Page 126 of Defend Me

Sen:Look what you started, Brooks.

West:I throw a solid punch and need an outlet.

Brooks:You have an outlet. A sneaky linc, one might say.

*Link*

Damn autocorrect

West:Brooks is having a stroke.

Sen:Kai’s scarier than you, West.

West:Blasphemy. It unnerves people when I crack a joke while I crack their teeth.

Kai:I can’t anymore. Can I borrow your balcony, Brooks? I’ve been meaning to see if I can fly.

*Brooks added Tilian to the chat*

Sen:OMG does this mean something?

West:It’s not FB official, so he obv doesn’t like him enough.

*Tilian sent an image*

Sen:THEY’RE KISSING, WEST.

Kai:He’s lost his air of mystery. How sad. It was the only thing keeping him interesting.

West:89.52/100 on the kicking that douche’s ass scale

Brooks glanced at me. “Welcome to the chaos. Want out yet?”

“Why would I?”

My neck prickled and when I looked up, I found Roman watching us sans his angry expression. I could only describe his current one as pained. As soon as he noticed, he narrowed his eyes.

Jesus. The guy needed therapy to work out his issues. I despised him, but it was sad to see someone so burdened by fear. Everyone deserved to live openly and, in my opinion, even someone like him could have a redemption arc.

I was sure it would take a hell of a lot to get him there. Maybe he needed a really good, dedicated man to guide him into the light.

A really, really, really good man who has the capacity to deal with all of his shit. He needed a Cassian to his Nesta.

*****

“Fuck, I forgot a hair tie,” Brooks grumbled. He paced across the deck and held his hair off his neck. It wasn’t warm out, but something about it was bothering him.

“It looks sexy,” I noted, leaning my hands back from my place on the steps.

He dropped down beside me with a growl. “I’m just gonna cut it all off.” I glared at him. “Jesus, okay, okay. Not gonna do that. There’s a hair tie around here somewhere, right?”

“Nope. This is a hair tie-less house.”

“Bullshit.”

“Tell me why it makes you so uncomfortable and I’ll get you one.”

“It doesn’t make me uncomfortable.”

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