Chapter 2
CHAPTER
TWO
Weston
No fucking way.
My eyes widen in disbelief and I arch a brow, but Ezra is already nodding. “We have everything we need to move forward.”
He’s not wrong. I’ve been waiting and wondering when enough would be enough and we could finally do something with all of the information, secrets, and favors we’ve gathered over the years.
Watching Berlyn was never going to satisfy the clawing desperation inside of me for her, it was only ever a temporary measure to buy us time before we could win her over.
Patience has never been my virtue. I’m not a man known for any virtues in fact.
“You’re really not fucking with us?”
Jude’s skepticism isn’t surprising. I’m not the only man in the room that isn’t known for his virtues.
It’s been agonizing waiting for this day.
Only my brothers being at my side and having unfettered access to our girl has carried this obsession this far without crossing the line. Without ruining it for all of us.
Ezra glares at Jude. “I’d never. Not about her.”
I’m nodding before he even has a chance to defend his words. There are many things the three of us will play about, Berlyn has never been one of them. She is the exception to everything.
Jude raises his hands and dips his head in apology. He knew better. Ezra hesitates for a moment before turning his back, letting the tension fizzle out as quickly as it appeared before rolling a large whiteboard into the room.
“First things first, before we enter into Phase One,” Ezra starts as he pulls out a marker to go with the board I honestly didn’t even know we owned until a moment ago. “We need to decide on our nicknames for Berlyn.”
I open my mouth to question him, but immediately close it again as his words process. It takes a moment before I can finally ask, “Nicknames?”
Ezra and Jude trade that look that means they’re trying to decide which one of them is going to explain something to me and I huff my irritation with both of them. Apparently, Jude loses the staredown and sighs as he turns to me.
“Haven’t you been paying attention?” he asks, pointing to one of the discarded books on the table.
I cock my head to the side and click my tongue as I think of all the books we’ve read with Berlyn over the years.
I have paid attention to a lot of details in those pages, I can’t say that names were one of them.
The thought makes me smirk and Jude chuckles, knowing exactly where my thoughts strayed, but Ezra only groans.
He’s a few seconds away from throwing something at me this time, but he only glares and then focuses on the white board, flipping it over to reveal a copious amount of notes under the title “Phase One.”
It should be surprising. It’s not.
“Not the sex scenes,” Jude laughs, elbowing me in the side. “Every single book she’s read, the guys give their girls nicknames.”
My eyes widen in understanding and I nod, this is true enough.
Ezra points to the words. “I’ve made a list of the most important intel we’ve gathered over the years to make her fall for us.”
“By appealing to what we know she already is attracted to. Like nicknames,” Jude finishes. “But we each need our own unique one for her.”
“I’ve written down some of the most common ones we’ve seen,” Ezra says and now one of the lists suddenly does make a lot more sense. “We can add some more before we decide.”
So far his list consists of seven pet names—Princess, Baby Girl, Siren, Pretty Girl, Kitten, Brat, and Dove.
Jude hums after reading the last aloud. My lip curls in disgust at several of the options, knowing they don’t fit our girl at all. “Vixen?” Jude adds.
Meh. It’s okay. Doesn’t make me think of Berlyn. I shake my head and grab the marker from Ezra, crossing out Brat and Princess. Our girl is not a brat and she would despise being called Princess. I chew on my lip before crossing Kitten off the list as well.
Ezra swipes the marker back. “We’re brainstorming right now, jackass. How about giving us some options rather than just crossing them out.”
It takes a few moments to think through some of her favorite books, but I finally land on the obvious one. “Little.”
“Little what?” Jude laughs.
“Anything.” I shrug. I swear almost every book has at least one nickname that is just a noun with the word little in front of it. “Little One, Little Bird, Little Mouse, Little Rabbit, Little Love.”
Jude and Ezra exchange surprised looks before Ezra starts adding the options to his list, a smile twisting up his lips. Smugness fills me at the fact they’re both clearly impressed. I pay attention. I have good ideas.
“That’s a good point,” Jude agrees. “Also using a common nickname in a different language.”
I cock my head at him and arch a brow. None of us speak another language. He flips me off without me having to say anything.
“There is such a thing as Google translate, asshole.”
I shake my head. That’s trying too hard. “Too fake,” I argue. We might be using tricks we’ve learned from Berlyn’s books but we still want her to fall for us. Not a completely contrived version of us. It would be weird if she thought we knew another language and then we didn’t.
I could always learn a new language if she would like that. Hmm. Something to think about.
Jude concedes with a grumble before turning back to the board. “I like Baby Girl anyways.”
I chew it over before nodding my approval. It fits both of them somehow. Berlyn is soft and sweet, not like a Vixen or a Siren. Though she’s pretty enough for both monikers.
Ezra circles it on the board before circling the name he must be choosing. “She can be my Little Rabbit,” he says, letting the words linger on his tongue like he needs to taste them to make sure they’re right. “I do plan on enjoying the chase when she runs from us.”
My dick twitches in my pants as I think of all the plans we have for our girl. Our Berlyn.
Both of my brothers turn to look at me with expectation, waiting for my choice. My eyes run over the remaining options but none of them feel right. I shake my head.
They both groan. “You have to choose something,” Ezra argues.
“I like Berlyn,” I say. It’s a good name. A great name. Fitting for her. Why can’t I just call her by her name?
“She’s not going to realize you like her if you don’t give her a nickname,” Ezra continues.
“Or she just may not like you back,” Jude points out with far too much gloating. “You definitely won’t be her favorite.”
Really? Is that true?
I hesitate, unable to argue against him but still not wanting to choose one of the remaining options.
Ezra smacks Jude. “Don’t be a dick.” He looks between me and his list. “You don’t like any of the other options?”
I’m already shaking my head, trying to figure out how to explain it to them. Berlyn is just Berlyn to me. I only want her to be herself. “They’re not Berlyn enough.”
Jude studies me while I try to come up with my nickname that is more personal to her. Isn’t that what the nicknames are meant for anyways? For it to have some special meaning between the characters.
“Not special enough,” I add when neither of them say anything.
“You want something more individualized to her?” Ezra asks, starting to understand me.
I grin as I nod my head. My brothers always understand me, even if it takes them a few attempts to get there at times. They never fail me.
Jude snorts. “What? Are you going to call her Iron Curtain or something?”
I flip him off, rolling my eyes but glare at Ezra when his lips twitch. And they think either of them have a chance of being her favorite? No way in hell. I’ll be taking that top spot.
“No,” I answer decisively. “I’ll be calling her Mine.”
Jude’s laughter cuts off and they both give me dirty looks. She won’t be only mine, that’s okay. I’ve never minded sharing with my brothers. It’s always been as if we were three pieces to the same set anyway. None of that means I can’t call her Mine.
“That isn’t a nickname.” Ezra points out in his best attempt at keeping his irritation hidden. He isn’t doing a very good job at it.
“How would that work? You’re going to ask her how her day is by saying ‘How’s your day, Mine?’”
I shrug. “Why not?”
“Because that sounds ridiculous,” he exclaims back.
“And Little Rabbit doesn’t?” I counter.
Ezra elbows me. “Hey! Leave my nickname out of it. I think it fits her.”
I can’t disagree. Especially when he said he was going to enjoy chasing her. But that won’t happen until Phase Two, so she won’t even get it until then. How long is Phase One going to last? I should really ask Ezra about that, because I’m even more excited for that part.
“Exactly,” Jude agrees. “Unlike Mine which is not a damn nickname.”
“Fine,” I concede. “How was my Berlyn’s day?
” I can’t help but take another peek at the very subject of our conversation on our television as she flits around her bedroom, mumbling to herself.
I wonder how her day was today. Sure, we watch her.
We know the details of almost every step she took not only today, but this whole week, month, even year.
Yet, we know nothing about how she’s feeling about any of it.
He throws his hands up in defeat. “You’re impossible, you know that?”
I smirk, turning my attention back to him. “You like that about me.”
He gives me a look with some real consideration before finally caving and his lips curve up into a soft grin. “Okay, okay. Do things your way. Berlyn will be charmed by you, either way.” His words are punctuated by the way he grips my hand and squeezes, a reassurance that spreads warmth through me.
“That is the goal,” Ezra muses with a twist to his lips. “With nicknames established.” He gives me a long look, but he can’t hide his affection when he catches sight of Jude’s hand still in mine. “Somewhat. We can move on to the other details of Phase One.”
I trace over everything else he has written on the whiteboard. It’s a good summary of all the details we’ve made note of through the years of things she likes with a few ideas sprinkled in on how to apply them to our situation.
We know she likes to be watched, and we do a hell of a lot of watching. But now, we have to let her know we are. My eyes are once again drawn back to her on the screen as she stares at the laundry basket in the corner of her room that has only grown taller and taller.
Her long ashy hair is pulled up on top of her head in a messy bun with pieces falling out and sticking to her face and neck. She stands tall but her shoulders are rigid as exhaustion seems to pour from her small frame. She’s too stressed. Taking on far too much on her own.
“I want to see her,” I say. “Tonight.”
Both of my brothers think about it, trading silent looks before Ezra turns back to study the board.
“After she falls asleep?” he asks.
Jude clicks his tongue as he contemplates. “It has been a while since we’ve gone to watch her sleep.”
I read over Ezra’s list of ideas for Phase One again and can’t help the grin that spreads across my face as I point to one of the options.
What better way to let her know we’re watching her than by leaving traces of us for her to find?
And we can give her a helping hand all at the same time. Relieve some of her stress.
It’s perfect.