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Ryan: The fuck?

Liam: NICKOLAS, answer your stupid phone already or I swear I’m taking the jet to London right fucking now.

Kai: I’m coming with you.

Kai: Sierra’s not answering either.

Noah: BECAUSE THEY’RE BUSY TOGETHER.

Noah: Jesus.

Noah: Calm the fuck down.

Zayn: I’m coming too.

Zayn: Calling the pilot now.

Ethan: No one goes anywhere.

Ethan: What is wrong with you?

Nick looks at me, pleading with his eyes. And I get the feeling he wants me to calm my brothers down—especially Liam.

His eyes, usually filled with confidence, now hold a quite tension.

I cup his jaw and point to his phone.

“Add me to this group chat, Nick. I think I don’t need to say how rude it’s of all of you to have this without me.”

Throwing his head back, he draws in a deep breath.

“Baby, it’s my job to talk to them, not yours. They’re mad at me, not you. And I understand them.”

“I’m sorry, Nick,” I whisper. “I don’t want to cause problems between you and your best friend.”

My voice breaks and I look away from him, my chest tightening with guilt and my throat burning with unshed tears.

“Hey.”

He locks his phone and turns my face toward him.

“What are you talking about? It’s not your fault. It’s mine—for not telling him about my intentions with you before he saw this article. But he’ll have to accept that you’re mine now.”

He brushes his lips against mine, a gesture meant to ground me.

“Baby, this isn’t a game for me. I’ll make them understand how serious I am about you. Please, don’t say and don’t even think something like that again. You’re the most important to me.”

“I really like hearing you say that.” I say, leaning down to kiss him slowly. “Now add me to that chat.”

“Okay.” Smirking, he slaps my ass slowly. “So bossy.”

Hartho

*Nick added Sierra to the group*

Sierra: I think I don’t need to tell you how rude it is from all of you to have this without me.

Sierra: Seriously?