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Chapter 8

Iarrived at 7, like the over-eager dumbass I was. Of course, that meant I had to sit around awkwardly in the lobby until the boys arrived, making small talk with the bellhop.

Jared always came over to talk to me. No matter where I was, what I was doing, or who I was with, he would find an excuse to sidle up beside me and start up a conversation.

I wouldn’t consider him a friend, more of an acquaintance, but he seemed to want to become closer. If anything, he always asked me to go out to dinner with him.

Was that how friendships began? Should I take him up on his offer now that I was branching out, putting myself out there? Joining the whole “friend world”?

A growl interrupted my musings. A literal growl.

Jared looked up, startled, at the hulking figure towering over us.

I let out a heavy sigh.

“Hello, Callie dearest. What can I do for you?”

He grunted something unintelligible, continuing to glare daggers at Jared. The bellboy noticeably gulped.

Huh. Did Calax not want me to make more friends?

“Jared was just asking me if I wanted to go to dinner with him,” I explained, remembering how only yesterday I attended lunch with him and his friends. Friends go to restaurants together, right?

So why did Calax look as if he couldn’t decide if he wanted to vomit or punch Jared?

As if he felt my gaze on him, Calax turned towards me with a resigned expression.

“Do you want to go out with him?” he asked.

Huh?

“Well, I decided I needed to do the whole friendship thing. You know, friendship bracelets and the whole shebang. That’s how I became friends with you guys...through food. Or, at least, the rest of the guys. You’re still my nemesis.”

Both Jared and Calax appeared confused by my answer.

“Yes, but what he’s asking is if you want to go to dinner as more than friends,” Calax explained, which, in turn, mademeconfused.

“Like as a sister? Because Declan made it clear last night that I couldn’t be your guys’ sister.”

At my confession, Calax snorted, the grumpy expression left his face, replaced with amusement.

“Princess!” A deep voice called from behind me. Before I could turn around, I was picked up and spun in a circle.

“Put me down!” I said, laughing. Ronan obediently placed me on my feet, eyes surveying my face. They darkened as they took in the bruises, significantly worse than they were yesterday. Gratefully, he didn’t say anything, only brushed his thumb along my cheekbone. I imagined Declan had told them everything. I wasn’t mad, mainly because I would’ve told any of the guys if they had asked. Friendship included trust after all. Besides, it was only a body. And bodies were made to be broken and healed.

“Hello, Kitten,” Ryder said, shifting his body to maneuver between me and Ronan. Ronan glared but backed away. “Did you dream about me?”

“Oh yeah. Woke up screaming too. Worst nightmare I had in months.”

“That’s my girl.” He gave me a side hug, then allowed Asher to pull me away.

His words were quiet, meant only for me. “How are you feeling?”

“A little sore,” I whispered back. “But I took some painkillers this morning, and they’re starting to kick in.” My arms were red and splotchy, the residual scarring of third degree burns. Not horrible. The bruises looked worse than what they were.

He nodded his head and gave me a stern look.

“Let us know if you need to take a break, or if we’re moving too fast. I don’t want you to feel that you need to hide your pain from us. We want you comfortable.”