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Twenty-Four
In a way I was reluctant to admit Violet’s kind version of tough love was working. But having my hair hanging loose and damp, knowing I didn’t have to tame the messy waves that would dry, was oddly comforting. And this time I was wearing the Captain Marvel dress, with my old, battered pair of Vans.
This time the Luna who stared back at me in the mirror was almost smiling. Which made me smile more. Which made a big ball of warm sunshine spread through me.
Until I remembered how badly I’d screwed things up with Graham and Oz. And I still didn’t know if Violet was right about going back to them.
Anxiety bubbled up inside as Violet drove me to Graham’s. Sure enough, when we arrived, Oz’s truck was parked out front.
Violet pulled me into a tight hug. “Call me if you need anything,” she said. “You’re brilliant, you’re sexy, and you’re going to be all right.”
If I let the happy tears squeeze out, my eyeliner would smudge. It didn’t matter how nervous I was, I still hoped the ruined makeup wouldn’t happen until Oz was having his way with me.
“Thank you.” I squeezed back, stepped from the car, and forced one foot in front of the other until I was in front of Graham’s door.
As I knocked, I flashed back to just a few weeks ago, when I stood her for the first time with Cole, hoping above hope that Graham would want to see me.
Even the way he opened the door and stared at me was too much like last time. Except today, Oz was standing next to him, not me.
Silence stretched between us. It was only a second or two, but it felt like an eternity. My words stuck in my throat.
Graham placed a finger under my chin, tilted my head up, and kissed me hard. Hungrily. Devouring my gasp of surprise and my repeated I’m sorry.
“It’s fine.” He nipped at my lips. “As long as you’re here now. As long as you’re not leaving again.” He pulled me into his apartment, still kissing me over and over, and the door closed behind us.
Hands rested on my hips and Oz spun me to face him. He lifted me as he crushed his mouth to mine, pressing my back to the door. I had to wrap my legs around his waist and my arms around his waist to hold on.
If he leaned into me any harder, we might melt together and become one. I was fine with that. I wanted to stay wrapped up here with him, with Graham, forever. All my reasons for leaving lay whimpering and useless by the side of my mind.
I could move into this feeling of warmth and belonging, start a little commune, and build a happy ranch of rainbows and sexy brilliant men. Two specifically.
Oz spun with me still wrapped around him, his hands on my ass holding me to him, and walked us into the bedroom to deposit me on the bed. He knelt at my feet, never breaking the kiss for more than a heartbeat.
Graham was behind me, lips gliding over my neck and fingers dancing up my sides.
“Should we talk?” I finally found enough of a pause to speak. Not that I didn’t want this—I wanted it more than almost anything—but I couldn’t ignore that the last few weeks happened.
“Does talking involve any form of you leaving?” Oz asked.
Now that I was here, I couldn’t imagine being without either of them again. “I’m here to stay. I mean, not specifically. I’m not movi—”
Oz silenced me with another kiss.
“But yes, I suppose we should talk.” Graham’s words hummed against my shoulder.
Oz groaned into my mouth and broke away. “You know we’re in this relationship with you because we want to be. Because we want you. Because we believe in you.”
That last bit yanked on my insecurities again, because I did know that. “We? You speak for Graham now?”
“For this he does,” Graham said.
“What if I can’t live up to your expectations?” Or my own.
Graham wrapped his arms around my waist and pressed into my back. “This isn’t about expectations. It’s about hope and possibility and being happy. Don’t let a couple of missed steps take your spark away”
The sentiment was sweet and painful and wonderful.
“You’re like a unicorn.” The adoration in Oz’s voice made my heart catch. “You’re magical, mystical, and the kind of elusive magic people spend their lives chasing, but never find.”
