Page 139 of Romancing His Heart

Glancing around the room, I’m reminded of all the memories I had here as a child. I’m sad to let them go, but there is no other way forward. When Sloane and I left the hospital, we came straight to Kane Lane. The second we walked into this house, we knew it could never be a home. The memories of gunfire and bloodshed would always haunt us.

At first, I thought we could make it work, but then Sloane mentioned Ashton. My best friend for so many years.

“Do you think Ash will ever be comfortable coming back to this house?” Sloane asks with tears in her eyes.

“I-I don’t know.”

I round the corner to the office and see the stain where Ashton had lain, and my stomach revolts.

“Loki, I’m, ah, I’m not sure I can stay here.”

Surveying the room, I know this can never be home.

“I wanted to ask Lanie the second I got back from London,” Dex admits, “but she wasn’t ready. That’s something you have to consider, man. Lanie had been through a lot and had some shit to sort through. Sloane is the same way.”

“So you think I should wait?”

“Did you already get a ring that’s burning a hole in your pocket or what?” Trevor laughs.

Reaching into my front pocket, I pull out the ring.

“Jesus, Loki. Where’s the damn box? You’re going to end up losing it carrying it around like that,” Trevor scolds.

“The box wouldn’t fit in my jeans, and I like having it close like I’m holding onto a piece of her or something.”

“Blah,” Colt gags while sticking his finger in his mouth like a ten year old. “What the hell happens to your man card when you fall in love? Is that a requirement? You fall in love, and you become a pussy?”

Trevor throws a pillow at him from behind, knocking him off balance. “Watch it, Colt, or I’ll sick GG on you.”

“Holy shit, you wouldn’t dare!”

“Want to bet?” Trevor pulls out his phone.

“Okay, okay.” Colton mimes zipping his lips, and we all laugh.

With Easton still in Vermont, we’re only missing Ashton, and that knowledge makes my chest ache.

“He’ll come around, Loki. We’ll make sure of it,” Preston whispers beside me.

Unable to form words, I pat him on the back.

“The upstairs is done,” Halton grumbles. “You know, we could have hired someone to do this shit?”

“And miss spending time with your grumpy ass? No way.” I smirk.

“You sure you want to tear this place down?” Dex asks from across the room. “We had a lot of great memories here.”

Searching the room, I agree. “We did. But the past has held onto me for too long. Building new will be a fresh start. Sloane and I can tear down what hurt us and build a stronger future because of it. It just seems like the right thing to do.” I swallow multiple times. “And I think my parents would be proud of me. They only ever wanted me to be happy, and Sloane makes me feel fucking alive. I’ve never felt so free or loved as I do when I’m with her.”

Preston tackles me from behind. “I’m so fucking happy to have you back.”

Before I know it, Dex, Trevor, and Colt have all piled on, too.

“You guys are a bunch of idiots,” Halton chides from the doorway.

I see the moment Halton realizes his mistake. As if someone just announced he was it, every full-grown man in this house charges him. Wrapping the grumpy bastard into a hug, they tumble to the ground.

“Pig pile,” Colt screams.