Page 87 of Finally Forever
His words sink deeper than expected. It irks me, drawing a defensive remark. “Like hell, I faced my fears. If I had, I would have killed my father, and we wouldn’t be trapped in this fucking house, hiding. We’d be in Vegas or somewhere cool, meeting up like normal friends do.”
Fuck. My fingers curl into fists. I shouldn’t have said that out loud. It’s Ainsley. Those tears and the hurt in those big eyes, like I killed her puppy, has me off my game.
Nathan stares like I grew three heads, but Riley claps.
“It’s about time you let that shit out,” he says. “I kept so much of it inside for so long, I didn’t recognize myself anymore. I’m free in a way you aren’t, thanks to Marina. Can’t believe those words are fact.” He shakes his head. “And thanks to Nova. As fun as this has been, catching up, I can’t wait to return to her. Being away from her isn’t as easy as I make it look.”
Nathan tosses a pillow at him, hitting his shoulder. “Easy, my ass. You FaceTime with her every hour. I’m pretty sure I heard you having phone sex the other night through the wall connecting our rooms.”
He throws the pillow back, aimed for Nathan’s face, but he blocks it at the last second. “That’s nothing. I’ve been listening to you and Kensie go at it every night. You’re louder than she is.”
Nathan laughs, and his chest puffs with pride. “When the sex is good, it’s good.”
Is this what I had with Ainsley? If I could remember, would I be thinking and talking this same way about us? These two are beyond lost to their women, and it seems like the best thing that’s ever happened. They’re content, confident, and genuinely happy.
I’ve never wished for that for myself. I only ever wished for freedom and revenge on my father for killing my mother, for being a piece-of-shit dad, and for being an arrogant, controlling mother fucker who has the power to bend anyone to his will—including my pathetic ass.
My anger reunites my excitement for my plan. In a few days, this will be over.
“I’m glad we had this time together,” I say, meaning it but also ready to get going myself.
Kensie reappears. I don’t miss the concern on her face.
Nathan must not either. “You okay?” He walks over to her and cups her cheeks.
“Yeah.” She nods, her features adjusting to a more peaceful expression. “Ainsley isn’t feeling well. She said to say goodbye.”
“Is she okay?” Nathan asks with more concern than I have since we got here.
Even Riley seems concerned with the sudden way he sits forward, his gaze locked on Kensie.
“It’s woman stuff. She took some medicine. She’ll be fine after she naps for a little while.”
“I was hoping to say goodbye this time.” Riley sits back, his shoulders sagging.
Kensie walks over and touches his arm. “She said the same thing.”
“The last time we didn’t get to say goodbye,” Riley says to his lap.
“I gave her your number. She’ll call. She wants to come to both our weddings, so you’ll see her again, I promise.”
He lifts his head. “Yours isn’t that far off.”
“October, right?” I say to Nathan. If I’m alive, I want to be there, too.
“Yep.” He hooks Kensington’s waist and pulls her down to sit beside him on the couch.
“And yours is next summer.” Kensie smiles at Riley. “It sounds like it will be a very magical event.”
“Nova and her grandmother are planning it, so yeah, it will be something elaborate. I don’t mind. The two of them love a good event. Now that Nova isn’t afraid of social media anymore, she’s coming out of her shell, embracing every themed idea Gigi throws her way.”
Kensie bounces on the couch with excitement. “I cannot wait!”
Xavier rounds the corner and greets us with a nod.
“Hey, man,” Nathan says. “I wondered if you were still here.”
“Yeah. We haven’t seen you much,” Riley adds.
