Page 45 of Talk About… Dramay

But if she gave me this chance, let me talk to her, I had every intention of giving her everything I had. Heart, soul, and anything else she wanted.

Though, she’d always had my heart, I just didn’t know how to handle that at the time.

In the end, I’d done exactly what I feared. She didn’t leave me like they did. I shoved her away and lost her all the same. What a fucking idiot. If only I could go back in time and stop myself before making the worst mistake of my life. I’d force past Cameron to open his eyes and see the way she kept us all going and took care of us during our darkest time.

As I drove myself back home, all I could think about was how she would react. Would my Oriana still be in there somewhere?What all had changed? Did she even still like the color green or had that changed, too?

I wanted to know everything about her, everything I had no right to truly know but I hoped she’d take pity on me all the same.

Oriana deserved the world and I wanted to be there to give it to her.

Packed up or not, she was and always would be, mine.

Oriana

My footsteps faltered as I reached the front door. A familiar tupperware set was sitting there with an envelope bursting at the seams.

“What the hell?” I breathed out as I crouched down, collecting them.

“You okay?” Hudson asked, moving in closer to see what I was looking at. “Someone left you something?”

“Yeah,” I said, opening the corner of the container then groaning. “Oh my god, it’s Mama Whitaker’s snack mix. She used to make this for me like once a week. Every movie night, holidays, you name it.”

Ignoring the letter for now I reach in and grab a handful, shoving it in my mouth and groaning in appreciation. It was just the right mix of salty and savory.

“Here, try,” I demanded, holding it out and narrowing my eyes until all three took a handful.

“Shit, this is good,” Roman groaned, Lane and Hudson nodding along with him, mouths too full to answer.

“Right?” I grinned, genuinely happy they liked it like I did. Something about that had warmth spreading through me.

“What was the paper?” Lane asked, curious.

“Probably something from Mama Whitaker. She’s checked in from time to time,” I admitted. “I couldn't find it in me to shut her and Avery out. They were family, too.”

Lane and Roman both moved, flanking me like they’d done it for years. The comforting waves of Roman’s scent and their combined presence chased away what could have been another awful trip down memory lane.

“Come on,” Hudson said, taking the keys from my hand and letting us inside.

“I’m going to run upstairs and change. I still have flour in my hair,” I said, still feeling warm and happy from the evening and the surprise on my porch.

Lane followed me upstairs, stepping into his room after one last look. The way he watched me had my body lighting up.

Yet, I still couldn't scent him.

But he told me he stopped his blockers. That had my heart pounding excitedly. Would we be mates? Did he care if we weren’t? Chosen mates happened all the time.

As the warm water sprayed down on me all I could think about were Roman, Hudson, and Lane. Surrounding me, touching me, letting me touch and taste them.

Fuck, I was in trouble.

“Stormy? Can I come in?” Roman called out. His voice was hoarse and I knew he could scent me.

That would be embarrassing if I wasn’t so grateful he was in here.

“Yes!” I called out.

He closed the main door behind himself before he was peeking into the bathroom, biting his plump lip.