it right.

I watch the girls whispering gently to Mav, who looks almost shell-shocked now, like baring his soul like that just took every last iota of strength, and now he just wants to curl up.

He guides the girls to stand as he gets up, and I stand too. I mean, I’m naked, but since when are we clothed in this house? I go over to Mav, and grab his shoulder, turning him to me.

“Pretty Boy?” It doesn’t even bother me that they still call me that. In fact, I’ve grown to see it as a term of endearment, because they definitely don’t mean it in a derogatory way. At least not anymore.

“I’m sorry you went through that, Mav. I’m sorry that your family were fucking assholes, but we’re not. Okay, we are, but it’s not the same. This family is all of our safe place, so no more running, okay?” He blinks silently at me for a moment, turning to look at Gage, then the girls, like he doesn’t know what to do with those words. I wait him out, knowing he’s still reeling from the revelations of the morning.

“Yeah. Sorry. I kinda got my head stuck up my ass, I guess.”

I pull him into a tight hug, and after a moment of resistance, he hugs me back. It’s probably the first time we’ve held each other like this, and it may even be the only time, but it’s right for now.

GAGE

I don’t want to sound sappy here, but I’m proud of our boy for letting that shit out, and laying it all on the line for the girls and Sebastian. There have been too many secrets between all of us, and I’m starting to understand that they really do destroy trust, and running away like a pussy is just as effective at destroying trust, and it fucking breaks hearts too.

Only an asshole wouldn’t forgive someone after hearing a story like that, but let’s be honest, we’ve all shown those behaviours before. I’m pretty sure the girls won’t hold a grudge, because they cried along with him, and understand why he held it back, but I don’t think he’s fully forgiven yet. I think some groveling will be required, and I daresay he’ll have to prove himself again in some ways, because he did that on the very night we all got engaged. Just when it felt like everything was finally settled, he threw a fucking grenade, and nearly destroyed us.

It’s a somber group that ends up at breakfast, because I think the three of them are dwelling on the new information they have, and Mav’s struggling to push it all back behind the door he normally locks it behind. I try to be a little perky to try and lift their moods, but it just seems to freak them out.

“Gage, seriously, did someone spike your fucking morning coffee?” Mav asks, after the third time I try to make everyone laugh. He looks exhausted, disheveled, and like he feels awkward around us, which makes fuck all sense, because the only thing that changed is how much we all know him.

“At least I don’t look like a fucking hobo, sweet cheeks. You couldn’t shower before breakfast?” At least he cracks a smile this time, but he also scrubs his fingers over his jaw, and we all hear the bristles as he does.

“Fuck. Do I look like shit?”

I don’t know why the girls both say no, so I help out by insisting that he does, and after he finishes his coffee, since he already inhaled his food, he heads up to get clean.

As soon as he’s gone, I lean closer to the others across the table. “Before he gets back, I know he dumped a fucking horror story on you all, but are we all okay now? Hearing you two crying yourselves to sleep was fucking hell for me, and for Sebastian. Is he forgiven?”

Lucy and Stella exchange a look, and I can see it on their faces, the fact that they’ve clearly forgiven his ass already, and it’s a relief for sure, but also, maybe a little too easy.

“Really?”

“What, Gage? You want us to pout about it? He has the most heartbreaking back story we could ever give a book boyfriend. Our readers would be moist as fuck reading that.”

Both girls break into giggles, with Lucy repeating the word ‘moist’ and shuddering.Jesus.

“You don’t think there should be some kind of retribution? Do we just let people off this easily in this family?” Dead silence. Seriously, someone fucking work with me here.

“Retribution?”

I roll my eyes at the girls. “Shouldn’t he give someone his ass? That’s all I’m saying… actions have consequences.”

“Dammit, Gage,” Sebastian hisses at me, facepalming as he looks over my head.

“Fucking seriously? Why are you so obsessed with my ass?” Mav smacks the back of my head as he sits back down, not showered yet.

“I came down to ask if anyone wanted to join me but thank fuck I did. Stop plotting that twisted shit, man. It’s never gonna happen.”

STELLA

Lucy and I exchange glances, and Mav quickly notices, folding his arms over his chest, his gaze narrowing at me. “What are you two cooking up over there?”

I shrug my shoulders nonchalantly. “We both understand why it was so hard to talk to us about your past, Mav. Yet that doesn’t excuse the way you walked away from us. Despite everything that’s happened, we love you. The three of you decided we would marry you with no choice, and because we love you, we agreed. And then you left us. Broken.”

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