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“Hey there, Moonlight,” Chase says, his voice warm and his smile bright as he opens his arms to me.

His smile melts away all my hesitation and I throw myself into his arms. I sink into his ocean scent as he spins me around in his arms, holding me tightly to him.

“You have no clue how happy we are to see you,” Chase whispers into my hair. “No idea. I swear, it’s been hell without you.” He pulls back and looks down into my eyes. “So no need to look at us like that.”

I bite the inside of my cheek. “Look like what?”

Am I that easy to read?

I guess I am. Plus, the four of them have always been able to read my emotions well.

“Like you’re expecting us to walk away from you,” Madden says from behind me, wrapping both Chase and I into his arms.

I feel instantly cocooned in both of their strength and melt into them.

“That’s not going to happen,” Madden adds.

I turn my head back up and look up at Madden’s face, diving into his warm chocolate-colored eyes. I reach up and slowly trace the space between his eyebrows, trying to brush away the tension I see there. His expression softens.

I turn to the side and see Kane, his smile soft as he watches Madden and Chase embrace me. I squeeze Madden and Chase and they let me go.

I instantly run into Kane’s arms too.

“I was just thinking about you. The couch I have in this apartment sucks. I miss your couch,” I sob, unable to hold back my tears any longer.

It’s such a silly thing to say to him, especially as the firstthing, but I can’t help it. The words come spilling out before I can stop them.

He chuckles, slowly stroking my head as he tucks me into his chest.

“I’ve missed you so much,” I whisper under my breath.

I’ve missed Kane’s quiet companionship. Without his presence, silence is so incredibly overwhelming.

I pull back, seeing the tear stains I’ve left on Kane’s long-sleeved button-up shirt, and let out a small gasp, frantically wiping at the fabric. It doesn’t do anything and I let out a little whine of alarm.

“Hey,” Kane says, gently grabbing my wrist and keeping me from pawing at him anymore. “It’s okay. Don’t worry about it.”

“Are—are you sure?” I whisper, wiping away at the tears still left on my face.

“I’d take this shirt and throw it into a fire right now if it would help you,” he whispers. “You have nothing to worry about.”

I relax into his hold, a smile appearing on my lips.

Kane takes a step back and nods towards Archer, who’s been standing back patiently this entire time, his hands in the pockets of his dark slacks. When I flash him a smile, his eyes light up and he rushes to me.

He wraps his arms around me, pulling me into his chest. He clings to me like he’s been stuck in a storm, swept away from shore by the currents and I’m his salvation.

“You’re here,” he whispers under his breath, almost like he’s trying to reassure himself.

“I’m here,” I say, dancing my fingertips along the fabric spread across his broad shoulders.

“I’m so fucking sorry.” His face is buried in my hair, keeping me from seeing his expression. When I try to pull back and see his face, he holds me tighter. “Wait. Please. Don’t—don’t go.” His voice cracks and part of my heart feels like it’s cracking along with it.

I’ve never seen Archer like this. I never even imagined Archer could be like this. He always seemed so strong, so in control, so confident. He’s felt a bit larger than life, ever since I first set eyes on him when he burst through the door of Madden’s bedroom, seeing me naked and trembling, presenting myself.

When he pulls his face away from the crook of my neck, I finally get to see his face and my heart breaks a little bit more.

All of them seem a lot more tired than usual. Archer though? He seems worn down to the bone. The shadows under his eyes are dark and combined with his sharp jaw, he almost looks gaunt.