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A team that I may or may not have feelings for.

Yup. I was a nutcase. Apparently, my demented mind decided that two perfect guys weren’t enough. Oh no. I had to develop feelings for the other five members of their team as well.

I wasn’t in love with them - at least, not with all of them - but it was something undefinable that caused my heart to clench painfully whenever they were near. It was lust, yes, but something so much more than that. They each brought out a different side of me, a better side of me, that I had thought didn’t exist. They made me want to be better.

My breath left me in an exhale when I saw only Tommy standing on the porch, his eyes narrowed suspiciously.

Tommy was my child. Not literally (I was only eighteen, and he was thirteen), but at least mentally. I didn’t think he would appreciate that sentiment though.

“What are you assholes doing?” he asked, cocking his hip to the side and glaring at us through his large glasses. I was pretty sure that he didn’t actually need glasses, but instead found them inside one of Elena’s drawers. His sass was just another reason I loved him. And his penchant for pink, sparkly eyewear. “Not you, Addie. You’re not an asshole.” He took a step towards us in what he probably thought was a threatening manner. I’m afraid that it was impossible for him to look “dangerous” standing at five feet with his face bloated from baby fat.

He was honestly kind of adorable.

Raising his eyebrow, he gave me a long look.

“You okay, Addie?” he asked me, voice considerably more gentle. He leveled a glare at Ryder and Calax, both of which towered over his tiny frame. “If I discover that you two are taking advantage of her, so help me god I will-”

I cut him off before he could end his threat.

“I’m fine, Tommy. Promise.”

If I thought of Tommy as my surrogate son, he thought of me as his daughter. It was an odd relationship, but it seemed to work.

After one more glare aimed at the guys, he stomped towards the door, calling over his shoulder, “Sarge called a meeting.”

“That kid is getting on my last nerve,” Ryder muttered. I merely planted a sloppy kiss onto his cheek.

“You’re just jealous.”

He snorted but didn’t contradict me.

Still in Calax’s arms, we walked into the living room of Elena’s house. The couches were now moved to form a small semi-circle. Tamson and Asher were sitting on the couch, both wearing small smiles. Tam, my timid friend, met my gaze, blushed, and then immediately glanced down at his feet. I hated that I made him feel self-conscious, but I also didn’t know how to stop it.

Talk to him?

I doubted he would be receptive to that. Asher offered me one of his brilliant smiles, his shaggy blond hair brushing his eyes. He was in desperate need of a cut, but I secretly loved his disheveled look.

Ronan was on the loveseat, his legs kicked over the arms. His green hair was stylishly spiked and his unicorn tattoo peeked over the edge of his shirt. I still wondered about the purpose for that particular tattoo, but there had never been an appropriate time to ask.

Declan was leaning against the doorframe, muscles straining against his black T-shirt. I had a complicated relationship with Declan. Complicated because I used to love the shit out of him, but now I barely knew him. I hoped that we could rekindle the friendship we once had. Years had gone by with me believing he was dead and him believing I hated him. It was hard for anyone to get past that.

I waved my hands to garner his attention.

“You’re doing a mighty good job of holding up that wall,” I signed. “Whatever would we do without your help keeping the house from falling?”

His lips pulled into a tiny smirk, but that smirk instantly disappeared on his face when he took in the position I was in. Namely, still wrapped in Calax’s arms.

I knew that he, as well as the rest of the team, were aware I was dating Calax. I also was aware that they didn’t necessarily agree with that decision, though I couldn’t discern if their disdain came from annoyance or something else entirely.

I wondered what they would do if they discovered I was dating Ryder as well.

Knowing Ronan, at least, he would want to join.

Not that I would object…

Pinching Calax’s arm, I indicated for him to drop me on my feet. At first, I thought he wasn’t going to listen as his arms tightened around me. An impenetrable fortress between me and the outside world. A heavenly place in his arms where I didn’t have to worry about pain. Heaving a heavy, if not resigned sigh, he set me down.

“Where is the bastard anyway?” I asked. Said Bastard was noticeably absent from the meeting he apparently called.