Ever After Awaits

    bChapter /b94b: /bbLa /bbPOV /b

    :

    Their house is warm when we walk in, and everyone is jovial after winning their game. There’s also a smile on my lips that I can’t quite seem to get rid of–not that I would

    want to.

    We sprawl across the furniture like chaos personified as we wait for the pizzas to be delivered. Cade is passing around sodas and water bottles while Hunter pulls me to sit beside him on the couch. His arm wraps around my middle as he leans in and kisses me softly on the neck before he murmurs, “Hi, Beautiful.”

    Before I can answer him, the doorbell rings, and Cade and Xavier go to answer, which is most likely the arrival of the pizzas. Soon, pizza boxes that could feed a small army are stacked up on the coffee table, Xavier has taken a seat in the recliner, AJ has plopped himself down in a beanbag that’s miraculously appeared, and Cade finds himself on my

    other side.

    Cade insists we vote on the movie, but AJ ignores the vote entirely and presses y on something moody and violent, much to Cade’s chagrin.

    Hunter and Cade’s shoulders are steady against mine, as AJ lounges like a cat on the

    beanbag he has moved closer to my feet without me noticing. Xavier sits back in his

    chair, sipping his drink and pretending to watch the movie, but his eyes drift to me more

    than the screen.

    Halfway through, I lean over to the coffee table for a second slice of pepperoni and feel my phone in my back pocket, giving me an idea. Pulling it out with my other hand, I say, “Hey, what’s the Wi–Fi password again? I might as well save it–my phone’s confused whichwork it should connect to when I’m home.”

    “It’s ‘cadenowearsunderwear‘, no caps,” AJ says without looking away from the TV

    screen.

    “That is nder,” Cade mutters from next to me as he crosses his arms, causing me to giggle.

    The guys all chuckle at Cade’s response, but no one blinks or catches on to what I said

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    Chapter 94: La POV

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    as I type in the password on my phone. Men!

    Twenty minutester, I stand, needing to use the bathroom stat.

    Stepping over Cade’s stretched out legs, I head to the guest bathroom next to the kitchen, take care of business, and when I’m finished washing my hands, I crack the door open and lean my head out, asking casually in their direction, “Do we have any clean towels?”

    Hunter nces up quickly but returns his attention almost immediately to the movie, before answering nonchntly, “Yeah–top shelf in the hall closet.”

    “Cool,” I say, as I cross the hall towards the closed closet door, “Just checking. I wasn’t sure if I was still supposed to use the guest stash or if I’d been leveled up to the regr inventory.b” /b

    Again

    – no reaction.

    Afterwards, I head straight for the fridge to stock up on drinks. The boys yell out–drink orders mid–movie like we’re at a bar, and I roll my eyes.

    As I shut the fridge door, I call out, “Do I get a key to the fridge yet, or is that still under Xavier’s surveince?” referencing ament Cade made Sunday morning about Xavier being anal about the stock in the fridge and whoever notices, should let him know when there’s five items or less of anything in there.

    Xavier doesn’t look up as he answers, “You drink thest bottle of water or soda without telling me, and I’m locking it with a biometric scanner.”

    “That’s not a no,” I say, stepping over Cade’s feet to return to my couch seat.

    Hunter automatically takes the drinks from my hands as AJ tips his head back and smirks at me. Cade mimes fainting when I sit down again, dramatically clutching his heart at being served.

    Still, no one puts the pieces together.

    I settle back in, a conspiratory smile hinting at the corners of my mouth, and AJ pulls

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    Chapter 94: La POV

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    ? 073 b] /b

    my feet into hisp. Then there’s a pause in the movie–just a long, quiet scene with the music swelling–and Cade suddenly sits upright, saying, “Wait.”

    Everyone turns Cade’s way, with various degrees of curiosity.

    He blinks slowly, before asking slowly, “Wait. Did you just…did you—are you saying you’re imoving /iiin/i?i” /i

    My heart thumps once, loud and clear, as a brief moment of anticipation at their

    reaction surges through me.

    Xavier freezes from his spot across the coffee table, while Hunter shifts next to me, and

    AJ slowly lowers his drink as his one hand wraps around my ankle.

    I blink, but slowly nod as I say, “That took longer than I expected.”

    AJ is the first to react–a sudden, stupid grin blooms across his face as he beams up at ollime. /li/ol

    Cade lets out a whoop loud enough to wake the neighbors,unching himself at me like

    he’s been waiting all week to tackle something, or in my case, someone.

    I shriek as he grabs hold of me and we fall sideways, both of usnding in Hunter’sp.

    Xavier leans forward, his elbows resting on his knees as a faint smile softens his

    features, and Hunter wraps an arm around the top of my shoulders to stop me from tipping and falling to the ground. AJ then stands, turns the volume down, and throws a

    scatter cushion directly at Cade’s head.

    The moment is chaotic and filled withughter, and the warmth in the room is so great that it wraps itself around me.

    Hunter’s voice cuts through it all, not loud and not urgent, just entirely sure, as he says, “She’s not just moving in. She’s finallying home.”

    The room hushes at that, and my breath catches when his eyes are steady and emotion- filled when they meet mine.

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    Chapter 94: La POV

    b73 /b

    Two hourster, when I stand and stretchzily, Cade and Hunter are still arguing over whether Die Hard qualifies as a holiday movie.

    “I should head back,” I say, heading towards the front door to slip on my shoes. “Tessa

    said she’d help me pack up in the morning.”

    Four heads turn towards me, but there are no protests on their lips. Just a subtle shift in the air, like they all feel it—that this will be thest time I say goodbye to go somewhere

    else toy down my head for the night.

    AJ stands without a word and grabs his keys, while the other guys get up too.

    Hunter strides over to me and kisses my forehead sweetly as he murmurs, “Sleep tight,

    Beautiful.”

    Cade is next, but true to his theatrical nature, he wraps his arms around me, bends me backward, and kisses the air from my lungs before letting me go with a shit–eating grin, before saying, “See you tomorrow, Sunshine.”

    Xavier is thest one to step closer to me, slowly tucks a lock of hair behind my ear, and says, “Remember your key tomorrow, Princess,” before stepping away almost reluctantly,

    With a slight smirk, AJ opens the front door and wordlessly guides me outside to his car with his warm hand on my lower back.

    /

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    8:17 Sun, Sep 7

    Ever After Awaits