Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 90919 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90919 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
“Yeah, tell me that when we go plummeting to our deaths.”
“There are three floors,” Frankie replied dryly. “I think we’ll be okay.”
The doors opened, and all of us were silent as we filed off. The elevator opened up to a short corridor followed by a waiting room where Cian’s aunt Ashley was sitting on a couch, a little book in her hands.
At the sound of our footsteps, her head shot up and her eyes widened. “Sebastian!”
“Hey,” he replied gently, moving away from our group as she got to her feet.
“Cian didn’t tell me you were coming, you sweet boy,” she said as Bas engulfed her in a hug.
“We didn’t tell him,” Bas said easily. “He woulda tried to stop us, I would’ve ignored him, it woulda been a whole thing.”
“You’re right about that,” she said, pulling away with a sniffle. “You’re soaked.”
“Hit a little rain,” Bas muttered.
“No kidding.” She looked up at us and smiled.
“Hey, Aunt Ashley,” I greeted, moving forward.
“Hi honey,” she said, rounding Bas to get to me. She pulled me into a tight hug before pulling away to hug everyone else.
“Cian here or at Aoife’s?” Bas asked as we found seats.
I perched at the end of mine, my knee bouncing.
“He’s here,” Ashley said with a smile that looked a little too much like a grimace. “He’s back with Richie and Aoife.”
“How’s Richie doin’?” Brody asked. It was the first time he’d spoken since we stepped inside the hospital.
“He opened his eyes a couple of hours ago,” Ashely said quietly. “But we’re not sure if he was actually conscious or not. Honestly, I don’t know what the hell is going on. But he’s not any worse, thank God for small mercies.”
“And Aisling?” I asked softly.
Ashley gave a small nod, her eyes unfocused. “She’s okay. Back at the house, hopefully sleeping.” She looked around at us. “I can’t believe you’re all here.”
“Well, brace,” Bas said, putting an arm around her shoulders. “There’s more of us coming.”
“Well, shit,” Ashley mumbled, looking around. “We’re going to need some sleeping bags. I’ll call Ronan—”
“We got some hotel rooms,” Frankie said quickly.
“Club takes care of its own,” Gray assured her quietly. “You got enough on your plate. We’re just here to pitch in where we can.”
“Well then,” Ashley murmured faintly.
She said something else, but I didn’t hear her because my attention was caught by the sight of a familiar face appearing as the double doors at the end of the room slowly swung open. I hadn’t realized how anxious I was to see that Cian was okay until he stepped through the doors. His hair was a mess, and his eyes were bloodshot.
I was on my feet before anyone else had even noticed him. Cian’s steps faltered the minute he saw us sitting there with his aunt, but as soon as he realized I was headed his way, he hurried toward me. We practically collided, his arms wrapping tightly around my waist as mine went around his neck.
The familiar scent of Cian’s skin calmed every anxiety I had.
“You okay?”
“What the hell are you doin’ here?” he asked at the same time.
“Where the hell else would I be?” I answered.
“I’m fine.”
“You don’t look fine.”
“Just tired.”
“You look worried.”
“I am worried.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“Why are you sorry?”
“I’m sorry you’re dealing with this.”
“Yeah, me too, baby. I can’t believe you’re here.”
“We left right after you talked to Bas.”
“Shoulda fuckin’ known,” Cian muttered into my hair. “Can’t keep his fuckin’ mouth shut.”
“He was sitting on my couch when you talked to him.”
“Figures,” Cian huffed.
I pressed my forehead against the underside of his jaw, the beard there tickling my skin as I brushed my thumb through the hair at the nape of his neck. I wanted to apologize, but I was too afraid to bring up the last argument we’d had.
“We’re good, My,” he murmured, reading my mind. He kissed the side of my head. “Yeah?”
“Yeah,” I breathed.
I let go of him so he could greet everyone else but stayed close.
“You coulda said somethin’,” Cian told Bas.
“Surprise,” Bas joked. “How’s Richie?”
“Still out,” Cian said roughly. “They’ve been keepin’ him pretty doped up, but they’re not sure why he’s not awake. They’re gonna see if they can get him conscious tomorrow.”
“Damn.”
“Thanks for comin’,” Cian told the group, hugging the girls and doing the weird handshake-hug thing that guys did. “You didn’t have to come all the way out here.”
“Family,” Gray said simply.
Cian nodded.
We all found seats again, and without any fanfare or a single word, Cian gripped my hand and made sure that I was sitting next to him. He didn’t even look at me while he did it.
“We’re the first wave,” I warned quietly. “My parents are a couple hours behind us. I’m not sure who’s with them.”
Cian nodded.
“They’ve got hotel rooms,” Ashley added. “Good thing, with everyone sleeping at the house already.”