Page 147 of Tenderfoot

And weirdly, I was.

It felt good to tell Easton off. I’d been wanting to do that for forever.

And although it didn’t feel the same to understand where I stood with my family was always where I stood, and always would be, now I understood it totally and completely. I understood in a way I could make an informed decision. I understood I could stop putting effort into something that was never going to give me what I needed in return.

Maybe I’d react later.

But for now, I was okay.

Javi didn’t let me go, but he did let me turn my head so my face wasn’t smushed into his chest, and, obviously, Javi holding me was part of why I could be okay.

Shanti rubbed my back and murmured, “They suck. You don’t. Looks like Javi has this covered. If you need reinforcements, though, you know where to find me.”

And more reason why I could be okay.

Still held close to Javi, I looked at her and said, “Thanks, babe.”

Jessie did much the same, but she did it pulling a lock of my hair playfully and saying, “You feel like TPing their house, I’m all in.”

And yet more reason why I was okay.

Also, that sounded fun.

But instead of taking her up on it, I just smiled and semi-repeated, “Thanks, Jess.”

She gave me a smile back, it was a little off because she was worried about me, but that was what besties did.

Eric came into my vision, and he winked at me.

It was hot.

Man, I just loved he was my bestie’s guy, he was the greatest.

They all left.

Javi let me go only to catch me on both sides of my neck.

“You sure you’re okay?” he asked.

“Are we going to make dinner, eat it, watch TV, chill out and have sex before we go to sleep?”

“Yes.”

“Then I’m okay.”

Javi’s face got soft before he tucked me to his side and headed us toward the door.

He did this asking, “What’s this about a bubble bath?”

I looked up at him. “Do you take baths?”

“No.”

“I could delete that from my schedule,” I offered.

“Or you can show me how fun bubble baths are.”

“They aren’t fun, they’re relaxing,” I educated.

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