A Little Harmless Fantasy(99)

“Shut the fuck up,” Rory said.

“See.”

Hope sprung but then the last week came back to her. His distance, and the way he pretended that she didn’t matter. And tears welled up again.

“Shit, okay. Stop that,” Rory ordered, yelling this time. She had never been the kind of girl who cried, but this time, she could not stop herself. They spilled over, streaming over her cheeks.

Rory grabbed her by the arms and opened his mouth to yell at her, but in the next instant, he fell onto the sand in front of her. He pulled her against him, laying his head on her stomach. She looked at Zeke who was grinning at her.

“I love you, Maura,” Zeke said. “Please, love, I’m so sorry we doubted you.”

Her heart melted but she tried to ignore it. They were only doing this to get her back. She didn’t want them to say things to get her back. She wanted them to actually believe in her. Words meant nothing if they truly didn’t believe in what they were saying.

Zeke shook his head. “I can see those wheels turning in your head, love. We made some mistakes but you have to know that we both really love you.”

She looked down at Rory who then looked up at her. “I love you. Please, take us back. We aren’t anything if you aren’t with us, love.”

A fresh set of tears welled up.

“Oh, Rory,” was all she could say.

“We should have believed you. We should have stood behind you,” Zeke said, his smile fading. “We love you and we should have been there for you. We failed.”

He grabbed a bag from Zeke and pulled out a leather collar.

“I’m not saying this just to get you back. I bought this when we went to Rough ‘n Ready.”

She looked at it and at the word. Ours. It was before she told Rory she loved him…before everything went bad.

Maura looked at him, then at Zeke.

“We were complete and utter asses,” Rory said.

“Speak for yourself,” Zeke muttered.

“No, we were. Both of us wanted forever with you but we didn’t have the nerve to deal with it. And I know Zeke waited for me to agree, but then he never asked.”

“Oh, I see, this is my fault.” Rory stood up but he kept his arm around her waist and pulled her against him. “You always blame shit on me. I think maybe you should have said something about all of us moving in together, but you didn’t.

Zeke threw his hands up in the air. “You would have freaked.”

It was so normal listening to them bicker.

“There you go again making grand plans and expecting us to skip along behind you.”

She giggled. They both stopped and looked at her.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t believe you flew all this way to convince me to take you back just to stand on the beach and bicker.”

Zeke’s mouth curved. “Sorry, love, but Rory and I like to bicker.”

“Way to sell the whole living together. Are you saying I’ll have to play referee?”

They glanced at each other.

“Oh, God, I will.” She sighed dramatically.

“Love, if you take us back we will never bicker,” Rory said.

She laughed. “Really? Starting off forever with a lie, Rory?”

He stepped back and took her by the shoulders. “Are you saying you’re taking us on?”

She nodded. “Yeah, I think you need to be saved from each other. With your knowledge of weapons, one of you will end up dead at some point.”

He smiled as he pulled her closer. A soft brush of Rory’s mouth had her heart tumbling. She sensed Zeke walking up behind her. She turned and accepted a kiss from him.

“People will think we’re freaks,” Zeke said.

“I told you before, Zeke, fuck them. All that matters is us.”

Zeke looked up at Jillian and Conner’s house.

“Don’t worry about him. He’ll come around. And if he doesn’t, don’t worry about it.

“He’s your brother,” Zeke said.

“And you two are the loves of my life. He has to accept it.”

Rory kissed her again, pulling her close as Zeke stepped up behind her.

“So,” she said with a smile, “tell me you came with a plan of where we’re staying, ‘cause there’s no way I’m going to deal with my brother in that little house.”

“Not really, but I’m sure we can find a room for the night, Maura,” Rory said.

“All we cared about was getting here and getting you back,” Zeke said.

“Well, I suggest you figure it out soon.” She slipped out of Rory’s arms. “Because one of you is going to have to get me to wear this.” She shook the collar at them.

Rory grabbed her and pulled her back into his arms. “So, is that a challenge, Dillon?”