Chapter 9 #2
Heat crawls up my neck like a rash. “It’s not like that. They’re being nice because I don’t have anywhere else to go.”
“Uh huh.” Callie sets down the pillow, eyes narrowing. “And how exactly are they being nice?”
I take a large gulp of my drink, stalling while my best friends stare at me expectantly. Crap. I’m not getting out of this without telling them something. “They cooked for me. Made sure I had non-dairy coffee creamer. Normal host stuff.”
“They cooked for you?” Aspen’s voice rises in excitement. “Like, all three of them? Together?”
“Yeah. They made dinner. A few times actually.”
“Holy shit.” Callie straightens, gaze laser focused on me. “Was the food dairy-free too?”
Why does that question feel like a trap? “Uh, yeah.”
Both of my friends shriek so loud I’m surprised the neighbors don’t call the cops.
“Lily!” Aspen practically bounces off the couch. “Those boys are courting you!”
“They are not courting me.” The word makes me laugh despite the embarrassment. “Who says courting anymore?” She watches way too much Bridgerton.
“Whatever you want to call it, they’re into you.”
“They’re not,” I protest with a hard shake of my head.
“They cooked for you?” Aspen asks.
“Yes.” Is she not listening?
“They got you non-dairy stuff specifically because of your intolerance?” Callie asks.
“Yes, but they were just being nice.”
“Uh-huh. Sure thing, cupcake. Tell me, how many times have you caught one of them checking you out?”
I avert my attention. “A few times,” I confess, face on fire now. In my head, I can deny the obvious, but god, when I say it all out loud? Hudson, Cole, and Gage like me.
“They totally like you.” Callie leans forward, face bright with mischief. “The question is, are you into them?”
My mouth opens and closes like a fish out of water. What am I supposed to say? That Cole looks at me like he wants to devour me? Or how Hudson’s dimples make my knees weak? Or that Gage’s quiet strength makes me feel safe in a way I’ve never experienced?
“They’re Matt’s friends,” I finally manage.
“So?” Both women say it simultaneously.
“So it’s complicated.”
“Bullshit.” Callie waves her hand dismissively. “Matt’s an asshole who treated you like garbage.”
“But what if it ruins their friendship?”
Aspen scoffs. “If they’re willing to risk their friendship with Matt to take care of you, then maybe the friendship wasn’t that solid to begin with.”
I chew on my bottom lip, remembering Cole’s words from days ago. Fuck Matt. The way he said it, so fierce and protective was the same way all three of them looked when I told them Matt kicked me out. Almost like they were my friends too.
“You should go for it,” Callie continues, refilling our glasses again. “Life’s too short to worry about what that dickwad thinks.”
“Which one are you most attracted to?” Aspen asks, curling up like she’s settling in for a good story.
Heat explodes across my face again. “I can’t pick one. That’s the problem.”
The silence that follows is deafening. Then both my friends start smiling again.
“Oh my GOD!” Callie squeals.
“All three?” Aspen asks with a gasp.
“You dirty little minx!” Callie says, waving her hands in front of her eyes as she pretends to cry. “Mommy is so proud.”
I bury my face in my hands, mortified. “This is why I didn’t want to talk about it.”
“Are you kidding?” Callie reaches over and pulls my hands away from my face. “This is the best thing that’s happened to you in years. Those guys are gorgeous; they clearly care about you. They’re the exact opposite of Matt in every possible way.”
“It would serve him right,” Aspen adds with a vindictive grin. “Mr. I’m having people over this weekend so you need to get your stuff deserves to see you happy with three men who actually appreciate you.”
The reminder of Matt’s cruelty has my smile falling. Callie notices immediately.
“What happened?” she demands.
“He wouldn’t give me my furniture.” The words come out shaky with anger. “Said it was his stuff, and he had some woman there and made a big show of kissing her in front of me.” I’m not upset at the girl as much as I am the disrespect.
Both my friends make identical sounds of outrage.
“What a fucking prick,” Aspen snarls.
“I’m going to cut his dick off,” Callie declares, and I actually believe she’d try.
That makes me laugh despite the rage boiling inside of me. “It’s fine. I don’t want anything that reminds me of him anyway.”
“Still.” Callie moves closer, wrapping an arm around me. “He’s a piece of shit.”
“The worst,” Aspen agrees, settling on my other side.
We sit there for a moment. The tears I’ve been holding back all day finally spill over. Not for Matt—I’m done crying over him. But for Mom. For the conversations that will never happen again. For the woman who raised me slipping away piece by piece.
“I visited Mom today,” I whisper.
Instantly, my friends pull me closer, creating a protective circle around me.
“How was she?” Aspen asks gently.
“She thought I was getting ready for prom. Then she got upset, like really mad and wouldn’t calm down until the nurse came.” My voice cracks. “Sometimes she looks at me like I’m a stranger.”
Callie squeezes me. “Oh, Lily. I’m so sorry.”
“I know she can’t help it, but it’s so fucking hard. She’s disappearing. Some days it’s like I’m already mourning someone who’s still alive.”
Aspen rubs circles on my back. “That’s exactly what you’re doing, but it’s okay to grieve that.”
“I feel so alone sometimes,” I admit. “Like I’m drowning and no one can see me going under.”
“You’re not alone.” Callie’s voice is fierce. “You have us. You always have us.”
“Not to mention three sexy contractors who are falling all over themselves to take care of you,” Aspen adds with a gentle smile.
My chest warms with their comfort. “You two can never leave town without me again. I can’t handle crisis management without my best friends.”
“Never again,” Callie swears, holding up her pinky.
“Absolutely never.” Aspen links her pinky with Callie’s.
I join the promise, some of the weight lifting off my shoulders. They’re right. I’m not alone. Even when everything else is falling apart, I have these two women who would go to war for me.
And maybe, just maybe, I have three men who might feel the same way.