Page 30 of Triumphant Kings (Boys Of Kingston Academy #3)

Sadie

“ A nd how does that make you feel?” my therapist asks, the corner of her lip curving in amusement.

I give her a blank stare, making her chuckle softly.

“No, really. I want to know. You said your life hasn’t been normal in a long time. How does this affect you? How does it make you feel?”

“Frustrated,” I admit, shifting in my spot on the leather couch.

“I feel like my life has either been school, or spent getting better. I know the guys mean well, and I love how much they care about me, but I feel almost... smothered?” I lick my lips, feeling guilty at the admission.

“There have been some... incidents in the past that've caused them to be on guard. But ever since the whole puking until I passed out thing, they’ve amped it up tenfold.”

For the first month, I didn’t care. I felt like I owed it to them to let them fuss over me. I did keep everything from them after all, letting things get as bad as they did.

But it’s been about two months since, and it’s almost summer break. I feel like I’ve missed out on so much, always being worried and focused on school, then on getting better, that I haven’t had any time for fun.

I’m going to go crazy if the summer is spent looking over our shoulders.

The funny thing is, the two biggest problems I’ve had all year are no longer there. Well, they are, but aren’t? It’s complicated.

After Tina got kicked out of Kingston and found out Preston really was done with her, her family sent her away to an all-girls boarding college overseas. Rumor has it, they’re going to try to marry her off to someone over there once she’s spent some time getting the help she needs.

Guess her parents weren't aware of just how horrible their daughter really was. Rose colored glasses and all. They got quite the wake-up call when the Head Mistress and my husband paid them a visit when they called demanding Tina be let back in.

It’s still odd to walk through the school halls and not see her scowling face, to hear her cruel comments.

She’s been an issue in my life, even the guys’ lives, for so long, I don’t know if I should trust it.

My therapist thinks I have a little bit of PTSD, and that it’s normal after being tormented for so long. It’s something we’re working on. Another thing added to the long list of how fucked up I really am.

One of the things that sucks the most about getting the help I need is that I can’t be completely honest. She knows nothing about Bradly and all the bullshit he’s put me through.

Collin says once they have him dealt with, I’ll be able to open up more to her if needed, but who knows when that will be.

Because that leads me to another reason why the stress is still in my life.

After Preston had his big fight with his dad, details of which had made me hate the man even more than I already did, Bradly Jones kind of just ... disappeared.

To the rest of the world, they think he’s gone overseas for business.

That's what he wants them to believe. But Collin doesn’t trust it.

He’s hired people to put a trace on his father, but the last information we have on him is that he left the country about three weeks ago, and we haven’t been able to get any hits on him since.

It’s not knowing where he is that has me worried. But there's a bit of comfort that Collin has people who will be able to tell the moment he steps foot back on US soil.

So for the first time in my life, I have no real reason to be this stressed out. Yet, no matter how much reassurance the guys give me, I still can’t shake the feeling that this isn’t over.

And I don’t think I will until, at the very least, Bradly is taken care of.

Collin is pissed that he didn’t get the chance to do it himself before he left and is beating himself up because of the stress it’s causing me. Preston feels guilty that he handled things the way he did without having a plan in place. He feels like he’s the reason his father left.

I had to tell him more than once to stop thinking that way because I care more about him being free of that monster than having to force himself to keep living that pain just for me.

Everything happened how it should have. It is what it is. All I care about is that I can breathe a hell of a lot better than before, even with those lingering worries.

I feel stupid for not trusting the guys with my thoughts and feelings because they’ve been amazing anytime I bring something up. Not telling me what I want to hear, but listening and being supportive.

“Sadie?” my therapist snaps me out of my daydream.

“Sorry.” I blink, shaking my head. “What were we talking about?”

She tilts her head to the side. “When was the last time you had fun? And I don’t mean sit down and watch a movie with your boyfriends, or friends, but really gone out and let loose?”

My brows furrow as I think of the last time I truly let go and had fun.

“Ahh,” I start, and she laughs.

“I’m going to say, it’s been a while?”

“Yeah.” I sigh. “Looks like it.”

“I have some homework for you,” she says, leaning forward, placing her pen and paper on her lap to write something out.

“Oh, yay,” I say dryly, making her laugh more. “I love homework. Not like I get enough of it at school or anything.”

“This one will be fun.” She smiles, ripping the piece of paper off and handing it to me.

Taking it out of curiosity, I read it out loud and laugh. “Go out, have fun, party. Dress up, feel good about yourself, and leave all your worries at home for the night.”

I look up at her, a bit of excitement trickling back in. “Really?”

She shrugs. “Life is short, and we shouldn’t be spending all our time worried.

I’m not telling you everything will just go away, but the world won’t stop spinning and crumble down around you if you have fun for a night.

And if those men have an issue with it because they’re overprotective asses, tell them it’s the doctor's orders.”

“Okay.” I nod, folding the paper back up and slipping it into my purse. “I think I might just do that.”

“I highly suggest it,” she says as my stomach chooses to growl. She raises a brow, and my cheeks heat. “Have you eaten today?”

“Ahhh.”

“Sadie,” she says almost like a mother scolding a child.

“I know, I know!” I raise my hands. “Only because I had a bad headache from all the studying I did last night. It made me feel gross this morning.” The guys were not happy with me turning down breakfast. But after I promised that if they made me eat, I would puke it all back up, and not because of any other reason other than really feeling sick this morning, did they leave me alone.

But I promised I’d be eating after my session.

“Do you still feel that way?”

“No.” I shake my head. “After some water and eyes away from devices and paper, I feel good. Well, I'm hungry now.”

“Collin!” she shouts, and I groan.

“Really? You're going to tell on me?”

She smiles and shakes her head.

The door opens the next second, and I glare over at my husband, who’s no doubt been standing near the door like some kind of bodyguard.

“Everything okay?” he asks, eyes on me.

“We’re done for the day. I have two things I want you to do for me,” she says, and Collin pulls his eyes off me, giving her his attention.

“Okay. What would that be?”

“First, take this young lady out to eat. Get her anything she wants. Don’t let her say no, it’s okay, or no, I’m fine. Buy her what she wants,” she says the last part with a stern voice, directing it towards me.

I roll my eyes, but smile.

“Done,” he says without hesitation. “And the other thing?”

“I’ve given Sadie some homework for this weekend. Don’t fight her on it.”

“Ahh, okay?” It’s his turn to look confused, eyes finding mine. I grin, give him a wink, and get to my feet.

“See you next Friday.” I wave goodbye and head out with Collin.

“Are you going to tell me what this homework is?” Collin asks as he pulls me into his arms as soon as we’re alone in the elevator.

“Nope.” I grin up at him, melting into his touch.

“Then how can I make sure you're doing what you're supposed to be doing if I don’t know what that is?” he asks, raising a brow, an amused grin on his handsome face.

“Just going to have to wait and see.”

“Fine,” he sighs. “Now, what do you want to eat?”

Part of me wants to say nothing, or suggest some healthy eating place as an automatic response. But then I remember, I’m beautiful just the way I am, and while healthy eating is good, I don’t have to always live like a health nut. I can eat what I want, in moderation, and be okay.

“Burgers and fries?”

“Done.”

“And chicken wings.”

“I know just the place.”

“Can we get ice cream after?”

He grins. “And watch you lick that cone like it’s my cock? Fuck yes.”

Smiling, I bury my face into his chest. One of the things the guys have started doing that’s oddly made eating a lot more fun is that they look at me with these sexual eyes, like me eating is the hottest thing they’ve ever seen. That me taking care of myself makes them hard.

How can I not want to eat when my eating makes them want to eat me?

“ALRIGHT. WE’RE GOOD to go!” I call out as the girls and I make our way down the stairs.

“And where might that be?” Preston asks, walking into the foyer from the sitting room. “You still haven’t—”

He looks up at me and stops, eyes roaming my body with a heated look.

“Keep eye fucking her like that, and you’re going to need a room.” Emma laughs, stepping around me.

“Holy shit.” Grayson follows, then Declan and Collin. “Pretty Girl.” He groans.

“You like?” I ask, doing a little spin to show off my little black dress.

“I’m going to jail tonight.” Collin throws his hands up in the air. “I just know some fucker is going to look at you too long and I’m going to have to kick his ass.”

“I’ll help you,” Preston mutters.

“You look amazing.” Declan smiles, stepping forward and pressing a kiss to my cheek.

“Thank you.” I beam up at him.

“So?” Grayson grins, rubbing his hands together in excitement. “We’re going out tonight?”