Page 99 of The Beat of My Heart
Peering around the room at all the stunned faces, he asks, “Am I right in concluding you’ve filled everyone in?”
“Yes, I-I didn’t have a choice. Has Loki taken off?” I ask, wishing more than anything I could talk to my friend right now.
“He did, but we have appraised him of the situation. To say he’s pissed is an understatement. He wants you to know he’s taking care of it, but because he is in the air, it’ll take a few hours. I know it’s hard, but you all have to sit tight. If Loki Kane says he has it under control, I will bet my life he’ll come through,” Seth tells us all.
“So, we’re just supposed to sit around and wait while the mob has my best friend?” Lanie cries.
I’m happier than ever I didn’t mention Lexi in my synopsis. I don’t think she could have handled it.
“Lanie,” I say. “I’m so sorry I didn’t get here in time, but Julia will kill me if she thinks you’re not taking care of yourself. She’s been so worried about how little sleep you’re getting between all the kids. Maybe you should go to the main house with the grandparents and try to rest a little?”
“Maybe you should fuck off,” she bites back.
If you know Lanie, you know she doesn’t swear, ever. So, to say it stuns everyone in the room is an understatement.
Taking that as his cue, Dexter cuts in, “Lanie, sweetheart, I know you’re worried, but maybe Trevor has a point. There are five kids, well, six until we get Julia back, that need you. You won’t be any good to them if you can’t function.”
On a sob, Lanie cries, “But s-she’s my puffin. I mean, you’re my puffin, but she’s my puffin too. She was my first puffin; I can’t do this w-without her.” The anguish in her voice causes my throat to close up.
Taking Lanie in an embrace, I hug her as we both cry.
“Lanie, I-I don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about with the puffins, but Julia asked if I was hers. I am, I mean, I want to be, and I don’t even care what the fuck it is,” I tell her.
“Puffins mate for life, dude,” Preston says as if that’s common knowledge, and fuck me, maybe it is.
“Huh,” I can’t help the smile threatening. “Okay, I am her puffin, and so are you,” I tell Lanie. “I promise. I promise you I will get her back, and then I will put an end to this once and for all.”
She squeezes my middle then pinches me, hard.
“Ouch, what the fuck, Lanie?” I shout.
“You forgot one thing, Trevor. YOU will not do anything. We. From here on out, it’s WE, you hear me? Julia and I are a package deal. We are a family now, you’re my family now, and I’ve had a pretty fucked up example of family life. We will do this right. Got it?” she asks, pinching and twisting my side painfully one last time.
“Jesus, Lanie, Yes. Okay. We. We,” I submit.
“What am I, chopped liver?” Preston asks. “Do I have to marry your uncle to get in on this family?” he asks.
“No, just her cousin,” Dex jokes, and we all watch as he cringes.
If they only knew what was coming!
Looking around the room, Lanie takes in all the males. Dexter, Preston, and I, plus Preston’s four brothers who are still looking a little shell-shocked by the events of the night. To their credit, though, they are all still sitting, waiting for instructions because Lanie was right. We are all family. Not the kind through blood, but the kind that matters. The kind that will sit vigil with you while you wait for instructions from your secret military friend so you can get the love of your life back.
“I haven’t even told Julia I love her yet,” I say, realizing for the first time how important those three little words are.
Preston is by my side in an instant. Putting an arm around my shoulder, he says, “You will, man. When we get her back, you can spend the rest of your life telling her, but I have a feeling she already knows.”
This is the Preston we used to know before we all went to college. He wasn’t always the booty-calling player he presents now. I forgot how much I missed this side of him.
“Thanks, Pres,” I say a little choked up.
“I just hope she isn’t scared,” Lanie says, sobering us all to the moment.
“Come on, Lanes, let’s get you home, okay?” Dex asks.
Once she is settled, Dexter joins Preston and me on the couch. Preston’s brothers, Easton, Shepherd, Cooper, and Ashton are spread out throughout the house. I give them credit, not a single one of these guys had to stay, but they did. As grateful as I am, I’ll owe these guys more than I can ever repay.
Chapter 35
