Page 129
Shepherd grabs two boxes and hands one to each of his brothers, grabbing the last one for himself.
“We’re going to open them for you, okay,” Shepherd says. “We don’t want you touching them.”
And that just adds to my growing concern. Why the hell wouldn’t they want me to hold my own gift?
Dear god, why did I have to fall in love with the batshit crazy men?
Saint and Maverick look at one another, a silent conversation going on between the two of them before Maverick nods.
“Alright. Let’s open,” Maverick grunts.
Shepherd grins, and the three of them open the boxes. Then they hold them out in front of me, and it takes everything in me not to puke.
I blink, and blink, and fucking blink, wondering if what I’m looking at is real or if I’m hallucinating.
“Geee.” I laugh awkwardly, not sure how the fuck I’m supposed to react. “You shouldn’t have.”
“It was no problem at all.” Shepherd waves it off. “It was our pleasure, really.”
“No, really,” I tell them. “You really shouldn’t have. You couldn’t get me, I don’t know, a necklace, a new purse, maybe a sweater? Hell, I’d take new socks over this.”
Shepherd frowns. “You hate it?”
“I’m trying really hard not to sound ungrateful. But in what world did you think I’d want... that?” I wave to the boxes.
“Shepherd, you fucking dumbass. Why don’t you explain what she’s looking at first? Poor girl looks like she’s going to puke,” Saint chastises his brother.
“Shit,” Shepherd chuckles. “My bad.”
“I know what I’m looking at,” I retort. “It’s a fucking hand, a tongue, and... okay, you got me. What’s that last one?”
“A dick.” Shepherd grins proudly.
“Oh,” I choke out. “A dick. Lovely.” Now his eating dick comment makes sense. It’s kind of sad that I can say that.
“This...” Saint brings attention to the box in his hand. “Is the hand that dared to touch your body, to leave his mark on your skin when he had no fucking right to touch you,” Saint explains, his eyes growing dark with anger.
“This...” Shepherd wiggles his box. “Is the tongue that fucking had the audacity to lie and say cruel, demeaning words to you. Things that couldn’t be further from the truth.”
“And this,” Maverick growls, pointing to his box. “Is the pathetic cock that thought it had every right to take what it wanted.”
My lips part in shock, their words slowly clicking into place. I look down at the boxes and stare at the pale, shriveled pieces of flesh, suddenly not so grossed out by the sight of them. I mean it’s fucking disgusting, but the meaning behind it is... fuck.
My eyes start to water as my lower lip quivers. “Are those body parts from Ronny?”
“Would you be mad at us if we said yes?” Maverick asks, his face filled with uncertainty.
“No,” I croak out, letting out a little sob. “Not at all.”
Something in me snaps, and I’m unable to hold the tears back. I start to sob, so many emotions slamming into me at once.
Warm arms wrap around me, pulling me into a protective hug. I hug them back, burying my face into their chest as I continue to break. Two more bodies surround me, giving me the time I need to fall apart but ready to put me back together.
This is fucked up. So fucked up. There’s fucking body parts in boxes. And they’re my ex’s.
Instead of wanting to scream in horror, to throw up, or take off running for my life, I’m hit with the overwhelming feeling of love and appreciation.
I must be broken. Because who the fuck feels like this when given body parts?