by Angel Lawson
“What are you proposing?” Smith asks.
“We go in together and own the house four ways, buy my brother out. I want to build a life with you, on equal footing.” A new life, one revolving around a different set of souls. Men, not boys, who need a partner, not a mom.
“I think that sounds like an amazing idea,” Holden says. “Although I do have one condition.”
“What’s that?” I ask.
“I can’t sleep on that little bed anymore and Smith’s snoring is making me crazy. We’re going to need another room.”
“An addition?” I ask, liking the idea.
“With a king-sized bed.” Adrian winks.
My belly warms at that idea.
“Good idea,” Smith says, grabbing a sheet of paper off the notepad affixed to the refrigerator door. “Really, the best thing would be a new master suite, with plenty of room.”
They start talking excitedly. There are a million possibilities, all leading back to the same thing. A home.
“What about a mudroom with a shower—so you’re not dragging your filthy clothes in here all the time?” I ask, in complete seriousness.
Adrian gives me a lopsided—cheeky grin—and says, “You like us dirty.”
God, I really do.
I smile at the three of them, relief washing over me. I can finally stop running. Not only have I found a home, it was here all along.
Epilogue
“I brought you a plant,” Katie says, bounding into the room. Her hair is in two knots on top of her head. With the black choker around her neck, she looks like a kitten. She shoves the flowerpot in my hands. “Now, I want to see everything.”
She’s excited, really excited, and I guess I don’t blame her. I’ve been talking about the addition for months and I’d finally agreed to have a housewarming party to show everyone the finished product.
The truth is that we could have had this party weeks ago, but I’ve been selfish. I’ve wanted it all to myself. Well, myself and the guys. We’ve been breaking it in. The new, extra-large, king-sized bed, the tile and glass shower with two rain features, the walk-in closet complete with a plush chaise lounge, and the French doors that lead to the deck that has four comfortable seats and a sturdy railing.
I give her the tour and Katie misses nothing, assessing everything with a critical eye. “Talk to me about this handheld shower device? Do you even need that?”
I shrug. “Not yet, but Adrian has a few ideas.”
She nods appreciatively, and I lead her back to the bedroom. She picks up a framed, new photograph. It’s of me, Jensen, Jared, and the three guys.
“You took the guys to a convention?”
“Yep. They had fun.”
“So like, even though you have three of your own guys, you still obsess over these people?”
I take the frame from her and place it back on the bedside table.
“Family is more than blood,” I tell her, touching the tattoo. “The Winchesters taught me that, the boys proved it, and it’s why I could open my heart to the rangers.”
“Fair enough.” She starts toward the hall but stops and points to a door, “What’s that?”
My stomach flutters anxiously. “Nothing. Just storage. We decided to add on a little bit more while we were doing it. You know, it’s cheaper that way.”
“Right,” she says, heading into the hall. She starts poking her head into the other three bedrooms, private space, decorated specifically for, and by, each guy.
I’m not ready to tell Katie the real reason for that room. It’s for the future. A possible nursery. This relationship is still fresh and new, but we all agree on one thing. Family is important.
Which is why when I hear Dexter’s voice in the living room, I leave Katie to her wandering and go greet my brother. He’s standing just inside the doorway with Starlee.
“Hey,” he says, when he sees me. I’m thankful his smile is genuine.
“Where are the guys?” We’d picked a weekend when they could all take off time from school. It was important for everyone to be here. I smile at Starlee.
“Charlie and George are helping Holden with the grill, and Smith cornered Jake outside—football talk. I’m not sure they made it out of the driveway.”
I nod. Smith is ecstatic to have someone to share his love of the sport, and I think Jake is happy to have someone in the house that prefers sports to demon hunting, computer games, and baking pies.
“The house looks great,” Dexter says. We’ve spent the past few months getting back on track. At first it was out of necessity. We needed him to sell his portion of the house and he asked me to sell the house and the Wayward Sun to him. In the end, I sold him the property, but not the business—but we did make some changes. We’re now co-owners of the Wayward Sun and are in talks to expand.
After I go back to school.
“How did your final go?” he asked, truly interested. I enrolled in culinary school and Dexter wants to know everything.
“I had a head start on the rest of the class since we were doing pie crusts and pastries.”
He laughs. “I bet you killed it.”
“The instructor asked for the recipe.”
He snorts. There’s no way either of us are sharing that.
“Hey, man,” Adrian says, walking over to Dexter. They do one of those half-hug-half-handshake things. “Want a drink? The cooler is out back.”
“Yeah, thanks.” He squeezes Starlee’s hand and follows Adrian out the back door.
I face the girl my boys love. “Want to see the house?”
Out of everyone, I know she’ll appreciate it the most, and when I show her the bedroom, her jaw drops.
“Oh my god, I am so jealous.”
“Right?” The bed is massive but fits the dimensions of the room nicely.
“I can’t imagine having this much room. Do you—” Her cheeks turn pink.
“Do I what?” I ask.
“Never mind. It’s personal.”
“We’re family, Starlee, and although I don’t need specifics about your sex life any more than you need them about mine, if you have a question, I can answer it.”
“Do you all sleep in the bed together?” she asks, eyeing the bed.
Now it’s time for my skin to flush. “Sometimes.”
“And everyone is okay with that?”
“Holden and Adrian are. Smith…he’s coming around.” I think about the last time we were all together. Smith, I still can’t get him in the bed, but he’ll watch, and participate in his own way. Which frankly, is almost as hot.
“You guys move fast,” she admits, hands fidgeting.
“Well, we’re older. Your relationship with the guys is your first one, Starlee. It may take longer to explore.”
“True.”
A loud crash reverberates through the house and we look at one another and say at the same time, “George.” We break into laughter.
“I’m glad you’re part of the family,” I tell her, wrapping my arm around her. “I’m surrounded by too much fucking testosterone. It’s probably what broke me in the first place.”
She nods. “You may be right.”
We leave the bedroom and follow a trail of sticky fluid from the back door to the kitchen, where a bottle of soda has exploded in the room. George is soaked head to toe.
“I promise I’ll clean it up.”
I shake my head and leave him with Starlee—he’s not mine to fuss and fight with anymore. Thank God.
Outside, I find the whole group. Dex, Jake, and Charlie, mingling with Adrian, Holden, and Smith. Katie and Robbie are right in the middle and a moment later, Sierra and George appear. He’s got wet hair and is wearing Adrian’s clean shirt. He grins sheepishly.
Dexter walks over and tosses his arm around my shoulder. “I know I never said it enough, but thank you.”
“There’s no need to thank me, Dex, we’re family.”
“It’s not just that, Sierra. You brought all of us t
ogether, you’ve given us a family. A big one.”
I look at everyone, remembering how they’d all come into my life seeking shelter—but Dexter’s right, I’d given them a home. In return, they’d anchored me to this place, to these people.
I couldn’t be happier.
Afterword
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Readers! I always think I’m ready to let characters go. Wayward Sister is proof I wasn’t quite at that point yet. Sierra needed her story told just as much as the boys. I hope you enjoyed it.
Thanks to those who help keep this train rolling; VC Edits, Angstyg Designs, Jennifer and Lisa, all the gals at Angel’s Antics!
I’ve got a new idea brewing. I’ll keep you posted!
Angel
Also by Angel Lawson
Angel Lawson Books
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Valkyrie’s Claim
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Sparrowood Academy (Contemporary YA Bully/Academy-Series Complete)
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Book 2
Book 3
The Wayward Sons (Contemporary YA-Series Complete)
Starlee’s Heart
Starlee’s Turn
Starlee’s Home
Starlee’s Hope
Wayward Sister
The Allendale Four (Contemporary YA-Series Complete)
A Piece of Heaven: The Allendale Four
Holding on to Heaven: The Allendale Four Book 2
The Road to Heaven: The Allendale Four Book 3
Seventh Heaven: The Allendale Four Book 4 (November 2018)
Boys of Ocean Beach (Contemporary YA- Series Complete)
Summer’s Kiss (The Boys of Ocean Beach)
Summer’s Fun (The Boys of Ocean Beach 2)
Raven Queen’s Harem (Paranormal Romance)
Raven’s Mark (Part 1)
Ebony Rising (Part 2)
Black Magic (Part 3)
Obsidian Fire (Part 4)
Onyx Eclipse (Part 5)
Midnight’s End (Part 6)
*Raven’s Gift (Holiday Novella)
Huntress: Trial of Gods
(Reverse Harem Alien Romance)
Taking Mercy: Planet Athion Book 1
Finding Mercy: Planet Athion Book 2
Saving Mercy: Planet Athion Book 3
(Reverse Harem Superheroes)
The Elites: Supers of Project 12
Sentinels: Supers of Project 12 (Book 2)
Rogues: Supers of Project 12 (Book 3)
Heroes: Supers of Project 12 (Book 4)
The Death Fields: A Post Apocalyptic Thriller
The Girl Who Shot First
The Girl Who Punched Back
The Girl Who Kicked Ass
The Girl Who Kissed the Sun
The Girl Who Broke Free
The Girl Who Saved the World
Creature of Habit Series (Paranormal Romance)
Creature of Habit (Book 1)
Creature of Habit (Book2)
Creature of Habit (Book 3)
A Vampire’s Seduction (Ryan’s Story Book 4)
A Vampire’s Fate (Sebastian’s Story Book 5)
The Wraith Series (YA Paranormal Romance)
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Shadow Bound
Grave Possession
Urban Fantasy
The Lost Queen
Vigilant