Cherished

Bonus Chapter 1

"Have you been avoiding us?" Graham asked, taking a seat next to Eva who was sitting outside.

"Not on purpose," she said, looking up from the notebook she was writing in. He soaked her in. His gaze was warm and loving.

"What's the matter, honey?" he asked. He reached around, dragging her chair closer to his.

"I can't tell you," she whispered.

"You can't?" His lips quirked up as he brushed the hair away from her face. "Are you sure?"

"I have to tell all of you," she clarified.

Graham nodded, standing up. "Okay. Pierce and Miles are upstairs."

"Wait," she said, just before he stepped inside. She handed him her notebook. "Will you just read this out loud with them for me?"

"Of course," Graham said. He held out her hand and she clasped onto it, following him inside the house. "You don't have to be scared to talk to us."

"I'm not scared," she said. "I just didn't have the right words."

Miles stood up from the couch, coming over to her.

"We've missed you so much," he said, pressing kisses all over her face. "I haven't even seen you all day."

Eva laughed, wrapping her arms around him. "I was busy."

"Busy doing what?" Pierce asked.

Eva looked at Graham who seemed to understand.

"She said she has something she wants to say," Graham said, herding them all to the couch.

He opened her notebook, surprised by the words written in front of him.

"I love you," he read, looking up at her.

She blushed, tucking into Miles who she was still wrapped around.

"I do," she confirmed.

"I love you too," Graham said. "Just as I love Miles and Pierce."

"And we love you too," Pierce said.

"Love you lots," Miles confirmed, nuzzling her cheek. He pressed his lips to hers.

"Such a sweet girl," Graham said, so soft and gentle. "I wasn't sure what to expect when you asked me to read this to them."

"I've been wanting to say it for a while, but it was hard," she admitted.

Graham leaned over Miles to give her a kiss.

Miles took the notebook from him.

"Just the three words?" he teased. "Is that what took you all day?"

She laughed and squirmed as his fingers tickled beneath her arms.

"I wanted to add more things, make it all nice like poetry, but I can't write," she said, adding a dramatic sigh.

"Ignore him. It was perfect," Pierce said, bringing her head down so their lips met.