LAILAH #2
"Angel, that's not how this works," Brayden murmured as he cupped my face and pressed a soft kiss to my lips.
"You can't force someone to call you their husband if they aren't ready to.
We all knew that it was going to take you just a little longer to be comfortable with our relationship.
You show us every day how much we mean to you, in your own way.
Never once have you hidden the fact we are together, quite the opposite actually.
If I had to wait a while for you to call me your husband because you truly view me that way, I was fine with it. "
It was moments like this that made what Parker did even worse, but showed me just how lucky I was to have these four men. "I love you," I blurted. "That’s another thing that I don't say as often as I should either."
"I love you too, Angel," Brayden said, nuzzling his nose with mine. "Now, let's head down. I was just coming to get you, Cami made breakfast for us."
"She did? I don't smell any smoke or hear any screaming," I pointed out as I headed downstairs with them.
Brayden chuckled and glanced at me over his shoulder. "She had Jay watching over her shoulder the whole time to make sure it was safe enough for you to eat."
I could only imagine how this whole thing went down and was even more surprised that I slept through all of it. Did having them all there with me make that big of a difference? Guess I would have to talk them into doing it again to see, oh darn.
When we reached the kitchen, I was amazed to see the table set and the guys gathered around it except for Jay who was removing something from the oven, with Cami right at his elbow.
"Okay, I get that it's been in longer than it should, but does it look right?" Cami asked.
"It's an egg casserole, if it's cooked through then it will be fine," Jay answered, setting it on the counter and pulling out a knife.
"Yeah, but how do we know if it's cooked all the way through?" Cami countered.
Jay looked at her with a scowl and pointed for her to leave the kitchen. She opened her mouth to argue but then she spotted me and her face lit up. "Lala, you're awake!"
Racing over to me, she grabbed my hands and led me over to the table. "Sit, sit, sit, I've got everything covered this morning. What would you like to drink? We have orange, apple, or grapefruit juice, coffee—wait never mind you don't drink that. Oh, I could make you a cup of tea!"
"Tea would be lovely, whatever kind you want to surprise me with," I said, trying to hold back my laughter.
I absolutely appreciated what she was trying to do for me and I couldn't have asked for a better best friend to have right now.
"Got it. Okay, make some tea… you just need hot water and a tea bag, right?" Cami questioned, then held up her hands. "Never mind, I'll figure it out, I got this covered."
Leaning over to Micah who was sitting next to me I whispered. "What's up with her?"
"I think she's trying to coddle you after everything that happened yesterday and last night.
The moment one of us was awake and out of the bedroom, she demanded answers about all the yelling and why none of us left," Micah explained.
"Just humor her, you’re the only best friend she has ever had and I think she's scared she might lose you.
" I blinked at him, shocked that he, of all people, would say something so insightful about emotional matters.
"Don't look at me like that, Cookie. She's the sister I never wanted but got stuck with anyway, just because I act like a dick doesn't mean I don't care. "
That is exactly what people thought of him, but I knew how wrong they were. "That is one thing I would never think about you, Micah. You act all tough but really you're just a burnt marshmallow, hard and crispy on the outside but soft and gooey on the inside."
Micah caught my chin with his hand and pulled me forward to him. "You ever tell anyone else that, and I will deny it till the day I die, but yes I would say that is fairly accurate." Before I could say anything more, he seared his lips to mine, making me hum with contentment.
"Okay, do you think we can keep the PDA to a minimum while we eat, it's unsettling for those of us not in this relationship," Cami interjected.
Micah pulled back and gave her a grin. "Jealous?"
Cami scoffed as she took her seat. "Please, if I wanted to make a move on Lala there's no way she could resist me. I'm just that good, so watch yourself or you might be gaining another member to your harem buddy boy."
"How would Maggs feel about that?" he shot back.
"Really, that's what you're going with? You think Maggs would really care if it was my dear sweet Lala who she is also good friends with? Hell, I'll just tell her we’re in a true polymerous relationship," Cami declared.
"So, you would be fine if Maggs got another girlfriend or boyfriend if she wanted?" Brayden asked, his tone surprised.
Cami frowned at him. "Okay, when did this become about my love life?
To answer your question, B-man, no I wouldn't have a problem with it if that is the relationship we both agreed to and we were open and honest about it.
I told Lala this way back in the day when I was setting you guys up all sneaky like, but it's not fair to expect one person to fulfill all your needs.
If that means adding in another person to the party, why the hell not? "
"That is very astute of you, Cami," Hudson commented. "Looks like everything is ready, shall we eat?"
Bless that man, taking the heat off my bestie. "I'm starving, Jay, load me up."