Page 103 of Bend

“Shit.” I push myself to my feet and brush the sand from my legs. “Duty calls.”

Sayshen looks up at me. “You’re just going to leave in the middle of our sibling moment?”

“Absolutely. I’ve already hit my emotional limit for the day.”

Talon snorts. “Go before they come drag you.”

I take off toward the water before they can say anything else, laughing when Lena starts counting down like she actually plans to make good on the threat.

Chapter Fourteen

Thorne

The fire’s burned down enough that most of them have stopped pretending this is still a party and slipped into that half-cut, knackered state where no one wants to be the first one to call it a night.

Revel’s sprawled out in the sand with Cece curled into his side, which is only happening because she’s pissed enough to forget she usually acts like touching him might kill her. He’s loving every second of it too, smug bastard, one arm wrapped around her like he’s finally won something.

Come morning, she’ll regret the lot of it and pretend none of us saw a thing.

Everyone knows they’re into each other. Everyone except Cece, apparently. Or maybe she knows and just refuses to admit it no matter how hard Revel tries to wear her down.

Reign’s got Lena tucked against him, one arm around her while he stares into the flames like he’s finally learned how to sit still. Bexley’s vanished inside a hoodie that clearly isn’t hers, and Draygon’s leaning by the cooler with a beer in hand, quiet as ever, watching the lot of us without looking like he is.

For once, nobody’s kicking off, racing, or trying to launch themselves into the sea.

They’re just there.

Loose. Comfortable. Like this weird little bunch of lunatics has somehow become a proper family.

Talon’s been less of a prick with Echo today.

He’s still blunt as fuck, obviously, and keeps half an eye on her like he’s waiting for her to cause another disaster, but the edge has eased off. He’s started treating her more like family and less like an unexploded bomb someone’s left in the paddock.

Which is bloody hilarious, really.

The bloke finds out she’s been carrying on with three of his riders, nearly does himself an injury trying not to lose his shit, then apparently decides now’s the perfect time to start playing protective big brother.

Fair play to him, I suppose.

I’m still a bit sore about the whole thing.

Just not enough to stop wanting her.

That’s the proper pisser of it.

None of my feelings have gone anywhere. Not the ones I’ve got for Echo.

And definitely not the ones I’ve got for Wolfe.

If anything, the whole mess has only made them worse.

Lovely.

Absolutely fucking lovely.

I’ve spent most of the night trying to get Echo on her own, which is apparently impossible unless I submit a formal request and wait three to five working days.

Every time she moves, someone else gets there first. The girls drag her off toward the water. Sayshen nicks her for food.