Page 90 of The Saviors: Part One
“Are you happy?” he asks quietly.
“I am,” I say honestly. “I wasn’t for a really long time. I don’t usually believe in fate, but I feel like Kai and Sean came into my life for a reason. Did I think Sean was crazy when he wanted me to date Kai too? Yes.” We both laugh at that. It feels like I’m talking tomyCole again. “But I get it. They each give me something different in the relationship, and they do the same for each other.”
“You’re okay with them being in the Saviors?”
“I’m still working on that. I just worry.”
Cole nods. “I get that.” He sits up and takes my hands. “I’ve never seen Kai or Sean like they are now. And it’s because of you. They needed someone to brighten up their life, and I’m glad that it’s you.” I try to ignore how his touch makes me feel because I have no right to have those feelings toward Cole.
“Thank you,” I whisper, overwhelmed with emotion.
Cole is out of his chair, and I’m in his arms before I can blink. I bury my face in his shirt and inhale, feeling the rightness of my decision. “I missed you,” he says gruffly.
“I missed you too.” And I did. For the past six years, I’ve missed him so much. Our long talks, his stupid jokes, his ability to stay happy no matter what his dad did to him, and most of all, his hugs. His hugs always felt like he was holding you together and pushing his happiness into you.
The door busts open, and we split apart. “Level five alarm! Look alive! The eagle has landed!” Sean exclaims, skidding to a stop on the porch.
I giggle. “What?”
“Axel is here! I repeat, Axel is here!” He takes off back into the house, leaving Cole and me laughing.
Cole slings his arms around my shoulders. “I’m glad we had this talk.”
“Me too.”
“I know we still have a lot to work through, but I swear, Ladybug, I’ll spend my last dying breath making this up to you.” He kisses the top of my head. “Now, let’s go face Axel.”
He leads me back into the house, and Axel is standing inside the kitchen door that leads from the garage with a guarded look on his face. His eyes flash to Cole’s arm around my shoulders, and he shifts from foot to foot. He steps to the side, and that’s when I see a guy standing behind him.
“Hey, man,” Cole greets. “Chelsea, this is Nolan.”
Nolan smiles. “Hi.”
“Come on. I’ll take you to Sean and Kai,” Cole says.
Nolan squeezes Axel’s arm on the way by. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“You too,” I answer. Cole leads him away and leaves me with Axel.
Axel clears his throat. “Thanks for inviting us.” His face is softer than it was at the meeting, but his shoulders are almost touching his ears, showing how tense he is. I can’t have that because it will make this whole thing awkward, and that’s not what I want. I want the guys to make up because even though Sean and Kai never say anything, I know it bothers them.
“Cut the formal shit, Axel.” He looks startled then his shoulders relax. “I didn’t bring you here to rake you over the coals. As long as Sean doesn’t blow up the grill, you’re here for some steaks.”
He huffs a laugh and nods. “Still. Thanks for inviting us. You didn’t have to.”
“I did, though, for Kai and Sean. We will talk, Axel. I just want to get through this first.”
“You don’t have to explain yourself to me,” he says softly. “I get it.”
I hope he does because I won’t hesitate to kick him out if he upsets anyone here. The guys might protect me physically.
But it’s my job to protect them emotionally.
Chapter29
Sean
Seeing Chelsea hugging Cole should bother me, but I’m just happy that they seem to be working through everything. I just wish she would have warned me about Axel ahead of time. I’m still pissed over everything he said, but the more I figure out, the more it makes sense, even if he did go about it in the worst way possible.
