Chapter 674

"Ooookay,” Ben says, his own voice low and sad. A moment later I feel his arms around my shoulders, feel him pull me into his lap and tilt me back so that my head is against his chest, my head tucked beneath his chin. "Maybe...maybe enough of the tough love for now. She's not going to eat a single taco at this rate."

"I'm sorry," Tony murmurs, and I glance over to see his own head hanging.

But even if my throat is too thick right now to enunciate it, I'm not mad at him. I mean, he's just speaking the truth, isn't he?

Because as much as I hate it, every single piece of that was true.

"Jesse?" Ben murmurs, glancing over at him. "I think we need chocolate?"

"On it," Jesse murmurs, pushing himself up from his chair and heading over to the nook.

"Don't get my chocolate!" I call out, frowning to him. "Get yours!"

"Your chocolate is way better, Ari," Jesse says, turning to glare at me, his hands on his hips.

"It's supposed to be a present to make me feel better," I growl, pointing vehemently over at his dresser, where I know he has a stash.

Jesse sighs and goes over to his dresser as I close my eyes, resting my head back against Ben. He tightens his arms around me in a warm hug and I smile a little, even as I sniff. But I jump when a huge weight lands in my lap, gasping as I look down at Jesse's entire candy stash.

"You can have all of it if it'll make you feel better," he murmurs, peering down at me. "You're too cool to cry, Ari." His mouth twists, almost as if he'll start crying too to see me so sad with no obvious solutions.

“Jesse,” I croak, reaching out a hand for him.

But Jesse sniffs and turn hard towards the door. "Nah, you eat a bunch of sugar, I'm going to go...for a walk..."

"Jesse!" I gasp, sitting up straight in Ben's lap, appalled. Because Jesse has never just gone for a casual stroll in his life. He's way too lazy.

"What!?" he growls over his shoulder, defensive, as he strides for the door. "I'm definitely not going to go beat the crap out of Grant -"noveldrama

"Jesse!" I shout again. "Get your ass back over here - that is so not your -"

But the door clicks and then swings open and the four members of the Square of Secrecy all go silent as we stare at Rafe and Jacks, coming through the door.

They both immediately frown.

"What the hell is going on?" Rafe asks, pushing the door shut and turning towards us with a glare. "Why are you so quiet?"

Jackson's eyes immediately move to me curled up in Ben's lap with my cheeks streaked with tears, my lap full of candy. A growl bursts from him and he crosses the room in a few short strides.

Ben grimaces and immediately

unfolds his arms from around my shoulders, realizing he's in a potentially dangerous situation, but Jackson ignores him, bending low and immediately snatching me up, my knees folded over one of his arms as the other supports my back. Candy flies all over the floor, making Jesse gasp.

"What's wrong?" Jackson growls down into my face, all murdery and sweet.

I can't help but smile, lifting a hand to his cheek. "Don't worry, I'm okay."

"You're crying," he snarls, vicious.

“And...” he looks down at the table at

my still full plate. "You didn't eat anything." He whips his head to

glare at the Ben and Tony. "I told you to make sure she ate!"

"Yeah, we did a shit job at that, didn't we," Tony murmurs, still lounging in Rafe's chair, his mouth twisted in disappointment. To his credit, he shows absolutely no fear of Jackson's foul mood.

"It's okay," I say again, laughing a little and patting Jackson's cheek before I wrap my arms around his neck, wanting him closer. My mate calms slightly, exhaling a long breath as he holds me close promise I'm okay. Just...a lot

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emotions, all right?" Content belongs

"I hate that you're being vague," he growls, slowly rubbing a comforting hand up and down my back. "You'd better tell me everything."

I nod, agreeing to it. "Tony used to be a busboy," I whisper in his ear.

Jackson pulls back to frown at me and then turns his confusion on Tony, who just sighs and lifts a shoulder, not bothering to deny it. "Secret's out." Jackson turns back to me. "Why are you crying about that?"

I laugh a little, unable to help it, but before I can explain Rafe is at Jackson's side, peering at me. "Are you seriously all right?" he asks.

"Yes, Rafe, I'm fine just...girl stuff." I sigh, then try to look over my shoulder. "Don't let Jesse leave," I say. "He wants to go on a nefarious mission which has not been approved."