Page 76 of Kings & Carnage

He rolled his eyes like I was silly for being surprised. “Eat the food, drink the tea, and take the Midol. Then you can sleep, and I bet you’ll feel a lot better.”

I sank carefully back onto the pillows against my headboard, wondering what kind of nirvana I’d stumbled into and how it was possible that getting my period was starting to seem almost enjoyable.

"You're the best," I said.

"I like taking care of you." His blue eyes were filled with sincerity.

I reached for his hand. "I want to make sure you're taken care of too.”

He flashed me a roguish grin. "I'm more than taken care of by you, kitten.”

I rolled my eyes. "You know what I mean.”

"Just having you here is all I need.” He reached out to tuck a loose piece of hair behind my ear. "I didn't realize how dead this house was until you came to live here.”

"What do you mean?”

"There were people here and everything, lots of noise and parties. But when I look back on it all, it just feels like one big distraction.”

"Distraction? From what?” I asked.

"From the fact that you weren’t here," he said. "It didn't feel like home until you walked through the door.”

It was such a simple thing to say but it held so much meaning, and I swallowed the lump that had lodged itself in my throat.

"I feel the same way," I admitted. "I mean, obviously not about the house, but about my life. I was so busy traveling and meeting people. On the outside my life probably looked so exciting, but when I look back, I think I was trying to distract myself too. Not just from Emma's disappearance but from the fact that something big was missing.”

He grinned. "Are you saying that something big was me?”

I laughed. "You, Oscar, Neo. All of you." I shook my head. "I just didn't expect it.”

"It didn't come as a surprise to me. I’ve been in love with you for half my life.”

I blinked in surprise. I was in love with him too — in love with all of them — but I still hadn't figured out the etiquette of telling them all. Should I tell them separately or in a group? Was there an advice column for this kind of thing?

I made a mental note to search the internet.

"You have?" I asked.

"I'm surprised you sound surprised,” he said. “I thought it was pretty obvious.”

I reached out to touch his face and he leaned in to kiss me. When he pulled away, he stroked my cheek with his thumb.

I stared into his sea-blue eyes and decided to go for it. "I love you too." I took a deep breath. I didn’t want to mislead him. “Is it weird to say I'm in love with all of you?”

"Fuck no," he said. "You're entitled to your feelings, whatever they are, and I hope you never let anyone tell you anything different.”

"I haven't told Oscar and Neo how I feel yet.”

He smiled. "Are you saying I'm the first person who got to hear ‘I love you’ from those beautiful lips?”

I nodded. "I guess I'm just not sure how it's all done.”

"It's done however you want it to be done," Rock said. “Although I’m not going to blow smoke up your ass. I'm pretty fucking happy to be the first one.”

I laughed. "Don't go bragging. I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings.”

"My lips are sealed." He leaned in to give me another quick kiss. “Now eat your food and get some rest.”

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