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I wouldn’t let her.
“Say it again.”
Her lips stretched into a full smile then. “I promise.”
I pressed my thumb to her mouth one more time and cocked a brow. When her teeth caught the tip and bit down, that tiny amount of pain shot through me like lightning.
“That’s my girl.”
Her promise was all I needed.
It’s too bad she broke it as soon as we packed up and left for college a few weeks later.
I never heard from her again.
I took that to mean she didn’t believe in me, that she couldn’t trust I was strong enough – ordeterminedenough – to tear down every barrier that stood between us.
The queen didn’t know her beast would destroy the world if that is what it took to have her.
Every time thoughts of Emily ran through my head after that night, I saw her by that bonfire. I watched her dance. I heard her voice speak two words that were etched on my soul.
I always dreamed of her dancing.
Like now.
Unfortunately, the dream shatters as soon as some asshole smacks me upside the head, a deep voice yanking me from that beach, my teeth grinding and my arm swinging out to beat down whoever is fucking bothering me.
“Whoa, Ezra. Try not to shoot the messenger. You need to get up.”
My eyes snap open to see Sawyer standing at the foot of my bed.
If that’s not bad enough, he’s dressed for work, his pristine tailored suit at odds with the length of his hair.
Unlike Tanner, Gabe, Taylor and Mason, the rest of us never look like we belong in our jobs.
Probably because we don’t.
We were all forced to go to law school, all intelligent enough to get through it without a problem. But only a few of us actually give a fuck about playing the part.
I glance at the window to see it’s still dark outside, and then to the clock to see I’ve only been asleep for a few hours after a night spent playing poker at Tanner’s house.
“Tell me why I shouldn’t kill you for waking me up this early.”
“Damon and Shane are in jail.”
Fuck...
“Again?”
“You weren’t answering your phone, so Gabe asked me to stop by on my way to Tanner’s and wake you up.”
Damn it. What the hell is wrong with those two? This is the third time this year.
I should have known better than to let them go without me. Damon’s been in a hell of a mood, for what fucking reason I don’t know, and Shane can’t help but instigate this shit.
Scrubbing a hand down my face, I shove up from the bed and turn to lower my feet to the floor.
“Give me a minute to get dressed. We’ll ride over to Tanner’s together.”