Overhead
Drew
As I wake up, I stretch. I’m with Sara on this. I like the cuddle puddle because it means I get to wake up next to Sara every morning. Sure, there are three other guys here, but they’re just a part of the package that is Sara.
“Reservation is at nine.” I slide my hand over the curve of Sara’s ass and she groans.
“Who has brunch at nine o’clock in the morning?”
“People who decide to make reservations the day before.” I lean over and kiss her cheek before sliding off the bed. I’m using this bathroom today. Someone else can fuck off to the guest bathroom like I’ve done every morning this week.
The shower is started and I finish taking a piss before Sara wanders in, yawning. She smiles sweetly and gives me a little kiss before taking my hand and pulling me into the shower with her.
“What do you think?” I grab the bottle of soap and pour some into my hand as she wets her hair.
She cocks an eyebrow in question.
I jerk my head toward the bathroom. “Larger shower, definitely glass enclosure. Multiple heads. A giant soaker tub big enough for Dante and you.”
She steps toward me and I scrub her. “Mirrors?”
I smirk. “Of course, princess.”
For a second, we just wash each other.
“Is it weird living here?” she asks. Her gaze darting up to mine.
I glance around. This was my parents’ home, but my parents aren’t particular. “It’s not like this was built to my parents’ taste. Everything was designed by an interior designer. My parents hoped to have more children, but they only got me.”
I hold my smile even though it wants to slip. That’s not the total truth, but I’ve already decided to show her my secret tomorrow. I clear my throat. “Will you go with me somewhere tomorrow afternoon?”
She smiles and lathers my chest with soap. “Is it a secret?”
“More like a surprise.” I lean down and kiss her wet lips. “But a good surprise.”
She nods. “I’d love to go with you.”
Sara
It’s odd walking into a restaurant surrounded by my guys. It’s also awkward being out in public after hiding for so long. Being at the bar with the girls is different. It’s easy to ignore all the additional people.
But here, it’s like we’re on display. I don’t know what to think as Dante’s hand slips to my lower back to guide me through to our table.
Wyatt holds out my chair for me and sits on one side, while Drew sits on the other. With a wicked smile, Finn sits across from me next to Dante. It’s not a date, and from the outside, it might look like I’m just out with a bunch of guy friends.
This is a popular place for brunch, but most likely those people who want to be seen will be in around eleven. The place is still packed now. I glance around, hoping not to be ambushed by one of my mother’s friends. Or Dante’s uncle.
“How many more weeks is your internship?” Drew asks, setting the menu to the side and lifting his mimosa that was waiting for us at our table.
I glance at Dante. “Another two months. And then I have a year of school left before I graduate.”
And have to find my first real job, though Madison has already started talking to Deidre about getting me started at Cliodhna.
It’s not unusual to move in with a guy during college or even to find your life partner, but it feels like a reminder of how young I still am and what I still need to accomplish.
“We should turn one of the guest bedrooms into your study room.” Drew takes my hand on the table, lifts it, and brushes his lips across my knuckles. “Or maybe the office.”
“We need to work from home sometimes and I’m sure you do too,” Dante says. “Besides, she could work in our office.”
“Like anyone would get anything done with Sara studying in the same room.” Finn gives me a wink. I shake my head at him because he’s not wrong.
“When Tom and Natasha move out, we can convert the basement into workspace.” Drew looks off like he’s imagining it.
My chest squeezes with their every word. Things are moving so fast.
“I thought this house was temporary. What about your apartments?” I set my menu to the side and look at the guys. “I mean, Drew has an awesome apartment and you guys have lived in yours for years. They’re exactly how you want them. Close to work. You have all the space you need.”
It seems weird that they’re contorting themselves to fit into this house.
“But they don’t fit all of us, trouble.” Wyatt glances around like he wants to make sure we aren’t being overheard.
“If it were just you and one of us, yes, it would be easier to stay where we are, but that’s not what we all signed up for.
We’re in this for you. We can make this work for all of us.
Maybe not this house, but we’ll find something that works. ”
My chest tightens. Nothing about our relationship will ever be conventional. That’s exactly what my mom will say when she comes back. I can’t marry all of them. I can’t take all four of them to a formal event. I’ll always have to pick and choose
And while my mom would love any one of them to be my future husband, I don’t know how she’ll feel about all of them being my life partners.
“Hey,” Finn says softly, making me look up into his green eyes.
“Nothing has to be decided today or even tomorrow. We’re just all getting our footing back after what happened.
We’ll need to figure out how to navigate our lives with this as part of it, but it’s no different than if we each had a girlfriend.
” Finn’s smile is easy. “It’s just that we all have the same girlfriend. ”
My cheeks warm. At some point, Alexander won’t be an issue. The threat will be gone. My parents will come back and then we’ll deal with that. But society is a whole different ballgame. Being in society gives the guys access to other key players in a social setting.
But I’ve seen the way other women look at Madison. I wish I could ignore it, but at some point, they’ll look at me like that. Not that I haven’t been a social outcast before, but it’s not fun. It’s never easy and someone will always think they can take what I have.
The server stops at our table and everyone orders.
Before leaving, she stops and asks, “Separate checks?”
“Just one.” Drew smiles. “It was my idea for brunch.”
The server walks away. There are so many things to consider in a relationship with four guys.
Yes, they’re all rich and can maintain a household, but what about kids?
What about family functions? Whose house do we spend Christmas at?
How do we divide it equally among five families?
Will my guys ever be able to live with what Tom did? Will I?
I don’t want to think about this anymore. The future isn’t right now. We just need to deal with one problem at a time, and there’s one that’s more pressing than the others.
“What’s the plan since Alexander hasn’t reached out to us?” I sit back in my chair and look at the guys.
“We’re going to talk to Tom today and see what he might have to help encourage Alexander to step forward.” Wyatt rubs his jaw.
“By we, you mean...” This feels like something they aren’t going to include me in.
“Not you, pip.” Dante leans his elbows on the table. “We need to talk about some things besides Alexander with Tom, and we need to safely work out our aggression.”
I swallow, remembering the fights they’d have sometimes. With gloves. But the fights always ended with someone bleeding.
“So I’m going to be alone this afternoon?”
“You and Natasha need to stay in the house where my father’s men can watch over you.” Finn takes a drink of his water. “Don’t leave.”
I frown. “Can I have my friends over?”
“Always, princess.” Drew squeezes my hand.
I take my phone out and text the group chat that now includes Nan.
Me:
My guys are going to be gone this afternoon. Want to hang out at my place?
It feels weird calling it my place. In my mind, my place is the townhouse I grew up in. But maybe it won’t feel like home anymore after someone broke into it.
Madison:
Yes, I’m in
Hope:
Sounds fun
Kayla:
Nan and I have brunch reservations
We can cancel
Me:
No!
Go on your date
Nan:
*smiley-face emoji*
Kayla:
k
My insides bubble. Nan and Kayla are going on a date. Sure, she didn’t actually call it that, but she also didn’t deny it. I’m excited for them.
“All set?” Drew asks as I put in the address and send it to them.
“Yes.” Smiling, I look at the others. Even though it still feels like this could all end, I just want to enjoy this time with them. The future will be there when we get to it.
“Finny!” Olivia Clark’s voice almost silences the full diner.
“Fuck me.” Finn drops his head into his hands.
Olivia comes over and looks around at all of us. She focuses on Drew holding my hand and smiles. Her hands squeeze Finn’s shoulders. I want to growl at her to get off him, but that wouldn’t be polite.
“OMG, I haven’t seen you in weeks, Finny.” Her gaze continues to flick around the table.
Maybe she’s hoping we forgot about the whole fiasco of the fundraiser. That we didn’t just dump her at home. Is she really still trying to get Finn?
“Please take your hands off me.” Finn brushes her hand off his shoulder. “I’m in a relationship.”
“With who?” Olivia puts her hands on her hips. “I haven’t heard of you with anyone.”
“And you hear everything?” Finn cocks an eyebrow and gives her the look that would make most women turn tail and run, but not Olivia apparently.
“I hear most things.” Olivia glances around. “Like I know Tom is back in town and Peter Sokolov’s daughter is with him and Peter’s in federal custody.” She pouts. “You haven’t been returning my texts.”
“I blocked your number.” Finn squints up at her. “Maybe that should have been a clue.”
“That’s not a clue. That’s a challenge.” She gives him a sweet smile.
“You can pretend to have a girlfriend, but I know you, Finn Lawson. You’re a player.
A fuckboy. And no woman can hold on to you for long before you crave something else.
” She leans down with her lips near his ear.
“I’m available when you have a craving.”
She straightens and glances around the table. “A pleasure to see you gentlemen again. And Sara.”
She saunters off, looking back at Finn and motioning for him to call her.
Finn runs a hand through his hair. “Fuck. Flower, come over and sit on my lap so these women don’t think I’m prime meat for the taking.”
I laugh. “Maybe you shouldn’t have been as available as you made yourself.”
His past doesn’t hurt. What he did before was his business. He wasn’t doing it to hurt me. He didn’t even know I could be an option. Not like Wyatt, who was trying to put me off.
“If that’s the caliber of woman you sought out before, it’s no wonder you remained single.” I shake my head, remembering how whiny she was at the fundraiser. How she pawed at Finn for attention. If it weren’t for Verity being there, I would have been ready to slap some sense into Olivia.
“She’s not an issue.” Finn raises an eyebrow at me. “After all, I get to have you in my bed first this week. And I’m looking forward to the punishments Wyatt gives you for being the wonderful brat you are.”
He winks at me and Wyatt squeezes my thigh under the table. I don’t look at Wyatt, letting him stew in the need for my attention because I’m hoping there’s time when we get home for some of that punishment.