14. Hadley
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Hadley
As soon as we step onto the sidewalk, I inhale a lungful of the crisp mountain air. I can still hear the music from inside the bar, but it’s much quieter out here.
Turning around the side of the building, I follow behind Brooks and Conrad as they walk toward the truck.
Austin steps up beside me. “Did you have fun?”
The breeze sends a chill through me, and my arms band around myself as I look over at him.
“I really did. I haven’t just let go like that in a long time.” I only had a couple of drinks tonight, but I felt freer than I have, maybe ever.
“Me too,” Austin says, unbuttoning his flannel shirt. He slides it off, leaving him in just a white undershirt. What is he doing?
He moves behind me, holding the shirt up to my shoulders. “Arms,” he whispers in my ear, and I slide my arms into his shirt.
Instantly, I feel warm again, but not just from my arms being covered. His earthy scent surrounds me, making my heart feel cozy and safe.
He places a single kiss on my neck before moving back to my side as we continue walking to his truck. Conrad holds out his hand to Austin.
“Keys,” he says.
Austin exhales his annoyance, but hands them over. Brooks holds open the passenger door for me.
“Oh, no. I’ll sit in the back. I’m a lot smaller than you guys.”
“Okay,” he says, opening the other door. With incredible ease, he picks me up and sets me on the seat. “There.” He smiles at me. “Scooch over.”
I wiggle over to the side until my hip is pressed against Evelyn’s booster seat. Brooks immediately wraps his arm around me, pulling me back in his direction. He snakes his hand between us until he has hold of the seat belt.
Leaning over me, he clicks my seatbelt into place. His hand slowly retreats over my thighs, lingering for longer than necessary, but when he moves to buckle himself, I want his hands back on me.
Through the rearview mirror, Conrad sees that we’re both ready to go, and he pulls out onto the road.
The short drive back to my mom’s house is silent. I embrace the feeling of the man pressed in beside me as I lay my head on his shoulder, the comfort of Austin’s shirt protectively wrapped around me, and the connection in Conrad’s eyes that keep locking with mine in the mirror as he drives.
All too soon, the truck comes to a stop. To my surprise, all the men get out.
“Thanks for everything today,” I say, yawning.
Conrad grabs my hand, pulling me closer to him. “Thank you for making today special.” He wraps his arms around me for a few beats before letting me go.
I turn to Austin. “Sleep well tonight, angel.” His palms cover my cheeks as his fingers twine in my hair.
I thought maybe he slipped up earlier when he called me that, but that was not a mistake.
Why am I such a whore for the nicknames these men give me? They throw out a sweetheart, angel, or trouble, and I’m a puddle on the floor. If one of them calls me baby, I’ll probably cease to exist.
“You too,” I whisper. He stares into my eyes for another heavy beat before stepping back.
Brooks pulls me in against his chest, smacking a kiss to the top of my head. “Don’t have too many wet dreams about us,” he says, loud enough for the guys to hear.
That’s likely all I’m going to dream about tonight.
His lips move closer to my ear. He speaks so quietly, I can barely hear him. “I had more fun today than I have in years. It’s because you were with us.”
Oh, my poor heart. I’m tired. That’s why my eyes are getting watery.
Brooks steps back with the other two. “Good night, guys,” I say, walking toward the porch.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see a light on in Louise’s house, and a white puff of hair sticking out in the corner of a window. Lovely.
With one last look back at the guys, I move into the house. Knowing my mom went to bed hours ago, I quietly get ready for bed.
I slide Austin’s shirt off so I can remove my dress. I quickly put the flannel back on, deciding to wear only that over my panties to bed.
I slide beneath the sheets, resting my head on the pillow. My eyes stare unblinking at the ceiling as I try to process the day.
When we were exploring the festival earlier, it felt like we were a family. I guess the four of them are their own little family, but for those handful of hours, it felt like I was a part of it, too.
A part of my heart is already starting to fall for all three of these guys. I don’t think I’d be able to choose between them, and I really don’t want to.
I don’t know in what world I could possibly have all three of them, but in my heart, I know that’s what I want. How selfish would it be to ask that of them?
Conrad and Brooks seem like they might be on board with something like that, but Austin is resistant to letting anyone into his heart, let alone someone who would also be with the two men who are like brothers to him.
I get it. I really do. After everything he went through with his ex, I can’t fault him at all for being protective of his own heart and his daughter’s. If anything, it makes me even more attracted to the man.
There was a shift in him today after we talked at the park, but I don’t know if it’s enough.
I turn onto my side, snuggling into my pillow. Air huffs from my lungs as I contemplate all of the things I wish I could have, but know deep down I never will.
I bring the collar of the shirt up to my nose, inhaling Austin’s scent. I need to steal clothes from Brooks and Conrad, too.
For now, I soak in the peace the soft flannel brings me as I close my eyes and drift off to sleep.