Chapter 33
***Ada***
The night before Kendall’s performance I spent with her because she was incredibly nervous.
I wasn’t sad to avoid the guys or my room.
I was so confused and thrown off by everything that had happened.
I didn’t know what the guys wanted or even what I wanted.
I just knew that I was freaking out. I’d slept with all three brothers without thinking about it for a moment and I was ashamed.
I was terrified, too. I’d found my mystery man but I felt like things were already so twisted.
I wasn’t even in their house for honest reasons.
They were still the guys who’d gotten me fired so easily.
They were still crappy a lot of the time.
But my heart raced when I was around them and my body reacted to each of them.
I felt like crying that night and ended up falling asleep on Kendall’s floor after talking her down for the sixth time. She’d forgotten to mention that she was in the play with Beck. She still hadn’t found out if Beck liked her so she was going crazy with her teenage hormones.
I drove Kendall to her camp that morning so she could get ready for the play and then I went back home and hid away with the boys until it was time to get ready for the play.
Kendall had been kind enough to tell me that the parents always dressed up for the plays, to make the kids feel like it was even more real.
I dressed Milo in the cutest suit I’d ever seen and made sure the twins were clean and knew what to put on.
Then I retreated to my room and stared at my closet.
I still hadn’t gotten the rest of my things from my parents.
They’d picked it up but had informed me that they were busy with a few parties so they couldn’t bring it to me yet.
I was fine with that, since my parents meeting people always left me feeling mortified but I’d only grabbed a few necessities the morning I’d left Camden.
I was mid-panic with Milo tugging at my shirt for me to hold him when Collin showed up in my doorway.
Seeing him in what had come to feel like my space made me flush and I immediately picked Milo up as a shield. He was in a tux and I looked him over appreciatively before realizing what I was doing. “Um... Hi.”
He pulled a garment bag from behind his back and smiled. “I remember the size of the bag you showed up with and didn’t figure you’d planned on needing an evening gown while here.”
I bit my lip as my romantic heart grew even larger. “You got me a dress?”
He cleared his throat and nodded, suddenly looking nervous. “Yeah. It’s just... I think it’ll be a good fit.”
I walked over to him and smiled. “Thank you.”
His cheeks darkened just slightly. “Here. I’ll take Milo while you change.”
I handed Milo off and pointed at him when he started to whine. “I have to get dressed, Milo. It’ll just be a minute. If you ask nicely, Uncle Collin might take you to see Daddy.”
From behind them, Jud’s voice cut in. “Daddy’s right here.”
I took the dress from Collin and backed into my room. “Okay, everybody, I’ll be out in just a minute.”
One look in the mirror and I saw just how red I was from dealing with the guys.
I applied a bit of makeup and tried to contain my hair in a partial updo before unzipping the garment bag.
I gasped at the black dress waiting on me inside.
It felt expensive. Thin straps held up the sweetheart neckline and it tucked in and hugged me down to my hips before it flared out around my feet.
It fit me perfectly and made my curves look stunning. It was even long enough. I twirled in the bathroom mirror and grinned at myself. I felt beautiful, more beautiful than I’d ever felt.
I couldn’t wear anything under the dress so I felt a little dirty going to a kids’ play, but I didn’t know what else to do.
I heard a knock on my door and rushed over to answer it, a giant smile engraved on my face.
I pulled it open and Collin’s mouth dropped open. Behind him, Jud looked just as stunned.
I flushed and did a quick turn. “This is amazing, Collin. I don’t know how you did it but it fits perfectly.”
He held a box out to me and blinked several times before meeting my eyes. “Wow.”
I waved him off as I opened the box and found a pair of shoes with red bottoms and impressive heels. My eyes went wide and I ran my finger along the heel. “These are too expensive, Collin. What if I trip and break a heel?”
Jud eased Collin out of the way and knelt in front of me. He’d cleaned up and looked stunning in an all black suit. He’d even style his hair. He took the box and held the shoe out for me. “If you break the heel, I’ll buy you more. Grab my shoulders, sweet girl.”
I did as he said and watched him as he helped me into the shoes. He looked up at me and his smile was so warm that I felt like the only person in the world. “Thank you.”
Milo looked up from where he was sitting and his eyes went wide. “Aya wow!”
That broke the spell, thankfully. Jud stood up and he stepped back so he and Collin could both look me over.
In the heels I was almost as tall as them and I kind of loved it.
I looked around my room and tried to think if there was anything I needed.
I might’ve also been distracting myself from the looks both brothers were giving me.
“We have everything you need, Ada.” Jud’s words hit me a little deeper than he meant them.
I nodded and saw that Alex and Avery were coming down the hall to us. They both looked adorable in their suits. “Oh, my god. Look at you two!”
They both blushed and looked away. Avery grunted. “Stop it, Ada.”
I laughed and fixed a few pieces of their hair that were out of place. “Never.”
Jud carried Milo and the twins ran along in front of us down the stairs. At the base of the stairs, Joe stood waiting. He looked painfully handsome in a tux with his hair slicked back and his face freshly shaven. His eyes landed on me and me alone as I made my way to him.
I smoothed my hands down my thighs and smiled. “The Carrington men clean up well.”
He took my hand and spun me around before whistling. “Looking at you tonight, no one would ever know what a pushy pain you can be.”
I laughed and looked back at Jud and Collin. “Enough compliments. I want to get there early so we can get good seats. I don’t want to miss a moment of Kenny’s performance. Oh! That reminds me.”
I nearly broke my neck rushing to the fridge and I heard the guys gasp when I did it but I straightened myself out and kept going. I came back holding one of the bouquets of flowers I’d picked earlier. The guys stared at the bouquet and winced.
“Don’t worry. I picked enough for all of us to give her one.” I handed the main one to Joe. “The biggest from Dad, of course.”
They all followed me as I went back to get the rest. The bouquets for Jud and Collin were smaller, but still beautiful.
Alex and Avery’s bouquets were small enough for them to carry without a problem and Milo’s was a single flower that I assumed probably wouldn’t make it in the same condition I handed it to him.
“Now, all the men in her life can give her flowers tonight.” I tried to kneel in the dress but realized I couldn’t so I picked Milo up instead. “Okay, Milo. This flower is for Kenny. Keep it safe for Kenny, okay?”
“Mi-wo flowa.”
I plucked a single flower from Jud’s bouquet and snapped it off so it was shorter and slid it into Milo’s pocket. “This is Milo’s flower. Okay?”
He shrugged but he wasn’t as focused on Kendall’s flower anymore so I considered it a win.
I glanced up and saw the guys all watching me and immediately felt self-conscious. “What? Did you guys already have bouquets? Do you not like them?”
Joe stepped forward and lightly ran his finger over my wrist. “It’s amazing. You think of everything, Ada. You don’t have one from you, though.”
I shrugged. “I know. I ran out of time. It’s okay, though. You guys are more important. Now let’s go! I’m so excited.”