28. Mina
Chapter twenty-eight
T ucker leads me a few steps from the door before he pulls me to a stop and steps in front of me, so we’re facing each other.
“Sugar, I know we have a lot to fix between us, and I’m ready to start building that bridge. Will you go on a date with me tonight?” His words sound confident, but I can see the worry on his face. Is he worried I’ll say no?
My eyebrows raise with surprise at his question, I didn’t expect that. I open my mouth to respond, but nothing comes out. I’ve been so mad at them, felt so betrayed, but how long could I hold that grudge? I gave myself a panic attack over that thought of living without them. I owe it to myself, and to them, to try.
So I take a deep breath, lift my chin, and reply, “yes, I will.” His smile is huge as he pulls me in for a hug, kissing the top of my head.
“I’ll pick you up right after school. Be ready to go at three-thirty. Wear something comfortable and warm enough to spend a few hours outside. See you later, Sugar.” He gives my head another kiss before he turns and heads towards the stairs. I watch him walk away, and the other three also leaving for school pass me with warm smiles as they all head downstairs.
A set of arms gently wrap around my shoulders as I’m hugged from behind .
“Is this okay, Mina?” Ben asks near my ear.
Am I okay with him touching me? I didn’t want him to stop, so I guess, once again, my heart was way ahead of my head in terms of forgiving and moving on.
“Yes,” I reply, my mind thinking about a million things at once.
“Why don’t the three of us do something relaxing today? We could watch some movies, or how about The Office ?”
“Yeah, I’d like that,” I tell him honestly. A low key day on the couch is just what I need.
“Are you sure I look okay?” I ask Ben, as he leans in my doorway, watching me stare at myself in the mirror.
“Princess, Tucker will love you in anything. Wear what you feel comfortable in.”
“It’s just… I’ve never been on a date before, I don’t want to mess it up.” I look up at him with worry and he smiles at me with an understanding look on his face. He steps towards me and takes my hand with both of his, kissing my fingertips.
“He’ll be honored to be your first date, and don’t worry, just be yourself, you won’t mess anything up. Just go with the mindset of having fun and getting to know each other. There are no expectations for you to act any certain way with him, or with any of us, you understand? You don’t want him to hold your hand, kiss you, hug you, then all you have to do is tell him that. ”
“Won’t he be disappointed if I don’t do those things?” I ask with a frown.
“It doesn’t matter. You don’t have to do things because of what anyone else expects or desires. It’s about what you want. He might be a little sad if you don’t want him to touch you, but he’s not going to treat you any differently, or stop trying to show you how much he cares. None of us are. Now I think I can hear their trucks pulling up, are you ready?” He steps back to let me check myself over in the mirror again.
Giving myself a final glance, I nod in approval. I’m wearing a pair of dark blue skinny jeans paired with brown boots that come up above my calf. They don’t have any heels, but they are surprisingly comfortable. On top, I’m wearing a loose fitting light green blouse covered with tiny pink and white flowers.
To complete the outfit, I found a cute cropped light washed denim jacket. Luckily, it’s not too cold today, so I should be good all evening in this outfit. I try to soothe my wavy hair down and decide it’s as good as it’s going to get.
I follow Ben out of my room and downstairs, just as the twins and Gideon come in the front door. I watch them all take off their shoes, and when Max looks up and sees me, he tosses his bag at Jasper’s chest, telling him, “hold this for me, would ya?”
Then, with a big grin on his face, he marches straight up to me and pulls me into a tight hug. “I missed you today, Sweetheart. Did you have a good day?”
“Yeah, we watched The Office all day.”
“You look beautiful, I can’t wait to see what you wear on our date,” he says as Jasper nudges him out of the way to claim his own hug from me .
“We’re going on a date?” I ask, wondering if I’d forgotten that.
“Actually, Angel,” Jasper says, stepping back and grabbing my hand as he continues. “We wanted to know if you’d go on a date with the two of us tomorrow night?” Max grabs my other hand and when I look at him, giving me a wink.
“Uh, sure, yeah, that sounds nice,” I say, thinking about being on a date with these two deliciously attractive twins.
Max huffs. “Nice? I hope by the end of the date you have a better word to describe it with.”
“Are you two done yet?” Gideon asks. Jasper steps aside as Gideon steps forward and gives me an awkward one armed side hug, making me frown at him as he walks away. I look up at Jasper in question, but he just shrugs.
My gaze turns to the front door and I realize Tucker’s not here. Did he change his mind? Or did he have to work late?
“Where—”
Ding dong.
My question is cut off by the sound of the door bell. I stand there, wondering who it could be, and when nobody moves, I look up and see all six of them staring at me with various levels of amusement on their faces.
“What? Did you want me to answer it? Atlas told me never to answer the door alone,” I tell them, crossing my arms over my chest in annoyance. Something was up, and they were all in on it.
“You’re not alone, though. Why don’t you go see who it is?” Dom asks, tilting his head towards the door with a raised eyebrow. I narrow my eyes at him before moving to the door .
I pull it open slowly, and my eyebrows jump up in surprise when I see Tucker standing there, looking delectable in his jeans, buttoned up green plaid shirt, jean jacket and matching tan cowboy boots and hat. He’s never worn those before…
To set off his look as the perfect date, he’s holding a bouquet of beautiful pink and purple flowers.
“Hello, Sugar. You look gorgeous, these are for you,” he says, holding the flowers out for me.
I take them carefully and smell them. They’re beautiful and smell even better. “Thank you, Tucker.” I give him a grateful smile right as a warm body presses against my back.
“I can take those and put them in water for you, Angel,” Jasper says, taking the bouquet for me.
“Thanks.”
“Be sure to have her home by curfew,” Max says playfully, wagging his finger at Tucker.
“Sure thing, Mina, are you ready?” Tucker asks, offering me his elbow.
I loop my arm through his and as he starts to lead me away, I whisper, “I have a curfew?” Making him laugh as we head for his truck.