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“All good, man. I’ll see you at Temple tonight,” Deak replied as he moved over to get his keys from where they sat in a bowl on the coffee table.

“You gonna be here when I get back tonight?” Jack asked me as he came closer.

“Yeah. Even if Colt’s not ready for me to move out, I’ll come and stay here tonight with you all. It’ll be our first night together. I don’t want to miss it,” I told him as I looped my arms around his neck and looked up into his deep blue eyes. “Are you sure you’re good with all of this?”

“It’s going to be quite the adjustment, but I’m good with anything that brings me closer to you,” he told me. “Now go, get your meds, and talk to Colt. Text me later to let me know what he says please.”

“I will.” I reached up onto my tiptoes and kissed him briefly. When I tried to pull back he chased me and kissed me again, only harder this time.

“Love you, Ava,” he told me.

“Love you too.” I released him and turned to follow Deacon from the apartment, excited at the prospect of us all being there together later that night and for the foreseeable future. It felt like a dream I hadn’t ever dared to reach for, but was getting anyway.

***

It was almost lunch time when Deacon pulled up outside Colt’s apartment building to drop me off. We’d agreed he’s leave me to chat with my brother and I’d meet back at his place later that night. While I was reluctant to leave him after the great night and morning we’d had together, I knew I needed to speak to Colt alone. While Colt knew I was interested in all three of my guys already, I was pretty sure he’d be surprised to hear we planned to live together so soon.

“You sure you don’t want me to come with you?” Deacon asked and I laughed.

“I think I’ll survive telling my brother I’m moving out again at thirty-four years old,” I chuckled.

“Just make sure he knows we plan to take good care of you,” he worried.

“Excuse me? What is this, the dark ages?”

“I know you take care of yourself. I just meant, I know Colt’s worried about your injury and the bad days you have. I just want him to know we’ll be there when you need us,” he backpedaled.

“I’m sure you guys can do all that macho posturing when you’re alone,” I told him with a roll of my eyes. “I’m not asking his permission to move out. I just want to make sure he’ll be okay if I moved out. He’s been through hell and he only just got back to his life. I don’t want to abandon him when he needs me, not again.”

“Okay. Go talk to him, honey. Call me if you want me to pick you up later, okay?”

“I’ll probably just see you back at yours when you get off work, nut I’ll text you so you know what’s happening,” I assured him as I leaned over and kissed him.

I laughed as he watched me walk all of the way into the apartment building and lock closed the door behind me before he’d drive away. He really was so sweet and over protective. I’d never admit it aloud, but I kind of liked it.

I knew Colt was home as I walked in the door, because he’d already sent me a message that morning letting me know he was working from home that day if I needed anything. He did that a lot now, checked in and let me know I could call if I needed anything from him. I hated that I’d made him feel like he needed to do that by hiding away from him as I had after the shooting, and I was resolved to do much better as a sister moving forwards.

“Colt?” I called as I walked inside and closed the door behind me. The apartment was quiet so I headed right for Colt’s office as he exited it, walking towards me.

“Hey you. Did you have a good date?” he asked as he smiled and gave me a waggle of his eyebrows.

“I guess being out all night was the clue, huh?” I asked dryly as I rolled my eyes at him.

“It was, though as your big brother I imagined you spent all night talking and doing nothing other than that. Correct?”

“Of course. We even braided each other’s hair and told ghost stories,” I joked. “You doing okay? Ky at work?”

“Yep and yep. Ky had a meeting with a new supplier. He said he’ll be back later this afternoon. I was just catching up on some paperwork. Did you eat lunch?”

“I just finished breakfast. Jack and Mason came over so we could all eat together,” I explained.

“So things are going well then?”

“Yeah, they are actually. Listen, I need to grab my pain meds, but then can we sit down and talk? It won’t take long, but it’s fine if you’re too busy right now.”

“Never too busy for you, bam. Go and get what you need and I’ll make some coffee,” Colt offered and I nodded eagerly.

Once I was in my room I changed into jeans and a baggy sweatshirt, wanting to be comfortable. After I’d spoken with Colt I had plans for a long, steamy bubble bath to soak my aching body. The night before with Deacon had been amazing, but his size had taken it’s toll and I was pretty sore between my legs that morning too. I took all of my meds, including some of the pain pills, brushed my teeth then headed out in search of coffee.