“Nothing new there,” I snorted.
“Trip and I are going to guard you completely in the jumps and we aren’t going to make you choose.”
“But I…”
“We know, Kate. We know who your heart beats for,” Trip said softly. “But we have to be honest and recognize that you and I have a solid bond, too.”
“I think it’s there for a reason,” Corey added.
“No, Corey…wait…what are you saying?”
“Don’t choose,” Trip said, his eyes pleading.
“Don’t shut any of us out,” Corey added.
“There is a reason you are so connected to both of us. We plan to follow your heart.”
“I don’t understand.”
Corey took my face between his palms and wound his fingers through my hair. “Kate, you and I have eternity. I am not worried about who you end up with. We both know we will be together when the dust clears.”
I nodded. That is the one thing I did know. Corey smiled and kissed me sweetly, then let me go. “I don’t want you to close off any part of your heart to any of us. We need you wide open if this thing we are about to do is going to have any chance of success.”
Trip took me right out of his hands and wrapped me in a bear hug. “We are connected too, Kate. There is a reason for that and we don’t want you struggling over guilt or worry or how your actions will affect us. We want you focused on the task. We will be here in whatever capacity you need, friend, brother…”
“Sister,” Mel added and put her hand on my shoulder.
“Mutha,” Tara added with a crooked grin.
“Confidante and trusted perspective,” Donnie added.
“Debonair and dashing dance partner,” Dirk spoke up. I giggled at him as he spun around and struck a pose.
“Lover, partner, eternal soul mate,” Corey whispered last. “We are going to surround you and uphold you as you dangle into the hearts of the Inner Circle.”
I gazed around this precious circle of family and the skills each one brought to the quest. I couldn’t imagine a better group of people to be chosen to do this job. Maybe Mama Ty knew this all along. My new family stood shoulder to shoulder, encircling me with their strength and promise. My heart swelled to enfold them. I couldn’t remember a time I ever felt so loved, so connected, so held.
The End
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The Torn, Book One of the Holding Kate Series Page 26
