Page 37 of Rugged Hearts: Part One

Pine is surrounding me, where is that coming from? I look up from where my head is buried in the arm of the loveseat to seeLiam standing next to it, looking kind of freaked out. I probably look like a mess from all this crying. Wiping at my face, I open my mouth to apologize, but he holds up a hand before I can say anything. Then he’s moving the ottoman right up against the chair, turning it almost into a bed in size. Climbing in, he has me move over a bit and positions himself so I’m sitting in between his spread legs. I could turn so my back is to his front but his scent is pulling me in.Hope.

Swinging my legs so I’m sideways, I lean into him and take a shuddering breath. He softly pats my head before moving his hand lower and slowly massaging my neck. Gods that feels amazing. Suddenly, it starts faintly then grows—he’s purring for me.I wouldn’t have thought this ornery doctor was capable of it. I sink into him further as he wraps his arms around me, trailing them up and down my back in a soothing motion. The pounding of my heart has calmed. This moment, his purring, it’s all making me almost too relaxed. My eyes are growing heavier with every second.I feel so drained from my call with Sophie.

I don’t fall fully asleep but my eyes are closed and I feel like I’m in this safe floaty space as long as I have Liam’s scent and purring surrounding me. Distantly, I hear someone ask softly, “What happened to her?”

“I don’t know, but she’s calm now,” Liam replied. I can feel the vibration of his voice as he speaks since I’m basically lying on him at this point.

There’s a dip in the cushion. Oak. Protection. That feeling always made me feel physically protected, but in this moment when I feel so emotionally raw, even more so than on the anniversary, it feels like emotional protection. Am I high? Maybe that’s what their scents do. No, Connor didn’t make me feel like that. Well maybe a few times. And just like that the floaty space is gone and my metaphorical feet are back on the ground.

Raising my head from Liam’s chest, I look up at him. He’s so hard to read. Must be a doctor thing. His black hair is styledperfectly, as usual, while his green eyes look brighter under these LED lights. “Better?” he asks.

“Yeah, thank you for that.”Very eloquent, Thea.

A sly smirk spreads across his face; he gives my neck one last squeeze before we separate. I look to my right, finding Keelan sitting there, observing us silently.

“Hi?”

Shaking his head, he reaches up to wipe under my eyes. I see black smudges come away on his fingers. Oh my Gods, my mascara ran. I probably look like a hot mess. I’m quickly shuffling over the giant ottoman to get out of this plushiness and go clean up. Liam then chuckles. I turn to shoot him a mock glare. How can he be so caring one minute then poking fun the next? He’s so frustrating.

I don’t really remember where the bathroom was when I was last here, this place is so big. The one I used wasn’t near Parker’s office, but they have to have one close by, right?

I try the closest door and immediately regret it. Micah is sitting at a desk opposite the door clearly in the middle of working. He looks up scowling at me before barking out, “What do you want?”

I flinch at his tone. I don’t know why he hates me so much but I don’t deserve it. If I wasn’t so drained from today I’d confront him but I just don’t have it in me. “I was looking for the bathroom.”

“Does this look like a bathroom?” He looks at me like I’m an idiot.

Based on the scent, Liam comes up behind me. “I’ll show you.”

I look back and see him and Keelan there. Keelan is full-on glaring at Micah. Sheesh, I wouldnotwant that aimed at me.After a quick trip to the bathroom to clean up from my meltdown, I feel a little better. Liam is waiting for me, probably to make sure I don’t get lost. I do know where the main areas of the house are, it’s just these side hallways and rooms I don’t know.Maybe they’ll give me a tour at some point of their beautiful home. There’s natural wood throughout the house, giving it a warm cabin feel even with how big it is, but without it being overwhelming.

When we get to the kitchen Eli is at the stove cooking. His face bursts into a big smile. “Sunshine! Finally, you’re here to save me.”

I swear his smile is so infectious I can’t help but return it with my own. “What am I saving you from?”

“Dinner. Whoever thought it was a good idea for me to be on dinner duty tonight is an idiot because I am arguably the worst cook in the house,” he says confidently in his lack of skills, making me laugh.

“Then why are you on the list for it to begin with?”

“Exactly what I’ve been saying for years! But everyone helps out.”

“I thought Micah doesn’t cook anymore, that’s what Ben sai?—”

“He did, did he?” Micah cuts me off as he enters the kitchen.

Eli is suddenly quiet. Liam must’ve left while we were talking. “What else did Ben say?”

“Nothing,” I say.

“What did I say?” Ben says as he walks into the kitchen. He comes up to me and gives me a hug, but I’m a little stiff given the awkwardness right now. When he pulls away, he looks slightly concerned at my reaction. I just look from him to Micah, hoping he’ll get the hint. He looks between us and asks, “What’s going on?”

“You tell us, seems you’re telling pack stories,” Micah sneers, anger evident as he stares at Ben, arms crossed. What is he so afraid of me knowing?

“That’s not what I said.” I quickly bring Ben up to speed on my conversation with Eli and it’s like a lightbulb goes off.

“Micah, I just told her you aren’t on the rotation for cooking. We got on the topic because I was literally cooking her a meal,”Ben explains. Micah seems to accept that with a slight nod and storms out of the room.

I look back to Ben for some kind of explanation of what that was all about but he doesn’t say anything. I face Eli next, who busies himself with whatever he’s trying to cook. Well now I’m annoyed. With a huff, I leave the kitchen and wander the main floor until I come upon a little nook. There’s some shelves filled with vinyl as well as books. A window seat is in between the shelves that run along the wall on either side. Jake is sitting there with headphones in, which is hooked up to a record player. He looks so different, lighter, especially after our talk last week. I wonder what he’s listening to that makes him look like that. I only see his profile, his dark hair a little ruffled almost like that ‘I didn’t try but it still looks good’ style. His short beard lining his cheeks and jaw looks so soft, and my fingers twitch with the urge to feel it.