Chapter 27
***Memphis***
“They’re starting to circle like sharks.
You’re going to have to come out eventually.
” Bea stood with her hands on her hips in front of me and shook her head.
“They’ve asked me everything from if I thought you had the flu to if I thought you’d somehow contracted Havannah Syndrome.
I’ve never seen them hover before and I have to say, I don’t like it.
They’re like needy little boys. I have plenty of those at home.
I can’t even find them attractive anymore, Memphis. You’re killing my spank bank material.”
I gaped at her. “Did you really just say that?”
She grinned and shrugged. “What can I say? They’re sexy.”
I closed the book I was reading and stood up from the swing. “I’m not ready. I just need a few more days.”
“It’s been a week!” She threw her hands up. “They’re halfway convinced you’re dying.”
I chewed on my lip, unsure of what to do.
I knew it was crazy of me to think I could avoid them until I felt stronger, because I wasn’t ever going to be the kind of stronger I’d need to be to face them and walk away unscathed.
“Okay. I’ll come out and see them. I need to go to the pharmacy first, though. ”
“Whew. I’m so glad you said that because I already told them you were feeling better and would be coming out today.” Bea smiled sheepishly. “Sorry.”
I felt nerves bubbling to life and made my way inside. “You’re terrible. What if I couldn’t do it?”
“I would’ve dragged you out. You don’t understand, Memphis.
They’re driving me crazy. Every time I walk out of here, they’re on me.
It’s not in the sexy way I’d always imagined, either.
It’s terrible.” She followed behind me and even trailed me into the bathroom. “I’m so close to ending up on Snapped.”
I stared at my reflection and quickly brushed my teeth. I pulled my hair back from my face with a few clips and met Bea’s gaze in the mirror. “Why are they acting like that?”
“Obviously, they like you.” She grunted. “Or they like trying to nail you to the floor, through the bed. Whichever, they’re being nuts.”
I groaned. “You’re awful, you know that? Stop saying it like that.”
“Well, it sure as hell didn’t sound like they were making sweet, gentle love to you.” She shrugged. “I’m not judging. I’d pay to have my husband screw me like he hated me.”
I motioned for her to leave the bathroom. “You’re not helping!”
“I’m so helping! What did you need from the pharmacy?” She pulled open the medicine cabinet that I hadn’t bothered searching through. “If it’s not here, you may need an actual doctor.”
My eyes landed on the pregnancy test and I slowly reached out to touch the top of the package. “It’s been long enough that a test might show, right?”
She grabbed the test and pushed me towards the toilet. “Oh, my God. Yes, I think. I never used these things with my kids. I just got a nice surprise each time another one came. Sit down, sit down!”
I grunted as I stumbled. “Jeez! Can I get some privacy or are you going to watch me pee?”
“I’m freaking watching! Go on, it’s nothing I haven’t seen before.” She ripped open the plastic around the test and handed it to me once I was seated on the toilet. “Okay, pee!”
I narrowed my eyes at her. “You’re kidding, right? I can’t just pee with you standing here. You’re so close!”
“Ugh, I’ll back up a little. I can’t leave, though. I’m too excited.” She bounced on her feet and kept right on staring at me. “Do you feel pregnant?”
I held the stick between my thighs and sighed. “I don’t know. What does it feel like? I’m not throwing up in the mornings, or anything like that. I just...I don’t know. I feel like it worked. The sex, I mean.”
She heard me start peeing and cheered. “Well, we’ll find out soon!”
A knock at the front door startled both of us and I dropped the test into the sink before wiping and jerking my pants up. I felt caught for some reason. “Who is it?”
Bea rolled her eyes. “I’ll give you three guesses. Go answer it!”
I shook my head, scared to face the men after not seeing them for a week. “I don’t think so. I think I’m sick again.”
“Come in!” Bea’s voice rang out through the house and I heard the front door open a second later.
“Memphis?” Boone’s voice rang out. “I’ve been sent to collect you. Okay, that’s a lie. I fought for the privilege, but you didn’t need to know that.”
Bea shoved me out of the bathroom and I stumbled into Boone’s sight. He stood at the door, not more than a foot inside. I let out a sigh at seeing him again. He was so handsome.
“Boone. Hi.” I took a step closer and twisted my fingers together. I felt like a fool for how I’d been acting, and worse, I felt immature.
“Hey. Are you feeling better?” The look in his eyes said he didn’t buy my bullshit, but he didn’t call me out and I appreciated that.
I took a step closer. “Yes, thank you.”
He grinned and crooked his finger at me. “Come here, beautiful.”
I rushed into his arms, thankful for his willingness to break the tension. I crashed into his chest harder than I’d meant to and wrapped my arms around his waist. “Hi.”
He reached down to cup my ass and lifted me into his arms. “Goodbye, Beatrix. You’re terrible at spying.”
I heard her laughter before the door shut behind us. Boone held me tight and walked towards the house.
“You can put me down. I’m too heavy for you to carry me. Also, where are you taking me? I’m in pajamas.”
He grunted. “Who says you’re too heavy?”
“Me! You’re going to hurt yourself.” I leaned back to search his face and saw only happiness.
“Like you hurt yourself? No, wait, you were sick.” He raised his brows at me. “Sorry, I got mixed up with all of Beatrix’s excuses.”
I scratched my fingers into his beard and stared at his mouth. I was embarrassed, but I’d been trying my best to protect myself. Not that I could admit that, though. “What’s important is that I feel better now.”
He laughed. “You’re right. That’s what matters. Moving on from things you clearly aren’t ready to talk about, there’s a surprise waiting for you at the house. That’s where we’re going. And your pajamas are fine.”
“What kind of surprise?” I spotted Pete working in the flower beds on the left side of the walkway and waved. “Hey, Pete!”
Boone growled. “I could plant flowers if I wanted to.”
My face jerked back to face his and I frowned as I searched his tense expression. “Are you jealous of Pete?”
“If I were a jealous man, I’d be jealous that both of my brothers got alone time with you before you went MIA. And maybe I’d be jealous of the attention the gardener gets. But, thankfully, I’m not a jealous man.” He lifted his mouth. “Now kiss me before I go back and rip Pete’s arms off.”
I cupped his face and leaned closer. “I spent a lot of time thinking about what our alone time would’ve been like. If that helps.”
He kissed me and held me tighter before pulling back and groaning. “The surprise is waiting. I hate it right now. Just so you know.”
I went back to scratching his beard but froze when I saw what waited inside the normally bare dining room. “Oh, no.”