Shackled (The Lord Series) by Carlos
308. Olivia - Nail polish III

It doesn't take long for the guys to build up a fire and prepare some snacks while I take a long shower, do my hair, and put on a pair of jeans, a sweater, and my new boots. My toes are finally healed due to my darkness, so wearing shoes is no longer a problem.

After I take a few bottles of nail polish with me, I go outside.

It's the last week of January and the weather is slowly starting to warm up. It's been years since I was eager for something and right now I find myself looking forward to see the farm during spring.

The guys are gathered around the fire drinking and talking, including Rin and Steven. I hesitate before I go to them since I don't know what to expect, especially from Rueben. He's always in a foul mode.

Tyson takes his beer bottle to his mouth takes a sip before saying, "We will move the pasture. I don't want the horses to-" He stops midsentence when he sees me. "It's been a long time since I saw you with braided hair. You look beautiful." I run my hand along my braid. "Thank you." There are no empty chairs, so I say, "If you don't want me here, I can go."

"Actually, I hoped you would sit in my lap," five voices say at the same time. Rin and Steven don't say a word as they roast marshmallows over the fire.

I shift my weight from one leg to the other. "I wanted to sit in my chair."

When Mose gets up and says, "Sit," it doesn't surprise me. The others mutter under their breaths.

I try to smile, but it probably turns out to be a grimace, and go to Mose. Before I get to say thank you," he lifts me up and sits back on the chair with me on his lap. "I can't believe you tricked me!" He flashes me a grin before kissing me. The others mutter, "That's not fair," and I'm pretty sure Mose is flipping them the bird, but I can't tell since my eyes are closed. Kissing with your eyes open is just... weird. I push at his chest and say against his lips, "I'm going to paint your nails bright pink." He shrugs like he doesn't care before kissing me again.

"You all paint your nails?" Rin asks.

I tear my lips away from Mose just as Rueben says, "Olivia wasn't feeling well so we decided to let her paint our nails to cheer her up."

Rin and Steven stare at each other before bursting out laughing. Ansel, Jasper, and Mose don't give a shit, while Tyson and Rueben look somewhat embarrassed.

"Simps," Steven snickers.

Ansel, who is sitting next to Mose and me, puts his hand on my thigh. "If letting Olivia paint my nails makes her happy, then so be it."

Rin and Steven keep laughing while repeating simps.

I take out one of the bottles of nail polish and open it. "Black," I say and start applying it to Ansel's fingernails.

"You will understand when you are in love," Tyson chimes in.

Rin stops laughing. "I don't believe in love."

Without thinking, I say, "Too bad. Levi was a hopeless romantic." I stop breathing while I wait for everyone to lash out at me.

After a few seconds of silence in which I swear I hear crickets, Rin says, "Levi refused to let women get close to him. He never said why but it isn't hard to figure out that someone broke his heart." "They are together now."

I try not to gasp at Rueben's words, but I probably fail as I hear myself inhale deeply. Rueben hated Levi. Why would he think Camila and Levi are together in the next life? Although the thought of Camila finally realizing what a great guy Levi is and them being happy together warms my heart.

Before this gets awkward, Tyson changes the subject. "We will rebuild the guest house in the spring after we move the pasture." He grabs a stick for a small pile next to the pit fire and puts a marshmallow in one end. "I have plans to start an orchard as well." My body tenses for a moment. "Only cherry trees."

From here, the guys start speaking about materials for the guest house and other things they want to do while I paint the nails of Ansel, Mose, Jasper, and Tyson. I stop from time to time to eat marshmallows or to drink some non-alcoholic beverage. Given my history of addiction, I am not allowed to have anything that might make me relapse. Since the last time I got high, I didn't feel the need to consume more drugs. I am not a big fan of alcohol either, so when Tyson makes a mocktail for me, I drink it quickly and ask for more.

Tyson chuckle. "You can have one more." He takes a glance at his watch. "We have to leave in thirty minutes."

Jasper and Mose, who now have neon green nails, are painting mine, each nail a different color. They don't take long to dry.

"What about me?" Rueben huffs when Ansel puts out the fire, and the others start cleaning up.

I blink. "I thought you wanted to stick your fingers in the fire before I painted your nails."

He huffs and puffs. "A kiss might change my mind."

The temptation of having my butterflies strangle him is big. While I don't want to kiss Rueben, I want to see him with pink nails. "Deal," I say. "But I have a condition as well. I want to come to the Blood Lodge." **I'll have a small update tomorrow**