Page 48 of Beyond Repair, Part One (Damaged Duet #1)

Nina

C ool. So cool.

That kid knows nothing . I have half a mind to find him and scare him straight. Initially, I was in so much shock I had no choice but to listen to the stupid words that came out of his mouth. Then, by the time I registered the awful things he was saying, I shut down.

I know I scared the guys, Trevor especially, but processing the fact that someone thinks what I went through is cool was a completely new situation to be in.

Henry's hand enters my line of sight with a frantic wave. "Nina, I'm going to need you to stop staring at the scissors like that, please."

Blinking, I tear my gaze away from all the sharp objects on Henry's desk.

He's converted my basement into a workstation so he can continue working on restoring books and fulfilling special edition orders.

I didn't hesitate to offer him the space down here considering I would never choose to spend my time in a basement ever again without one of the guys.

"Sorry," I mutter, shifting around to shake off my angry thoughts. Trevor was getting on my nerves with the whole drink this, eat that mumbo jumbo, so I retreated down here to hang out with my calm Henry.

Henry eyes me and wipes down another tool. "I haven't seen you look like that since the day Ridge convinced the umpire he foul ticked the baseball and it wasn't a strike."

And just like that, my annoyance reaches for the surface. "He absolutely did not touch that dang ball."

Henry laughs quietly and steps between my legs where I sit on the marble counter in the mini basement kitchen. It really is a nice space down here...

He tucks some hair behind my ear and runs his thumb along my cheekbone. "Whatcha feeling, Nina? I expected you to retreat a little after this morning's ordeal, but this frown and steam coming out of your ears in unexpected."

My eyes roll to the ceiling and stay there. "I'm just so...so...ugh!" I throw my hands in the air and Henry catches them.

"Hey," he scolds and places my palms on his chest.

As I force myself to blow out a breath, I meet his eyes. "I'm angry and I don't know what to do about it." Anger obviously isn't a feeling I have very often. Indifference, self-pity, sadness, hopelessness. Yeah, I feel those things. "No part of what happened is cool ! Who says that?!"

It's all bubbling and boiling now, and there's no stopping the frustrations from overflowing. "And how inappropriate to approach me like that! I was clearly panicking, and what if he triggered me? I just can't believe someone would say those things to a known victim."

"Nina, he did trigger you."

"No, he didn't. I'm not sobbing in a ball under the stairs." I shake my head, frowning up at Henry.

The lines between his brows soften. "There's more than one feeling to have after being triggered.

You don't get angry often, do you?" I shake my head.

"You should be angry about how that kid treated you.

That's a healthy reaction, but letting it fester until you're about to pick up my scissors isn't."

He winks, so I know he's just teasing me. "I wouldn't have done that." My protest is light and airy, just like how I'm feeling after unleashing some of the crap in my head.

"Mhmm," he hums and eyes my mouth when I wet my lips. "I'm so proud of you, Neen. I love you."

He doesn't give me a chance to respond before his mouth is on mine and I'm melting into his firm grip.

Anyone clearing their throat would have pulled me from the moment, but when a loud cough sounds through the mini kitchen and it sounds like a woman, I jump and spring from the counter. The move puts Henry behind me like I'm going to save him from my very red-faced mother.

"Mom! What-what are you doing here?" I peek back at Henry and notice he's eyeing her with a mixture of amusement and embarrassment.

She crosses her arms and cocks her hips. "Well, hello to you too, daughter. I just had a very peculiar conversation with Ridge, who is now getting the third degree from your dad."

I swear my heart scurries into its hiding spot in my throat. "What did Ridge say?"

Mom raises a brow. "I think it's time we had a chat, sweet Nina."

F or the love of everything, ever, please don't make me have this conversation with my mom. We bypass dad sitting at the kitchen table with Kai, Ridge, and Trevor looking ready to either flee or fight.

Mom doesn't even spare the man behind us a glance. "Henry, why don't you join the boys, hm?" Oh god... "We'll be outside having girl talk. Will, bring some wine when you're done, please?"

"Sure thing darling," Dad replies easily without taking his eyes off my guys. My face is on fire and Ridge winking at me does nothing to cool me off.

"Alright, spill," Mom demands once we're on the patio and she settles onto the couch.

Instead of sitting where she is, I start to pace. When my lip wobbles, Mom catches my forearm in a gentle grip and stops me. "Nina..." she says softly, her eyes shining with something I can't read. "Are you in love with them?"

"Yes!" I rush out, thankful she made it easy for me. I really truly do want to talk to her about this; I'm just terrified. "Are you judging me?"

"Goodness, no." She seems so startled by my question that it sets me at ease. At ease enough to finally sit next to her. "I've read some of the stuff you have on your e-reader and I always wondered."

"Oh my god, you what?!" I'm going to be sick. There's some really kinky stuff on there for when the mood arises. "Mom," I groan into my palms.

"I do see the appeal. But I really have to ask how they ended up moving in here, and if you're okay with everything going on." She plucks my hands away from my face and studies me. "I love those boys, but I need you to tell me if you're feeling pressured into anything."

The breath I release is so cleansing, I feel lighter all the way down to my pinky toe. "They've been so wonderful, Mom. We've had a few bumps and who knows what this means long term, especially because Henry and Kai are engaged, but I really do want this to work."

She's quiet and attentive as I explain how our relationship has come to be. About the conversations I've heard the guys having to keep jealousy and issues between the four of them, then keeping me out of it if they start to bicker.

"They're putting me first and ensuring that keeping my anxiety low is a priority. If there's been an issue about sharing, I haven't heard anything about it." I hadn't really thought of it until now, but I really hope that's a good thing.

"And your birth control? You said they didn't replace it, but how are you going to stay safe, Nina?" Her eyes are narrowed and the tone she uses is stern.

"We haven't had sex, Mom."

She raises a brow. "And when you do?"

"I haven't really thought about it," I admit, feeling anxious again. "It's something we'll have to talk about because my new doctor is hesitant to do anything until I'm back to a healthy weight."

"How much are you eating?"

And so the nervous lecture continues. My mom and I have always been close, but after everything that happened, then me spending an entire year isolated at home with her? We're struggling to be away from each other.

I answer her questions truthfully, with a touch of evasiveness, because she really doesn't need to know how often I wish they would touch me more.