Page 149 of Shattered Souls
“Eww!” A voice interrupts, and Royce and I jolt apart, heads turning to where Aurora is standing in the doorway, nose adorably scrunched as she stares at us.Damn, I’d completely forgotten she was here. That’s what happens when I get sucked into one of these guys’ orbit. The entire world ceases to exist.“That’s gross.”
I huff out a breath of laughter as I move to sit upright, Royce following. “You won’t think so one day.”
“No, Mommy,” my three-year-old daughter says with all the seriousness in the world. “I’m always going to think that.”
Royce points a stern finger at her, which does not have the impact he thinks it does, considering he looks like a drag queen. “Even if you change your mind, you’re not allowed to kiss any boys until you’re forty.”
With more attitude than such a small body should be able to contain, Aurora crosses her arms over her chest and cocks her hips. Where the hell did she even learn that move? “I’mneverchanging my mind. Boys are icky.”
Swallowing my laughter, I climb to my feet. “You ready to watch Logan on the TV tonight? Then Mommy’s gotta go to work, but Grayson will tuck you into bed later.”
Yup, I’m going back to Lux tonight. I was there earlier in the week for rehearsals, but tonight is my first official shift back—much to Grayson’s disapproval. I need this, though. As much as I appreciate everything the guys have done, I still need to maintain my independence. More than that, Ienjoyworking at Lux. Especially now that my bestie is in charge and sleazy Ben hasn’t been heard from since Royce ran him out of town.
Aurora nods enthusiastically, bouncing on the balls of her feet as she claps her hands. “Yes! But why can’t we go see him play?” She pouts, and it’s so freaking adorable. Royce must think so, too, as his hand comes up to cover his mouth as he coughs to disguise his smirk.
A smirk that quickly turns into a scowl of disgust when he notices his fingers are stained red from all the gunk on his face.
Lifting Aurora and placing her on my hip, I explain, “Because he’s not playing his game here, baby.” Even though he’s only playing at a stadium an hour away, none of us is ready to attend a live game just yet. While I wish we could be there to cheer him on in person, I believe he’ll be able to better focus on the game if he knows we’re at home and safe. If we were in the stands, he’d constantly worry that we’ve disappeared again. I hate that that fear has been instilled in him. “He’ll be home by the time you wake up tomorrow, and when the team makes it to the Frozen Four, we’ll go see him play.”
While it might not be the championship game, tonight’s game is still important. A conference tournament that Loganexplained, if they win, guarantees them a spot at regionals and potentially competing for a national championship. Although, from what I gather, they are at the top of their group. So, even if they lose tonight, they will likely be selected to play at the regional level. It’s all too complicated for me; I just want him to win.
My precocious daughter purses her lips as she chews over my words before definitively nodding in acquiescence. “Okay. But can we call him now?”
“We did promise him we’d call. Do you wanna put your jersey on so we can show him?”
Her eyes blaze with excitement as she squirms for me to put her down before racing from the room.
“No running up the stairs!” I call after her. The rapid thump of her feet barely slows, and Royce and I chuckle as we share a look.
“You’re still sure about returning to work tonight?” he asks, watching me closely.
“I am. I’m excited to get back on the stage. I’ve missed dancing.”
Crossing the room to me, his hand slides up my arm and across my shoulder before cupping my neck. “You know you can dance any time you want? One of us will take you to the dance studio.” Despite Bertram still being unconscious in a hospital bed, they’ve all shown an inability to let me go anywhere alone, and poor Ms. Everly gets hounded by all of them, demanding updates every day.
“I know. Th?—”
A growl cuts me off. “Donotthank me. In fact, I’m banning those words from this house.” I chuckle. “Instead of a swear jar, perhaps we should make you put a dollar in a jar every time you say thank you for something you shouldn’t be thanking us for.”
“In that case, I definitely need to go back to work,” I tease, patting one of his rigid pecs.
The thundering of what sounds like a herd of elephants trampling down the stairs precedes my daughter skidding back into the room. “Ready!” she declares. She has thrown the black and gold Huskies jersey over the princess dress she was wearing before. I press my lips together to smother my laugh. My daughter has a very interesting fashion sense; however, I can’t deny that she makes the whole ensemble work for her.
“Alright, let’s go into the kitchen to call him.” Using my hands, I usher her from the room. “Meanwhile, Princess Royce can grab a shower.”
“I heard that!”
I glance back at him over my shoulder, smirking. “You were supposed to,Princess.”
Eyes flaring, his words chase me out of the room. “You’re going to pay for that one later, Babydoll.”
God, I fucking hope so.
“I don’t want you going back to that club,” Grayson grumbles in his irritating, frustrated tone.
“Oh, you don’t? Huh, why didn’t you say something earlier?” My voice is thick with sarcasm, which he doesn’t appreciate as he glowers at me. He’s only made his opinion clearevery daysince I announced I was going back.
Rolling my eyes at his infuriating alphaness, I drawl, “Ben hasn’t been seen since Royce ran him off, and I’m excited to work with Tara and see the other girls. I’ve missed them.” I pin him with a look. “Iwantto go back.”
