Retreat

by Dykes, Nicole

“Can I come in?”

  He grunts as he moves out of my way and lets me inside his house, closing the door behind us. “What are you here for? Wanna tell me you’re fucking Frankie too?”

  “Fuck no. Even I’m not that stupid.” After a moment, I just say it, “I love her, Jay.”

  He analyzes me and looks just as pissed off as he did yesterday. “Bullshit. If you loved her, why the fuck didn’t you just say that yesterday?”

  “I kind of wanted to tell her first.” Even if I didn’t know it yet. “And you know what? You could have fucking killed me today. At the very least hit me, but you didn’t. You know why?”

  “Because Chris frowns on homicide, and I like my job.”

  I shake my head. “Nope. It’s because you see me as a brother, and you didn’t fucking want to. Because deep down, you know I’m a good man who cares about your sister.”

  “I do see you as a brother,” he growls between clenched teeth, “which really means you shouldn’t be fucking my sister.”

  Yeah, I don’t like that analogy anymore. “I also needed time to think.”

  He shakes his head. “You shouldn’t have to think about love. It’s either there or it isn’t.”

  “Oh yeah? You love Frankie?”

  I shouldn’t push his buttons right now, I’m aware, but fucking hypocrite. He gets in my space, my back nearing the wall yet again. “Yes. I always will.”

  “And yet . . . you’re fucking shit up with her.”

  “I have my reasons, and I’m enough of a man to know I’m not good enough for her. That I’ll hurt her.”

  “I’m enough of a man to not fucking hurt Morgan.” I lean in, countering his quest for dominance. “I will never hurt her again. I fucked up many times, but never again. We’re together. I’m in love with her, and that’s that.”

  He stares at me, and although I’m shaking inside, I don’t dare show it.

  We stand there for what seems like an eternity until he finally speaks. “And she actually fucking wants you, a pretty boy?”

  Fuck. I let out the breath I was holding. “Yeah, poor girl.”

  “No. Shit.”

  We both laugh, and he punches me in the arm. “Okay. I’ll fucking kill you if you hurt her. You know that.”

  “I do. And I’m not afraid.”

  “You fucking should be.” He’s dead serious.

  But so am I. “I’m not because I won’t hurt her.”

  “This is bullshit, you know.”

  I laugh. “Yeah, but I’d die for her too, Jay. So maybe eventually you’ll trust me enough to take over so you can live your life and she can live hers.”

  He scratches his chin. “I never felt obligated to take care of her.”

  I wrap an arm around his neck. “I know man. That’s just love.”

  “Fucking love.”

  We laugh together, and I think we both know this is our new normal.

  It’ll be a little bit of an adjustment, that’s for damn sure.

  “God, I love you.”

  I smile in Ty’s neck as I sit on his lap out on his patio, looking up at the stars just like old times. Except now, we’re naked. I’m his. And he’s mine.

  There’s no questioning it anymore. We don’t have to hide from anyone, including each other.

  “Can your neighbors see in your backyard?”

  I don’t really care all that much as I straddle his lap, his cock still inside me after we finished. We got caught up in the moment.

  “Nah. Not unless they have a telescope, and if that’s the case, they can see when we fuck in bed too.”

  I laugh and kiss his bare chest. “Well, at least we put on a pretty damn good show.”

  “Yeah.” His hands slide down my sides. “That’s for damn sure.”

  “You sure you want to go with me tomorrow?”

  He nods without any hesitation. “Yup. It’s been a long time since I went on a trip anywhere. Phoenix should be fun.”

  I laugh at that. He’s going with me to a race, and I’m nervous because he hasn’t officially met Chase, and Tate and Evie will be there. “Are you nervous to be around them again?”

  He shakes his head as I pull back and look into his eyes. It’s dark out here, but I can see him clearly. “Not even a little bit.”

  He seems so sure. The part of him, once so damn broken, now feels whole. I smile, knowing I helped do that. “You really aren’t, are you?”

  He holds my face in his hands. “No. I have you Morgan. I have everything I could ever fucking want. Jay doesn’t hate me. And Frankie seems pretty okay with us being together.”

  I laugh at that. Frankie is quite happy for us actually. She gave me a big hug and smacked him on the back of the head and told him and I quote, “Fucking finally.” When we told her we were officially together.

  “Yeah. I would say so.”

  “You guys are my family. I’ve never been this happy in my life.”

  One thing is for sure, his smile is back, his bright, happy Ty smile I’ve always loved and craved.

  “I love you, Ty.”

  “I love you, Morgan.” His hands squeeze my ass as he presses me against him, and I can feel him start to harden again. “Now fuck me.”

  His growl sends a sexy shiver throughout my body as his mouth meets mine and my hips move forward rubbing against him.

  I knew we could have it all someday if we just finally gave in.

  “So, you two are official, huh?” Chase nods at Morgan and me as I pull her tighter to my side. Not that I don’t trust her. I’d trust her with my life, but I don’t trust this fucker yet.

  Morgan grins as we meet him in the hotel lobby. “Yup. He belongs to me.”

  Chase seems oddly happy by that. “Good.” He nods in my direction. “You’re a lucky motherfucker.”

  “I know it.”

  Morgan rolls her eyes. “Oh, please do not act like you wanted a relationship for one second.”

  “Hell no.” Chase situates the strap of the duffle bag he’s carrying so it’s more secure around his shoulder. “But he’s still lucky to have you.”

  I hear the automatic door of the hotel open, and I feel Morgan tense at my side, telling me before I even look that Evie and Tate are here.

  I know she’s worried about this part. She thinks I’m nervous about it as well, but I’m not.

  They walk to us, Tate pulling Morgan into a quick hug and then audibly growling in Chase’s direction. Good to see he hasn’t changed.

  His eyes fall on me. “Ty.”

  “Tate.” I don’t move to shake his hand, and I swear I can feel Morgan holding her breath next to me.

  Evie walks behind Tate, before moving to his side, her blue eyes meeting mine. “Ty, hi.”

  I smile genuinely when I see her. I haven’t seen her for a while, but she looks happy despite being clearly nervous. “Hey, Evie. You look good.”

  She smiles shyly and tucks her blond hair behind her ear. “Thank you. You do too.” She turns to look at Morgan. “And you look gorgeous, as always.”

  Morgan nods with a bright smile. “Same to you.”

  Chase is analyzing us all, standing there as a spectator to the show. “Huh. Well this is fucking awkward.”

  Morgan rolls her eyes. “No. It’s not.”

  “No, it really is.” Chase gestures between us all. “What’s going on here?”

  I decide to answer him because let’s be honest here, I’m the one who went off the deep end and was the most fucked-up by the whole break-up. I look over at Chase. “I dated Evie for a little bit, but she was in love with Tate the whole time.”

  Evie shifts slightly uncomfortably. Tate wraps a protective arm around her waist but seems slightly amused as he looks at me, testing the waters. “That’s right. I mean, who could resist?”

  Evie nudges him. “Now’s not the time.”

  I laugh it off and look over at Chase. “We weren’t right for each other. Turns out,” I pull Morgan closer, “I had what I needed all
along. I was just too fucking stupid to see it.”

  Tate studies us and then laughs. “Fucking finally.”

  Morgan laughs and shakes her head. “Do not start.”

  He holds his free hand up. “I’m just saying. You finally fucking went for it, huh?”

  I’m going to have to get used to Tate because I know that Morgan and he are close, and the fact that he knew about her feelings for me proves that.

  “Nah, I finally pulled my head out of my ass.” I offer and smile at Evie, giving her a nod.

  She smiles, and it seems like she finally starts to breathe again. “I’m really happy for you guys.” She places her hand over her heart. “So incredibly happy.”

  “Me too, Evie. And I’m glad shit worked out for you two.” I gesture over at Tate. “Although, I have no idea how you can stand him.”

  Morgan laughs and leans her head on my shoulder. “He grows on you.”

  “Yeah, I definitely don’t see it.” Chase starts toward the elevator. “And you fuckers are making me sick with all your lovey-dovey shit. Do I have time to go find someone for a dirty, dirty sex session to rid myself of all these warm and squishy feelings?”

  Morgan rolls her eyes and follows after him. “No. You do not. You need to get your ass upstairs and take a fucking shower. Try to look slightly presentable.”

  Evie follows, and I stand with Tate, watching Morgan bark orders and Evie laugh as they wait for the elevator.

  “You love her as much as she loves you?”

  I turn to Tate and nod, even if it’s none of his fucking business and I don’t owe him a damn thing. “Yes. Maybe even more.”

  “Good. She deserves that.”

  “She deserves everything.”

  He smiles and grasps my shoulder in an odd gesture, telling me that whatever issues we had with each other are now gone. He’s got his girl, and I have mine.

  She’s always been my home. My sanctuary.

  4 months later . . .

  “Are you fucking kidding me?” I roll my eyes when Jay starts screaming at the television and Ty jumps up at the same time, actually flipping off the football players on the television.

  Frankie settles into her new man’s side as they sit on the couch. “You dummies realize they can’t actually see or hear you, right?”

  I laugh and bring the chips and dip in, placing it on the coffee table and sitting next to Frankie. “I don’t think they can hear you, Frankie. They’re in football land.”

  Ty sits back down, wrapping an arm around me. “They piss me off.”

  I laugh and kiss his cheek. “Aw, you’re probably just hungry. Or maybe you’re tired and need a nap.” I use an obnoxious baby voice as he grips my chin and kisses my nose.

  “Fuck you.”

  “Fuck you right back.”

  Jay groans as he takes a seat in the chair next to the couch. “Fuck you all. That was a messed-up play, and the refs are all fucking dumbasses.”

  I laugh at my brother, who is extra cranky because Frankie’s hot, and I do mean really fucking hot, firefighter boyfriend joined us today.

  I wish he would just give in already and tell Frankie how much he loves her, but I know my brother. He believes he’s protecting her from pain. He doesn’t feel he’s good enough to be in a relationship and boy, does that feel familiar. But the thing with Jay is, we had a terrible childhood. He saw horrific things, and we never had anything resembling healthy. At least, I didn’t until he took guardianship of me.

  He saved me all of those years ago, and all I want is for him to be happy.

  I lean into Ty as we all watch the game. “You finish sketching my tattoo?”

  It’s a whisper in his ear even though it’s not a secret. He nods. “Yeah. I’m ready.”

  I can’t wait for him to use his talent on my skin for the first time. I told him to surprise me, but nothing cheesy. “Don’t show me.”

  “You really trust me that much, huh?”

  I nod, not looking at him because I don’t need to. “Yes.”

  “Good.”

  I’ll never run from him or anything ever again. There will be no more retreat. From now on, Ty and I only move forward.

  THE END

  Note from the Author

  Thank you so much for reading Morgan and Ty’s story! I sincerely appreciate you taking the time to read their story and hope you enjoyed it! I know they were frustrating, but I’m hoping by the end, you were able to truly see through them.

  I also hope you’re excited for Frankie and Jay’s story because they are definitely getting one of their own. And I’m not sure about you, but I definitely fell in love with Chase. That boy needs to tell his story too.

  And don’t hate me, but none of those will be next. I have a little surprise for you all very soon!

  Please don’t forget to leave a review if you have a second. It truly helps me out!

  Thank you so much to my amazing group, Nicole’s Novelties, for always being there to support me. As always thank you to my awesome betas and Ari, Emma, and Elle! You all truly keep me going.

  Also, Emma, Elle, and Ari know what’s coming next, and they seem pretty excited about it! Thanks to you three for always humoring me and listening to my insane ideas. I live for our talks and love to get your reactions. Please never change because I need you.

  I want to put a special note about my grandma Kay. She never read my books, but she supported me anyway. She was always telling my mom and me how proud of me she was, and it meant so much to me. She was a foster mother and inspired me to write about troubled youth and hope. I miss you, grandma. I know you’re watching over us, and I’ll try to continue to make you proud!

  To my mom, who isn’t allowed to read my books anymore. She got a sample, and that’s good enough. I adore you. You’re stronger than you’ll ever realize, and you inspire me to be better every day.

  To my family, Bryant and our girls. You’re my whole world, and I’ll never stop trying to make our lives the best it can be.

  To Jeanna and Alyssa, keep being you! Keep going! I love you both.

  To Dena, Elizabeth, and Veronique, thank you so much for making my books presentable! I couldn’t do it without you!

  I love you all! Stay strong. We’ll get through this crazy time, and I’ll do my best to keep bringing joy and happy distractions for as long as I can.

  Thank you for reading!