Chapter 36
***Ada***
That weekend went by slowly. Kendall was at her mom’s but the boys were cooped up inside because of stormy weather. They somehow managed to be bored and bratty despite having a massive mansion to play in. I saw the guys during meals but I kept away from them for the rest of the time.
I’d been deep in thought about what Collin told me about Joe’s ex-wife.
She’d cheated on him and when I’d heard that, I wanted to rip her hair out.
I hadn’t been able to sleep that night, though, because I worried about how I’d slept with his brothers and if he thought I was just like his wife.
It shouldn’t have mattered to me, but it did.
I felt guilty for continuing a line of shitty behavior.
That was why I made my way to his office on Sunday night after putting Milo down. I’d already changed into my pajamas and scrubbed my face but I didn’t think I’d be able to rest until I talked to Joe. I knocked on the door quietly, unsure of myself once I was that close.
Joe opened the door and looked surprised to see me. “Ada.”
I squeezed past him and hurried over to stand by his desk.
I needed to keep my distance and spit out what I needed to say.
“Collin told me about what your ex-wife did to you. At first, I kept thinking about what an idiot she was and I kind of wanted to cut her hair off or something equally horrible. Then, I started thinking about it more and I don’t think I’m any better than she was.
I know we’re not married and we aren’t even in a relationship but I slept with you and then I slept with Jud.
I’m so sorry, Joe. This whole summer has been crazy and I don’t really know what’s going on but that’s no excuse.
If I hurt you, I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t apologize. ”
Joe stood with his hands on his waist, just watching me with a blank expression on his face. He looked tired and I knew he’d been working hard all day long. I wanted to smooth out his shirt and maybe feed him some cake, or something.
“I’m sure you must have your ideas about me and what kind of person I am, but I’d only slept with three men before coming here.
I don’t normally find a family of hot brothers and go through them like bad Taco Bell.
I’m not sure what’s happening here, in this house, but it was out of character for me to sleep with you and then sleep with someone else.
I just want you to know that your ex-wife was wrong.
I was wrong. But there are so many women out there who would never dream of cheating on you.
” I motioned towards him. “I mean...look at you. You’re beautiful, you’ve got muscles big enough to crush someone, and you’re pretty good at the other stuff that I’m not going to talk about.
Sure, your work ethic sucks for anyone around and you’re kind of a giant grump, but you’re a catch. ”
Joe blinked and slowly shook his head. “Ada?”
I chewed on my lip nervously. “Yeah?”
“Can you do me a favor?”
I nodded and twisted my fingers together. “You want me to go?”
He laughed and the sound carried straight down to my core. “I want you to stop talking.”
I opened and closed my mouth a few times and then sighed. “I can do that.”
“First of all, you’re nothing like my ex-wife.
She was not a very nice person and I knew that going into the marriage.
Second of all, you did nothing wrong. We never made a commitment to each other.
” He took a step closer. “You didn’t hurt me.
You’ve made me crazy and made me want to leave my own house, but you never hurt me. Are we clear?”
I nodded jerkily as I watched him come another step closer. “Okay.”
“That line about Taco Bell was disgusting. I’m going to request that you never say that again.” Another step. “You showed your cards, Ada. You like me. No matter how much I drive you crazy and make you furious, you like me.”
I gasped. “No, I don’t. Why would you even say something like that?”
He grinned even wider. “You think I’m beautiful.”
“And? I also think Mount Everest is beautiful but I don’t want to climb it.”
“You think I’ve got muscles big enough to crush someone.”
I ground my teeth together. “So what? Muscles are overrated.”
He was within reach. “You think I’m pretty good at fucking.”
“I didn’t say that!” I heard how loud I was and took a deep breath. “I didn’t say that.”
He crossed his arms and raised his eyebrows. “You like me. Just admit it.”
“What are we? Twelve?” I turned away from him and huffed. “I don’t like you.”
“You can deny it all you want, Ada. You exposed your soft underbelly and I want to sink my teeth into it.”
I turned back to face him and made a disgusted face. “If I can’t say the Taco Bell thing, you can’t say that. That was weird. And creepy.”
He shrugged. “I’ve been called worse. By you.”
“I know! I came down here to apologize and you’ve made me insult you even more.
Be better, Joe.” I saw his door open behind him and we both turned as Collin and Jud walked in.
I immediately started scooting around the parameter of the room to make my escape but Jud shut the door behind him and leaned against it. “Shoot.”
“Joe was trying to make a move, wasn’t he?” Collin smirked and shook his head. “You’re too easy to read, Joe.”
“He wasn’t. I mean, he did say something creepy about biting my underbelly but we talked about it and I think he got it.” I tried to cover a laugh with a cough. “I just came down here to tell Joe to stop breathing so heavily into my intercom speaker. It’s hard to sleep.”
Joe scoffed. “You brat.”
I smiled sweetly and inched towards the door. “I’m just going to leave you boys to it. I’ve got a big day tomorrow. Lots of eating, swimming, reading books. I need my rest.”
Jud caught my hand and gently pulled me into his chest. “We should talk about this.”
“About my eating, swimming, and reading? Why? Is that not why you’re paying me?
Oh, darn.” I slipped out of his hold and was able to get the door open a few inches.
My first leg and arm fit through but my ass and boobs wouldn’t fit.
I hung my head, bumping it on the door, and sighed.
“Can you all just look away from this trainwreck?”
Jud laughed and opened the door wider. “You can’t run forever, sweet girl.”
They had no idea. If it meant avoiding what I was terrified would be a painfully awkward situation, I could and would run forever.