by Skylar Heart
But, right now, in the warm car, surrounded by their voices and scents, I don’t really care about it. I don’t care about ‘right’ families, or doing the ‘right’ thing. I just care about them and how much I love them. How much I need them in my life.
13
Dylan
When we reach the house, everyone is quiet, but I can feel the tension in the air. We’re back, and Mia is with us... We’ve got her back with us, even though I wonder for how long it will be. I wonder how long she’ll stay this time. I kind of hate myself for being cynical like that, but I can’t help it when she’s run away from us twice now. I just hope that she’ll stay this time.
Mia and Mal are asleep, leaning against each other, and they look so sweet. I smile, and then look at the front of the car where Jake and Tom are also looking at them. It would almost be a shame to wake them up, but we’ll have to, or they’ll have to sleep in the car, which isn’t the best idea. I know that Mal has slept in the car often enough, but he doesn’t have to, especially not if there’s a perfectly fine bed inside.
“Mia.” I carefully shake her. “Mal. Time to get out of the car.”
Mal makes an unhappy sound and doesn’t even open his eyes, just curls closer to Mia. Okay...
I let out a slow breath and open the car door on my side, I can go into the house ahead of them, they can wake up on their own. I carefully try to get Mia’s bags from the car, which does wake them up.
“Where are we?” Mia’s voice is raspy.
“Back at the house. Time to get inside.” Jake also opens the door on his side. “We’ve got a much better place for you to sleep, somewhere that doesn’t ruin your neck.” He grins before climbing out of the car. Then he opens the door on Mal’s side and helps the guy out of the car, before also grabbing one of Mia’s bags to take with him.
I carry the bag up to the house, opening the front door, and the warmth, the scents, it makes me feel like I’ve returned home, immediately making me relax.
This place may not be ours yet, but it definitely feels more like ‘home’ than the converted garage has ever felt. Even though nothing here is mine, it still feels like home.
I put Mia’s bag against the side of the stairs and then turn back to the door, checking if I need to help grab more things from the car, but it seems that they’ve got everything already. We didn’t bring any of the boxes we got from Mia’s ex’ place, too much work, we just helped her pack a couple of bags to come back. She can take care of the boxes when she’s ready for it, but not tonight.
When Mia steps inside the house, I wrap my arms around her, the last bits of tension finally leaving me. “Welcome home,” I whisper into her neck, her warmth seeping into me. I don’t want to have to let her go, ever, even as I’m still apprehensive about what’s going to happen next.
“Welcome home,” she murmurs into my shoulder, her arms sliding around me too, and she lets out a long breath. “What smells so good?”
I can’t help my laugh. “Mal made lasagna. We’ve got leftovers, do you want some?”
“Yes, please.” She steps back, a small smile around her lips, and then she takes her jacket off.
“Oh, I could definitely go for another piece too.” Tom grins. “Raiding a guy’s house makes me hungry.” He goes into the kitchen, and after checking the oven, turns it on. “We’re lucky we made extra.”
“You’re lucky I made extra,” Mal grumbles as he also comes into the house, rubbing his hands over his arms, trying to warm himself up. “Get me a piece too, will you?”
Then he goes into the back room, coming back out with his laptop, which he then takes into the living room, still wearing his jacket and his shoes. Seems like he’s got something he needs to work on first.
I get five plates, since it looks like everyone wants food right now. I’m not surprised. We were kind of nervous when we were having dinner, as Jake had just told us about Mia’s father’s phone call and we were still planning what we were going to do exactly. I don’t think any of us really ate much dinner.
But now everything is over, yeah, now I’m definitely hungry too.
While setting the table, I look around the kitchen. We could actually be owning this place soon. This house could become ours. We could renovate it so that it fits who we are, what we need. But the more I think about it, I don’t really want to change anything about it, apart from maybe getting us a bed that fits all of us without having to worry about ending between the mattresses or rolling off the side.
Hmmm, something to consider.
“What are you working on?” I sit down next to Mal, who went back to his music after he had two plates of lasagna.
He’s got that distracted look in his eyes, that look that tells me he’s really focused and that something is going on in his head. But unlike when that stuff going on in his head seems to be really worrying him or make him upset, this time, it seems to be something good, something that makes him happier.
“A couple of songs. I just...” He lets out a long breath, glancing at me. “If I want to be a part of this.” He jerks his head up. “Of our little family, or whatever, I need to be able to provide too, and that means having a more stable source of income. I’ll have to step up, big time.”
“You’re not going back to the band?” We dropped by the rest of the band earlier in the week, to pick up his things, and they talked for a while, but it seems that they’ve mostly decided to go on a hiatus, let the members think over what they want or need from the band.
“I don’t know yet. But, I need to do more. I need to make more music. I need to write more. I need to...” He slowly shakes his head. “I need to write music I can sell, either as a composer, or even my own things. And I need to do this seriously, instead of rushing into it when I’m low on money between gigs.”
“Sounds like a good plan.” I want to joke that it’s about time for him to get serious, but he’s always been serious about his music, just not the financial side of it, and it seems that he’s now taking that seriously too. “What are you working on?”
“A few tunes. I don’t know what to do with them yet, but... I just had to get them down before I forgot about them.” He gives me a soft smile, his breathing getting a little easier. “She’s back.” His voice almost sounds like he’s surprised.
“She’s back.” I nod, putting my hand on his leg. “She’s back here with us.”
“I like it when she’s here. I like it when she’s with us. I don’t like it when she’s in the city, or not with us.” I’m not exactly sure how to read his voice, if it’s pain or something else I’m hearing, and he’s not looking at me anymore, instead looking down at his laptop.
“I prefer her to be here too.” I give him a quick kiss on his shoulder and then get up. “You get back to your music. I’ll be in the kitchen.”
He nods, already back to work, and, with a smile, I close the living room door behind me and return to the kitchen.
He seems okay. Good. Because before everything ends up the way we want it to, a lot of things still have to happen, and I’m not sure how we’re all going to get through them.
When I get back to the kitchen, Mia, Tom and Jake look at me, their eyes cautious. “He’s okay. He’s just working on his music.” We were a little worried about him, Mal being this distracted can be a really good or a really bad thing. I sit down next to Mia, looking at the new items they’ve put on the paper on the table between us.
Buying a house as a group of people won’t be easy, especially not when it comes to who owns what and how we’re going to finance it, and then the repairs that still need to happen around the place, but also... We’ll have to change quite a few things. For decades, Mia’s grandma lived here on her own, and now we’ll be living here with five adults and one kid. Some changes are in order.
And how are people going to react to us doing this? We may get some looks or reactions from people who don’t like the idea of five adults living together, instead of living as couples or s
omething like that.
But the most nerve wracking thing of all of this is how Mia will fit in. I know that she wants to be part of it all, but I can even see the way Jake and Tom are still apprehensive about it all. Not because we don’t think she wants to do this, but because we have no idea if we can manage it. We have no idea how we’re all going to work this ‘living together’ and this ‘being in a relationship’ thing out. Sure, the four of us can be good friends, and maybe even partners or something, but I don’t know yet how we’re going to have this shared relationship with Mia in the mix.
And that scares me. Not knowing how we’re going to make this happen scares me. Because we’ve all been broken enough, if we’re going to do this, we’re going to have to make it work, we only get one chance. I don’t think some of us can survive another heartbreak...
And that’s scary.
Don’t want to stop reading? Grab your copy of the next book:
OUT Feb 19th! Pre-order now!
Their Battle (Scarred Cliff 5)
Reviews mean the world to me (and other readers)…
If you liked this book, please consider leaving a review. It doesn’t have to be a long review and can be as simple as ‘I liked it’ or mentioning something in the book that made you smile (or cry). It really helps me spread the word about my books. Thank you so much!
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You can find links to where you can review here: Her Undoing Book Page
Next in this series: Their Battle (Scarred Cliff 5)
Don’t want to stop reading? Grab your copy of the next book:
OUT Feb 19th! Pre-order now!
Their Battle (Scarred Cliff 5)
* * *
Five lovers figuring out their combined lives, one place they never want to leave again.
After Mia confronted her ex, she finally realised that she didn’t want to live without Dylan, Mal, Tom and Jake anymore. She needs them as much as they need her, especially when it comes to their hearts.
Only, as they’re trying to figure out how to make living and loving together work, the outside world is slowly starting to seep into the little bubble they’ve been living in these last few weeks.
Mia and her men are finally starting to become a family, but that bliss may be cut short when people find out and object to their unconventional setup. Can they protect their new family?
Can they fight those who may ruin their happiness, even with the best of intentions?
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OUT Feb 19th! Pre-order now!
Their Battle (Scarred Cliff 5)
Try next!
While you’re waiting for the continuation of the story about Mia and her boys, here are some other stories of mine you can try out!
Here are three choices I think you may enjoy, depending on why you love this story!
More Contemp NA with damaged boys? Try Shattered.
More Reverse Harem and you like paranormal? Try Prophecy.
More Second Chance love with an old summer fling? Try Second Chance at Christmas.
Blurbs below!
If you like New Adult angst with broken boys and their damaged girls, try out my other series, starting with Shattered:
Shattered (Damaged Hearts 1)
LIZZY
I should have known he was trouble when I watched him drive his motorbike onto campus, leaving a trail of people whispering as he made his way into the Art Building.
* * *
Word around here is, he doesn’t date. So why do his eyes keep following me? Why does he want to talk to me?
* * *
Rumor has it, Hunter’s good at two things: making art, and getting into fights. I love art, but I can’t stand violence. I’ve been on the receiving end of it too many times.
* * *
My life is simple, it needs to be if I want to graduate and keep my eating disorder at bay… I sleep, I eat, I go to class and I definitely Do. Not. Date.
* * *
So why do I feel so safe in his strong arms?
* * *
HUNTER
She’s like a spooked little mouse. Not my type at all. Until she looked up at me and I was caught in her azure eyes.
* * *
But I won’t let her get close. In the last four years, I’ve lost everyone I’ve ever loved. I will never trust anyone ever again. The second I do, I’ll find myself alone again. So, what’s the use?
* * *
So I create big metal installations, I go to class when I feel like it, I drink and get into fights at the bar.
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I have to stay away from Lizzy, because my darkness will only make hers worse. I know I have to, but that isn’t what my heart wants. When I see the pain in her eyes, I can’t resist her. I want to help her, touch her…
* * *
Protect her.
Shattered (Damaged Hearts 1)
If you’re into harems but don’t mind when they go a little paranormal, try my other reverse harem series:
Prophecy (Lughnasadh Elite Academy 1)
One clueless queen-to-be, four princes to change her world forever.
Before her vital first cup of coffee in the morning, Litha finds out she’s a witch and is suddenly transported to a magical world she didn’t know existed. As if that wasn’t strange enough, it turns out that she’s prophesied to be queen and her parents only took her to the human world to protect her from those who want her dead. But now she’s at Lughnasadh Elite Academy and face to face with her four potential… kings?
It doesn’t help that all four princes are sexy and hot and make her insides squirm when she catches sight of them. There is Bane, the werewolf prince, all broody and with hair sticking up like he just got out of bed. Kit, the incubus prince, whose wicked smile melts anyone’s unmentionables. Rune, the dragon prince, protective and with muscles like he’s a moving mountain. And last, but definitely not least, Finn, the fae prince, quiet but intense, with eyes like a summer forest.
According to the prophecy, Litha will marry the true ruler of the four kingdoms. But having grown up human, in the human world, she has no idea where to start making sense of all of it, and the four princes pursuing her really don’t help with trying to figure it all out.
Prophecy (Lughnasadh Elite Academy 1)
If you want to try out some more girl-on-girl loving or just cute small-island romances, then my Emily Engberts titles may be more to your liking, starting with Second Chance at Christmas:
Second Chance at Christmas (Seasons on the Island 1)
Josie doesn’t want to spend yet another Christmas as the only single adult at the family dinner. So, instead, she books a week long holiday to her favourite island. Ready to spend it doing what she loves doing most, long walks on the beach with her dog and reading novels in front of a fire.
What she hasn’t counted on is running into her old summer fling, the one girl she could never forget.
* * *
Sanne is freshly heartbroken, and instead of having to deal with her parents’ pitying looks over Christmas dinner, she decides to still go on the winter holiday she’d booked, even if it means going on her own. She can entertain herself well enough, and maybe some fresh air will clear her head of all the darkness from the last months.
But when she sees Josie at the cafe, she can’t help how her heart beats faster or how much she wants the other woman to hold her.
* * *
What starts as a shared meal at a cafe, followed by the first snow of the season, could turn into much more.
They lost their chance of being together when they spent the summers on the island as teens, but can they take it now that they’re adults?
Can they take the chance amid knee-high snow and Christmas decorations?
Second Chance at Christmas (Seasons on the Island 1)
About Skylar Heart
Skylar Heart loves sexy romances and has a particular soft spot for broken boys and their damaged girls. When she’s not reading or writing steamy stories,
she loves to nap with her two cats, preferably under a fluffy blanket, and play videogames. She has studied literature and creative writing but often finds that the couple of classes she took on coding is much more of a help in this new adventure as an author.
Follow her on BookBub:
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/skylar-heart
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For more social media, check the Easily Distracted Media page.
About Easily Distracted Media
Easily Distracted Media is a publisher/brand name for a group of pen names from one author. Each pen name gives a slightly different ‘flavour’ of story, but they’re all highly emotional, focusing on close connections between friends and chosen family.
E. Engberts, Queer Scifi Young Adult stories.
