WITSEC

Chapter 10

Chapter Ten

I had gone to the twins’ practice on Monday. I’d been impressed. They had been so fast, they’d soared through the water like torpedoes. I wanted to go to their practice today, but I had some errands to run, like grocery shopping. I was embracing my old love for cooking and there were a few recipes I’d seen on the Cooking Channel I wanted to try. I also needed stuff to make my lunches with. It wasn’t that I had anything against what they served at the cafeteria, but a lot of their food was deep-fried and, I dared say, terrible. Yes, I was a food snob. Cafeteria food grossed me out, which was why I had bought a prepackaged sandwich my first day of school. I also avoided fast food like the plague as well. I didn’t fault others who enjoyed fast food, like the twins, but I just couldn’t. To me fast food was too salty, made with cheap and fatty cuts of meat—if it was real meat at all—and it was too greasy.

Colt had been bummed that I wasn’t going to their practice. That had made me feel bad, which was how I had ended up promising to make him and his brothers the new lasagna recipe I was currently putting together. I shook my head, smiling at the memory, as I set down the last layer of pasta, ricotta mixture, and sauce.

I covered the lasagna with foil and put a sticky note on top with instructions to bake it at three hundred and fifty degrees for thirty minutes before eating. I also wrapped up some homemade garlic bread and Caesar salad. It was a complete dinner. Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out my phone.

Me

Are you home?

Colt

Pulling into the neighborhood.

After reading his reply, I scooped up their food and headed for the door. I was making my way down my driveway when the twins pulled up in Creed’s black F-150 Raptor.

“How was practice?” I asked as they climbed out of the truck. Both had wet hair from their showers after spending the past couple hours in our school’s giant pool. Colt took the food from my arms.

“Same old shit,” Creed grumbled as he slammed his truck’s door.

That didn’t sound good.

Colt sighed. “Ignore him.”

“Well, I hope you’re hungry. This is the biggest tray of lasagna I’ve ever made. I’m sorry to say I stereotyped you boys. I kind of assumed you four are bottomless pits and I got worried I wasn’t going to make enough.”

“Is that why you sent Colt home with two huge containers of baked goods?” Creed asked.

He was talking about the day Logan had left. “Uh, no. I just made a lot and begged Colt to take most of it home. I would have been upset if it all went to waste. I was having a bad day and kind of went overboard with the baking.”

Colt plastered on a smile. “It didn’t go to waste. Between the four of us it disappeared quick.” That was good to know. I’d had to throw most of my portion away. “Do you have plans for dinner?” Colt asked.

“I have my own small tray of lasagna in the fridge. I was just going to eat that and binge watch the Food Network.”

“Why don’t you eat with us?” Colt asked.

I looked to Creed. He didn’t seem put off by the idea.

“Um…okay,” I said, suddenly feeling nervous.

I followed them inside their house. Similar to my house, the front door opened to their living room. Theirs was almost twice as large as mine. They had a large leather sectional curved in front of the biggest flat-screen TV I’d ever seen mounted on the wall, which was surrounded by a giant entertainment center filled with gaming consoles, games, and movies. The whole setup screamed bachelor pad. Straight past the living room, there was the dining room and to the right of the dining room appeared to be the kitchen. There were hallways off of the left and right sides of the living room, giving me the impression that this house had a split floor plan.

I stuck close to Colt as he headed straight for the kitchen. On the way there, both guys tossed their backpacks on the dining table, which was already covered with clutter. Once inside the dining room, there was a direct view into a somewhat open kitchen. It was U-shaped with an island in the center. Their appliances were all black, the countertops were speckled tan granite, and the cabinets were espresso-colored wood.

Seeing my note on the top of the lasagna, Colt set the oven to three hundred and fifty degrees. Looking around, I was unsure what I should do. I’d never been to a guy’s house before. I’d also never had friends who were guys, either. It wasn’t like being over at a girl’s house, and even though the guys were just as much my friends as a girl would be, it still felt different. Plus, our friendship was still new. “Is there something I can do? I can help clear the table.”

Colt was leaning against the counter next to the oven while Creed was bent over the island, resting on his arms. Both were watching me as I internally freaked out. I was cursing my recluse lifestyle up until now. Mostly, I blamed Mr. X. It was my fear of him watching me and following me wherever I went that kept me home. When and if I had gone to the movies or walked around the mall with the few friends I’d had, I’d always gotten pictures of myself in the mail the next day with a disgusting letter telling me how beautiful I was and what he wanted to do to me.

“Are you nervous, Shiloh?” Colt asked.

I winced. “Yes.”

Colt and Creed shared a look.

I picked at the end of my sleeve, in an attempt to busy myself. Today, I had worn a maroon, long-sleeved V-neck and dark blue, ripped jeans. “If you give me something to do, I’ll feel better. Want me to set the table? Are your brothers eating with us?”

Colt walked over to me and put his hands on my shoulders. “Deep breath. There’s nothing to be nervous about.” He squeezed a little. His touch was calming. It was like his hands were sucking away my tension. “Besides, we don’t really eat at the table.” The oven beeped loudly, notifying us that it’d reached the set temp. Colt stepped away from me to put the lasagna in the oven.

“You guys don’t sit down at the table for family dinner?” I asked.

Creed was silent as he watched us.

Colt shook his head. “No, we’re a ‘grab a plate and eat in front of the TV’ type of family.”

What a shame. They didn’t know what they were missing. Then again, not everyone was the same. Everyone liked different things.

Creed pushed away from the island, scooped up their bags from the table, and disappeared down the hallway on the left side of the house.

“What time is your swim meet on Thursday?” I asked Colt.

“It starts at five. You’re still coming, right?”

“Yup. I lost that bet with Ethan and have to flaunt my team spirit, remember?”

A slow and downright naughty smirk took over his face. “Oh, yeah. You have to be our personal cheerleader.”

The way he looked should have been a sin. It made me feel like my stomach was full of anxious butterflies trying to fight their way out. I nodded. “I’m either going to embarrass the crap out of you guys or you’re all going to have a good laugh. Either way, I might end up scarred for life.”

Creed came back before Colt could say more and started clearing the clutter from the dining room table. He caught both Colt and me watching him. “You want to help me with this?” he asked Colt.

Appearing a little surprised, Colt began helping with clearing the table.

Creed then pointed at the cabinet next to the fridge. “There’s plates in that cabinet and silverware in the drawer just below if you want to grab what we need to set the table.”

I turned on my heel to do as he said, grateful to be put to work. It also allowed me to give him my back so I could hide my smile.

I assumed their brothers were going to join us and I collected five plates and five sets of silverware before carting it all over to the table. The three of us were setting the table when the front door opened.

“We’re home!” Keelan shouted as he removed his gym bag from his shoulder and tossed it on the couch. Knox walked through the door next while going through a stack of mail.

“Good. Dinner’s almost ready,” Colt announced.

Both Keelan’s and Knox’s heads whipped in our direction. Their gazes immediately landed on me. Keelan smiled charmingly while Knox schooled his face to look impassive. It reminded me of the way Creed regarded Cassy.

“Hey, Shiloh,” Keelan said and strutted into the dining room. He took in the set table before his eyes met Creed’s and I could see the question pass between them.

My attention shifted to Knox, who slowly walked over after setting the mail down on a small table they had near the front door. He hadn’t removed his eyes from me. I could tell he wasn’t happy that I was there.

Colt brought in the lasagna and set it down in the middle of the table. He noticed Knox staring and frowned. “Shiloh was nice enough to make us dinner. We’re going to all sit down at the table and eat like a family .” He put extra emphasis on the word family and his tone was firm.

Both Knox’s and Keelan’s brows rose, clearly surprised. Keelan was the quickest to recover. “That sounds like a great idea. It smells amazing, Shiloh.” He walked to the other side of the table and pulled out a chair.

Colt and Knox seemed to be caught in a stare-off. I looked at Creed, already forming an excuse to leave. He startled me a little by putting one hand on my shoulder and the other on my back. Pushing me forward gently, he steered me over to one side of the table, across from Keelan. He pulled out a chair and gestured for me to take a seat. I stiffly plopped my butt in the chair, while Creed sat in the seat next to me. I glanced over my shoulder at the two remaining brothers standing.

Knox sighed before walking over to the head of the table. “Thank you, Shiloh,” he said tightly as he sat. Colt took a seat at the other head of the table, to my left.

“You’re welcome. I hope it’s good. I was trying a new recipe,” I rambled. Everything was at the table—the salad, garlic bread, serving utensils. Creed was the first one to cut into the lasagna and to everyone’s surprise he put the first piece on my plate. “Thank you,” I mumbled. That seemed to break the ice of awkwardness and everyone started piling food onto their plates. Everyone’s first bites had me grinning happily. More than one of the guys murmured that yummy mmm sound.

“How was practice today?” Knox asked the twins.

“Coach was up our asses the entire time,” Creed answered. “It’s like the rest of the swim team doesn’t even exist.”

I glanced at Creed. He sounded really pissed off. I guessed that was what he’d meant earlier by same old shit .

“Coach Reed always was an asshole,” Keelan mumbled around his food.

“Are you guys coming to the meet Thursday?” Colt asked. Both Knox and Keelan nodded. “Good. Shiloh can sit with you.”

“I promised to sit with Ethan,” I said quickly. I didn’t want his brothers to feel obligated.

“Are you dating Ethan?” Knox asked me.

His question appeared to blindside everyone at the table, because Keelan and the twins gaped at him. Again, Keelan was the quickest to recover, smirking as if he was privy to something the rest of us were not.

I shook my head. “No. Ethan is my friend. My obnoxious, doesn’t-know-when-to-shut-up, womanizing friend.”

Colt and Creed snorted.

Keelan outright laughed. “That sounds like Ethan. I bet his ego is suffering with you around.”

Colt nodded. “You should have been there when they first met. She put him in his place before he could even introduce himself. Poor guy didn’t know what to do.”

“You’re a senior?” Knox changed the subject, his attention fully on me.

“Yes,” I answered.

“How old are you?”

“Eighteen.”

“The house next door is your uncle’s?”

Wow, this was feeling like an interrogation. Instead of feeling nervous, my hackles began to rise. What the heck was his problem? “No. I own it.”

“You’re still a child and still in high school,” he said harshly. “Why aren’t you living with your uncle or another adult? It’s not safe for someone as young as you to be on their own.”

“Knox, that’s none of your business,” Colt snapped. I really liked that he defended me, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t capable of taking care of myself.

Knox shifted his attention to Colt. “It is my business because you’re my business, especially if you’re going to be bringing her around here.”

I had often wondered why the four of them lived together and where their parents were. I hadn’t asked the twins because I was afraid they’d ask about mine. Listening to Knox, I either figured they were deadbeats or had passed away like mine.

I understood where Knox was coming from. It wasn’t easy to find that understanding under the cloud of my anger. If my sister were still alive, I had a feeling I’d be just as protective. Taking in a deep breath, I put a comforting hand on Colt’s arm. I might as well get this over with.

“My uncle is a U.S. Marshal, and his current assignment requires him to travel a lot. He took something like a sabbatical last year to take care of me after my parents and sister died. Now that I’m eighteen, it was time for him to return to work. I didn’t want to travel with him. I wanted to finish my last year of high school without interruptions. I don’t live with another relative because I don’t have anyone else. I chose to move to Arizona by closing my eyes and putting my finger on a map of the U.S. I wanted to move somewhere new because I wanted to start over and find a way to move on. I bought the house next door with my family’s life insurance money. My birthday is July twenty-seventh. I’ve been a straight A student all my life. My favorite food is popcorn. I hate the color pink. I’m currently trying to quit smoking. I haven’t had a cigarette in over a week. Only reason I picked up the disgusting habit was because my family had just died and drowning myself in alcohol and smoking seemed like better vices than drugs. I dyed my hair this strange color because my sister used to dye her hair wild colors all the time and it’s my own way of honoring her. Plus, whenever I look in the mirror, for just a minute, I forget that it’s me standing there.” I looked to Colt, then Creed, who were wide-eyed. “I used to be a twin,” I said, my voice just shy of a whisper.

I might have overwhelmed them with the information overload but once I’d gotten started, I hadn’t been able to stop. It had felt good to vent, yet at the same time it had made me feel sick to my stomach. The table had gone dead silent. I stood from my chair while staring at the floor. “I hope you guys enjoy the rest of your dinner. Please excuse me, I have to go.” No one tried to stop me as I left.

A few hours later, after a long steamy shower, I was relaxing on the couch in short pajama shorts and a tank without a bra. I had popcorn popping in the microwave and the gorgeous Bobby Flay barbecuing on the TV. This was how my evening should have started. The microwave beeped, signaling the popcorn was done. As I got up to head into the kitchen there was a knock at the door. Cautiously, I looked through the peephole. It was Colt and Creed.

I opened the door. Colt was the one standing right in front of the door with his hands in his pockets while Creed was off to the side, leaning on the railing surrounding my porch. They both looked apprehensive, but that unease lessened as both of their gazes tracked down my body. Glancing down, I was reminded of my lack of bra and the fact that my bottoms were practically booty shorts. Crap. I crossed my arms over my chest to somewhat cover up.

“We came to apologize. Knox is an asshole to everyone and when he wants to know something, things like tact go out the window. Not that I’m making excuses for him,” Colt said, rubbing the back of his head. “I figured you had lost your parents. You had the look I’ve seen on myself and my brothers. It’s why I haven’t pried. Our mom passed away from cancer when Creed and I were six and our dad died in a car crash three years ago. Knox and Keelan took on the responsibility of taking care of us. They sacrificed a lot, and we were lucky to have them because I can’t imagine going through that on my own.”

I looked from him to Creed, who was quietly watching me. “You don’t need to apologize,” I said. “I get that Knox is looking out for you. That’s what you do for the ones you love.”

Colt nodded. “So we’re still friends?”

I smiled. “Of course we’re still friends.”

His shoulders slumped. “Phew, that means I can do this.” He grabbed my elbow, pulling me close to hug me.

My nose met the center of his chest. I inhaled. His scent was soft like clean linen and smooth like musk. My hands fisted the back of his shirt, absorbing how good his embrace felt. Then I remembered Creed was there. I turned my head to the side so I could see him and rested my cheek on Colt’s chest. Creed tried to appear bored, but I could sense that wasn’t the case. I let go of Colt’s shirt with one of my hands and held it out to him. He stared down at it before his eyes jumped up to meet mine, frowning. Just hold my hand, you jerk. I eyed him challengingly.

As if it was the most inconvenient task in the world, he relented and put his hand in mine. I squeezed it lightly before the three of us released each other.

“Want to carpool with us tomorrow?” Colt asked.

I didn’t know if it was his question or the hug, but the loneliness that weighed heavily on my heart seemed to lessen.

“Sure.”