Page 176 of Composed
It’s hard not to when we’ve watched every second of their short lives up until now—from nappies, to tottering up and down the steel stairs, to falling in love with music.
Hendrix is the first ‘outsider’ Carter has ever let in, and she doesn’t even know it yet. That’s terrifying because while they’re my life, she’s my heart. I wasn’t lying when I told Carter I’d walk away from everything for her.
I just hope like hell I don’t have to.
Saint taps a knife to the neck of his glass and shoves his chair back before standing.
I drop my fork, swallowing the lump in my throat as I look his way.
“I think we need to make a toast.” His eyes are glassy, his stance lax as he sways side to side. Pretty sure I made the margaritas a little too strong. He waves the glass in Hendrix’s direction, liquid spilling over the rim. “To my second favourite human in the whole world.”
“Are you telling me I come in third place?” I scoff, something easing inside me as Hendrix chuckles at my side.
“You’re just an extension of me at this point, you needy fuck.” He winks. “Rix, I think I speak for all of us when I say we’re very grateful you exist and that you agreed to come back and work with Cole. Because honestly, life truly fucking sucked without you.”
“I mis—”
“And if you think about abandoning me for another ten years, I’ll throw your fucking Hummingbird in the Thames.”
She hisses through clenched teeth, shaking her head as her lips tug up. “And there it is. Should have known you couldn’t play nice for longer than three seconds.”
“I’ll show you nice,” he grumbles.
Then his face straightens, his gaze zeroing in on her. “I love you, Hendrix Moore.”
Hendrix blinks, her mouth popping open, her fingers finding mine under the table.
I don’t think he’s ever said that to her before.
He rarely says those words to anyone outside of me and Theo.
Maybe he’s feeling the fear too, that what’s to come could tear her away from us all over again.
I twist Hendrix’s hand so her fingers are locked in mine.
She exhales a sharp, short breath, before a beaming smile lights up her face. “How drunk are you right now?”
“Fucking sloshed, bestie.”
Hendrix just shakes her head.
Saint drops back into his chair, his own face bright with joy as Theo weaves their fingers together.
“That was very good, baby,” Theo says, kissing his cheek. “Super proud of you and all your big emotions.”
He preens under her attention, arching a brow as he looks at me.
Smug fucker stole my fucking thunder. Only he could throw out the words before I got the chance. Not that there should be any doubt. I’ve never not loved Hendrix Moore.
Axel claps a hand on the table. “Are we toasting or making love declarations or what?”
“All of the above,” Saint says, downing the rest of his glass in one. “To Hendrix, to love, to this fucked up family we chose. May it never change, no matter what comes next.”
“What he said, I guess.” Axel raises his glass in the air, and spins to face Hendrix. “We love you. Thank you for coming back to us, Rix. And please don’t run away again.”
So, we’re all feeling it then. Glad to know I’m not alone.
Hendrix glances over us all, her eyes dulling a beat. “Is now the time I talk? Pretty sure I owe you all an apology and really, what better time to do it than when I’m three sheets to the wind?”
