Page 242 of Stay Scared

Cade’s fingers dig in. Owen falls quiet behind me. Ash looks at me like the words hurt.

I continue before any of them can turn it into something clean.

“I hated missing you.”

Cade’s thumb moves across my side.

“I hated wondering whether Owen was actually staying away or just getting better at hiding.”

Owen’s mouth almost curves.

“Do not look pleased.”

“I’m trying not to.”

“And I hated that every time I touched that key, I thought about Ash.”

Ash tightens his hand at my neck until my head tilts. “You kept it beside your bed?”

I glare at him.

His eyes darken further. “You keep avoiding the answer.”

“It was in a drawer.”

“Which drawer?”

“Ash.”

“I have been deprived of information for six weeks.”

Owen says, “It was good for you.”

Ash looks ready to kill him.

Cade finally laughs, the sound rough, tired, and familiar enough that my chest aches.

I turn in Ash’s hold.

The open door remains behind us somewhere down the corridor. Mark is still parked beyond the gate, and my phone is in my pocket.

I brought both of those exits in with me.

I look back at the three men. Cade’s knuckles are scarred where the observation glass cut him. Owen still watches too much. Ash is gripping me like the six-week separation insulted him personally.

They are still themselves.

So am I.

I pull Cade closer by his shirt. His eyes widen a fraction before I kiss him again.

Owen’s hand moves to my back while Ash refuses to let go of my waist.

The kiss breaks when Cade turns his head toward Ash. “If you keep pulling her away from me, we are going to have a problem.”

Ash looks unimpressed. “We already have several.”

Owen leans closer to my ear. “They have been like this for six weeks.”