Deep (Heavy Hearts Book 2) by Sarah Duncan (reading tree txt) 📕

fucked up that you were dragged into his bullshit.” Marcus drags his hand through his thick hair, “I hate admitting this, and I know you know why, but you and Ayden are good for each other. Ignore my bullshit. I’ll get over it.”

Wow. He is basically admitting to liking me more than a friend, without actually admitting it.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper this time, shuffling my feet anxiously where I stand beside the kitchen bench.

“What for?” Marcus asks, confusion drawing in his dark brows.

I shrug. “I don’t know. Maybe dragging all of you guys into my bullshit.”

“If you remember correctly, we didn’t give you much of a choice.” Marcus reminds me before he steps towards me and then stops himself.

“True.” I smile, and Marcus returns it with his own.

Ayden did the same thing, he didn’t really give me a choice. He was adamant that we would be friends, or more than friends. He was right. It was right… until it wasn’t.

I end up eating more than I thought I would. I know I’ve lost weight lately from my lack of appetite. It hasn’t been intentional; my appetite just kind of disappeared. Now, it seems to be back, a little.

The boys manage to get the doors back on upstairs after a lot of arguing and noise. Of course, Mike’s bedroom door is toast after I beat the shit out of it the other day, much like everything in his room. Maybe I should board it up, so I don’t have to see that there is even a room there.

By sunset, some of the boys go home, leaving Garrett and Simon, who are on tonight’s babysitting duty. I don’t know why I get two babysitters tonight, but I’m not complaining. I welcome the company. Being alone in this house isn’t good for me. When I’m alone here, my mind goes to dark places. Places so dark that it scares me.

Simon’s parents are still away apparently, and Garrett told his mum that he’s doing a joint assignment with Simon, so he was staying at his house to try and get it finished before school tomorrow. I feel bad that the boys are lying to their parents just to babysit me. I can’t let this go on for much longer. They will eventually get caught, and I can’t bear to be why they get grounded or something like that. Maybe I should talk to them about it tomorrow.

Coward Lexi! The right thing to do is send them home tonight!

Shut up, inner evil voice!!!

Simon is like an Eveready battery. He just doesn’t stop. He is full of energy and ideas of things to do. I could easily curl up on the couch and watch a movie with these two guys, but Simon isn’t having any of that. He insists we play poker.

It's fun despite having to constantly remind Simon that we’re playing regular poker, not strip poker. The idiot takes an item of clothing off each time he loses, and an hour into it, when he’s about to pull his jocks down, I stand and walk away laughing. I don’t want to see that! I leave Garrett to deal with Simon, exiting the room with tears, good tears this time, streaming down my face.

Leaving both of the boys to argue over things, I duck into my mum’s room to shower and get changed for bed. I have on my usual PJ shorts, but I can’t find my Metallica t-shirt, so I settle with my Three Days Grace t-shirt. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a good t-shirt, but my Metallica one is so worn that it’s thin and soft and feels weightless to sleep in. I really love it, so yeah, I’m kinda bummed that I can’t find it. I could have sworn I left it over the towel rack this morning.

“What’s this?” I ask when I walk down to the front living room and see the set-up Simon has made on the floor.

“Your bed awaits my Queen.” Simon does some sort of bow or curtsy and gestures to the bed of blankets and pillows.

I raise a brow in question, and Garrett stands from the couch glaring at Simon.

“Told you she wouldn’t want to sleep on the floor.”

“Nah, Lexi doesn’t care about sleeping on the floor, do ya, Lex?” Simon’s hazel eyes lock onto mine for confirmation.

“Where are you sleeping?” I ask, confused. Looking at the pile of blankets and pillows. It appears very much like we are all sleeping on the floor. Together.

“Oh, come on. It’ll be just like camping.” Simon approaches me, grabbing my hand and leads me to the pile of blankets.

“You want us all to sleep on the floor? Together?” I frown, confused and let him drag me down to the floor, to sit on top of the cushioned blankets.

“Yes.” Simon lays one of the blankets over my bare legs.

I’m a little stunned. I don’t move as I watch Simon practically skip across the room to turn off the light, leaving only the glow of the TV to fill the space. With a grin tugging at his thin lips, Simon moves back to our bed on the floor, sitting down next to me.

“You want me to sleep here, Lex?” Garrett asks, sitting next to me on the opposite side Simon takes. “If you’re uncomfortable with Simon’s suggestion, I can move.”

“Just to be clear, if either one of you touches me, I’ll rip your fucking balls off.”

Garrett chuckles and leans in to kiss my cheek, “Noted.”

Simon flicks his ash-blonde hair off his brow and throws his hand against his chest in horror, “As if I would ever do such a thing.”

“I’m serious, Simon,” I growl.

He laughs, settling down under the blankets, “I know, Lex. Relax. We’re just here to protect you and make you feel safe.”

I look from one side to the other at my two friends who have snuggled down under the blankets. I do trust these boys, so I slide down under the blanket and stare up at the roof. It should