Ina Reads’s Reviews > Trapped in Your Storm > Status Update

3.5 stars

Surprised by how much I liked this one. Nolan didn’t really impress me much in the earlier books, but he came into his own more here. I also wasn’t sure how the friends to lovers trope would work here (there was no hint of it earlier in the series) but it worked surprisingly well, maintaining my investment pretty much throughout.

Honestly did not think this one would end with a wedding scene, but sure.

“I want to go through life knowing Elliot Nicholson is one hundred percent mine. So will you marry me, Elliot?”
Elliot laughed. “You’re serious?”
“Don’t make me get down on one knee. This suit is really fucking tight.”
“Shit.” Elliot smiled. “I will. Fuck yes. I’ll marry you.”
“Good.” Nolan grabbed his face with gloved hands and kissed him.

“I’ll do it, Nolan. If you don’t come back I’ll smash all your coffee cups and dump shit out all over the kitchen floor. And I’ll cook and eat your cat. With messy onions in all the wrong sizes.”
“I will come back.”
“You better. You promised, remember? You’re gonna buy me a house on the mountain and I’ll let you romance me and I don’t care if we fight every fucking day. Just come back.

“If you don’t I’m gonna break into your house and mess up all your perfectly aligned toiletries.” Elliot shivered, his breath hitching. He tried to smile but his eyes were tight with anguish, and Nolan could see the emotion behind his struggle to be strong. “I’ll do it, Nolan. If you don’t come back I’ll smash all your coffee cups and dump shit out all over the kitchen floor.

“Come here!” he shouted. “Right now.”
“Don’t make me cry,” Elliot said as he took Nolan’s hand, stepping in close. “I have a reputation to uphold. JT and Christian can’t know I’m not really the cool one.”
Nolan tugged him closer and spoke in his ear.
“I’ll make it back. Okay?”
“If you don’t I’m gonna break into your house and mess up all your perfectly aligned toiletries.”

Nolan hadn’t just filled the dark places with light. Elliot wasn’t simply whole now, he was overflowing. The love he felt pulsed through him and spilled over him and sprayed out in blissful rays that lit up his entire world.

If Elliot were to lose Nolan now? There would be nothing left.

Crossing the friendship line with Nolan had filled in all the blanks in Elliot’s life. Provided the missing pieces he’d always known were there, the emptiness that creeped up on him even as he denied its existence. Nolan hadn’t just filled the dark places with light. Elliot wasn’t simply whole now, he was overflowing. The love he felt pulsed through him and spilled over him and sprayed out in blissful rays...

“Any time. Fond of you. Ellytot.”
“Thank you. That means a lot.”
“Not like Chrischris, fond.” Baz straightened and took a small step back. “Not like that. No to worry.”
“I get the difference, believe me.” Baz smiled. “Okay. No you to think Baz just want to kiss all humans.”

😂😂😂

“Some questions rude in all races, Ellytot.” Elliot laughed again. “Fair enough. You know something, Baz? Talking to you calms me down.”
“Not calm?”
“I’m scared.”
Baz touched Elliot’s shoulder. “Frighten?”
“Yeah. Real bad.”
“You to speak to me any time frighten.” Baz leaned over and looked into Elliot’s eyes. “Any time. Fond of you. Ellytot.”