Chapter 23 #2
She pulls me into a fierce hug that reminds me of when I was little and had scraped my knee or had a bad dream. “I love you, Lily. I am so incredibly proud of the woman you’ve become. You’re stronger than I ever was.”
“I learned from the best.” I hug her back just as tight, breathing in her familiar lavender perfume.
“Promise me you’ll be happy. Promise me you won’t let fear hold you back from love.” The rest is unspoken. After Dad left, her heart was shattered. She never fully recovered and was too afraid to date. To find the love she deserved.
I pull back to look at her, surprised by the intensity in her voice. “I promise, Mom.”
Walking back to the parking lot, my steps are lighter than they’ve been in weeks. Good days with Mom are precious gifts and today was definitely one of them.
I’m surprised to see Hudson’s truck parked next to my car and all three guys leaning against it, looking like some kind of calendar photo shoot. My heart flutters, a sensation I’m getting used to whenever they’re around, and a grin breaks across my face.
“Hey.” I walk up to them. “What are you doing here?”
“Figured you might want some lunch after,” Cole says, pushing off the truck. “How’d it go?”
“Really good actually. She was having a great day.” I look between the three of them. “Would you guys—I mean, sometime would you like to come see her? When she’s having a good day?”
“Of course,” Hudson says immediately, and the other two nod in agreement.
“We’d love to meet her,” Gage adds. “She raised an amazing daughter.”
My cheeks heat up, but I climb into the passenger seat of Hudson’s truck happier than I have been in a long time. As we pull out of the parking lot, my phone buzzes with a text.
UNKNOWN NUMBER
Hey. Are you there?
I frown at the screen. Probably a wrong number or some spam thing. I block the number without thinking twice about it and laugh at myself. For a split second, my heart had jumped into my throat, but that’s ridiculous. Matt is in jail. He can’t hurt me anymore.
Spam existed long before his stalking.
“Everything okay?” Hudson glances at me through the rearview mirror.
“Yeah, just junk mail.” I slide my phone back into my purse and lean back in the seat. “So where are we eating? I’m starving.”
The crisp November air hits my face as we step out of the diner. I’m already dreading the end of this perfect day. Hudson’s hand finds mine, his thumb tracing lazy circles over my knuckles, while Cole and Gage lead the charge, their steps a little springy.
“So where to next?” Cole spins around, walking backward with his signature grin. “We could—”
“Lily?”
Ugh. I know that voice. it doesn’t belong anywhere near my perfect bubble of happiness. I turn slowly, my stomach already twisting into knots. Work is the last thing I want to think about.
Tom Wilson stands there in his perfectly pressed khakis and polo shirt, looking completely out of place at the local diner. His hair is styled in a way that probably took way longer than it should have, and his expensive watch catches the afternoon light.
“Tom!” My voice comes tight, clearly not enthused, but I force a smile. “What a surprise seeing you here.”
His eyes sweep over Hudson, Gage, and Cole, taking in their flannel shirts and boots with obvious disdain. The city versus small mountain town rivalry at its finest. When his gaze returns to me, there’s something sharp in it that makes my skin crawl.
“I was coming to grab lunch. Who are your. . . friends?”
The way he says the word has my hackles rising. There’s an edge there, something possessive and dismissive all at once. It’s the same tone Matt used to use when he didn’t approve of my choices.
My chest tightens with that familiar flutter of anxiety, the need to explain myself, to make excuses, to smooth things over.
But then I catch Cole’s eye. He’s watching me carefully, and I can practically see him ready to jump in if I need him to.
Gage has gone completely still beside me, his protective instincts on high alert while Hudson’s hand tightens around mine, steady and reassuring.
No, you know what? Fuck this. Fuck being scared or apologetic for living my life. For being who I am. I’m so tired of people pleasing. “Actually, Tom, they’re not just friends.” I straighten my shoulders and let my smile turn wicked. “I’m dating them. All three of them.”
Tom’s face goes through about five different expressions. His mouth opens and closes like a fish out of water, and I have to bite back a laugh.
“All . . . all three?” he sputters.
“Yep.” I pop the ‘p’ and beam at him like I announced I won the lottery. In a way, that’s how it feels. “I’m the luckiest woman in the world.”
Cole snorts behind his hand, trying to cover his laughter. Gage’s mouth twitches with amusement. Hudson’s thumb resumes those soothing circles on my knuckles.
Tom’s face flushes red. For a moment, I think he might actually say something inappropriate, but then he seems to remember where he is, who he is, and forces his expression back to neutral.
“I see.” His voice is strained. “Well, I hope you know what you’re doing.”
I hope you’re not being stupid, Lily.
Lily, don’t be dumb.
Lily, you’re better than this.
The condescension in his tone makes my blood boil, but instead of getting angry, I simply smile brighter. Screw his judgment.
“Oh, I absolutely do. Have a nice day, Tom.” I push past him, not caring that my shoulder bumps his arm. The guys follow immediately, falling into step around me like a protective wall. We make it about half a block before Cole breaks the silence.
“Holy shit, Lily! Did you see his face? I thought the man was going to have a stroke!”
“Who the hell was that?” Gage asks, tone protective.
I glance back over my shoulder to make sure Tom’s not following us, then let out a long breath.
“Tom Wilson. He is, no, was a client. Big money, looking for another vacation home.” I’m grateful for the commission from working with him, but once I pay everything off, I shouldn’t need such big sales.
I’m more than happy to go back to local clients.
“Was?” Hudson raises an eyebrow.
“Yeah, was. As in, not anymore.” I pull out my phone and make a mental note to text Mr. Sampson tomorrow. Someone else can deal with Tom and his attitude. Maybe Sarah. “I’m done putting myself in uncomfortable situations because someone has deep pockets.”
Even if those deep pockets helped me pay off some debt.
Hudson drapes his arm around my shoulders. “Did you see how proud she looked when she told him she was dating all of us?”
“I am proud.” The admission surprises me, but it’s true. “For the first time in God, I don’t know how long, I didn’t feel like I had to apologize for what makes me happy. I didn’t have to make myself small to keep other people happy.”
Gage steps closer, face serious. “You never have to apologize for that. Not to anyone.”
“I know that now.” Perhaps it took too long to figure that out, but better late than never.
We walk in comfortable silence for a moment, and I realize something has shifted. Not just with Tom, but inside me. I stood up for myself, for us, without hesitation. I didn’t shrink or make excuses or try to manage someone else’s feelings at the expense of my own.
“So,” Cole grins down at me, “feeling good about your first public declaration?”
“Actually?” I grin back. “I’m feeling fucking fantastic.”
Can it get any better?
The next evening, I snuggle deeper into the couch cushions, Cole and Gage on either side of me. Hudson is at his mom’s house for dinner. I’d be lying if I said my mind didn’t start wandering to naughty places the moment they sandwiched me on the couch.
Is it hot in here? It’s definitely hot in here, and my throat is dry.
Cole drapes his arm over my shoulder. “Everything okay?” His deep voice rumbles against my ear.
“Uh, yeah. I just need some water.” I start to push myself up, but Gage is already moving.
“Stay put.” He stands before I can fully rise. “I got it.”
“Gage, seriously, I’m perfectly capable of—”
“Sit your pretty ass down, Lily.” His voice carries that gentle but firm tone that makes my stomach flip.
Heat crawls up my neck as I sink back into the cushions. “I’m fine. You guys don’t need to treat me like some fragile flower or whatever.”
“We’re not,” Cole says, pulling me against his side. “We want to pamper you, is that so bad?”
“No,” I admit.
Gage returns with a glass and I accept it with a smile, taking a big drink that does nothing to quench the thirst that’s settled deep inside me ever since Cole suggested he and Gage boss me around together.
The two of them focus on the movie again. Gage’s thigh presses against mine and his palm lands on my thigh. Cole traces his thumb back and forth over my clavicle. Are they trying to kill me?
I bite my bottom lip, working as hard as I can to focus on the TV, but it’s a losing battle. My mind keeps drifting to thoughts of the three of us together. Naked. Clearing my throat, I shift again, squeezing my legs together to relieve the building ache. That’s barely enough pressure.
Cole leans forward and grabs the remote off the coffee table to pause the movie. “I have an idea.”
Yeah, me too. “What’s that?” I ask instead.
He shifts toward me, gaze heated and lips quirked into a cocky smile. “Hide and seek. Whoever catches you first gets to fuck you.”
That’s as good a place to start as any. I shoot to my feet, rounding the couch. The two of them turn to watch me back away.
“My rules. Forty seconds to hide–no fast counting or skip counting–and if you can’t find me, I get what I want.”
“Which is?” Gage asks.
I take another step away. “Both of you at the same time.”
They climb to their feet. My heart skips. “Forty seconds,” I remind them. “Turn around and close your eyes.” They do as I ask and begin counting.
Cole: “One.”
Gage: “Two. Run baby.”