Chapter Twenty-Eight
Lucy
Waking up in the morning with three other bodies intertwined with mine is becoming my favorite way to start the day.
This gigantic bed in my room has come in handy the last few nights with all of us falling asleep together after exploring each other’s bodies for hours.
I never thought I would find myself in this situation, seeing three guys at once, together.
If anyone, I thought Ember would land herself in something like this.
I smile to myself, thinking about her and what her reaction is going to be when I’m able to catch her up on what’s been happening. She’s been hard to reach lately, and when we do talk, she seems preoccupied. Phone calls are hit and miss, and her texts are short and sparse as well.
I really need to check in with her to make sure she’s alright.
I stretch my arms above my head and slowly untangle myself, crawling out of bed to grab my phone. Making my way to the kitchen, I notice some dirty boot prints in the entryway. I roll my eyes and grab a wet rag from the kitchen to clean it up. I crouch down, wiping the rag over the prints.
How many times do I have to remind them to take their boots off at the door?
I finish cleaning, letting out a satisfied sigh as I turn to head to the laundry room.
When I finally make it back into the kitchen, I start the coffee machine and sit at the island.
I grab my phone and push Ember’s contact to connect a video call.
When she doesn’t answer, I send a quick text asking her to call me.
Putting my phone down on my counter, I let out a deep breath.
Looking around, I decide to make some blueberry pancakes for the guys for breakfast.
Connecting my phone to the speaker on the counter, I scroll through my playlists until I find the perfect one, and music fills the silence around me.
I head to the pantry and pull out the dry ingredients and then to the fridge for the rest. Grabbing a mixing bowl, I set it on the counter and open the utensil drawer to grab a fork to mix everything together.
It’s not my favorite thing to use, but the guys only have a tiny whisk that’s not even as big as my hand.
When the drawer fully opens, I furrow my brows at the sticky note lying on top of the forks.
Check the cupboard up next to the mixing bowls.
What? I was just in there.
I step over and open the door again. I scan the shelf but don’t see anything.
I look at the note again and try the next cupboard.
When I open it, my hand flies to my mouth as I let out a small gasp.
I giggle as I reach for the new, big container of baking utensils.
There are all different sizes of whisks, spatulas, rollers, and other items. My favorite part?
The hot pink sticky note pressed against the front of it with a hand-drawn heart in black.
Smiling to myself, I feel tears starting to form in my eyes.
I try to blink them away as I look at everything.
Why am I crying over this?
I know there’s no logical reason this should make me cry, but I can’t help myself. It seems like a small gesture from the guys to show that they care, but inside, it feels like more. It feels like a grand gesture from the three men I love.
Wait. Love?
I shake my head, trying to stop the thought from continuing, but I fail.
Do I love them?
“No,” I scoff out loud to myself. I’ve only known them for a few months.
I can't love them yet, or at all. How can I love three different men at one time? How would that even work? What if they end up resenting me? What if it ruins their relationships with each other? Would I live here? Or would we all move into Nana’s house?
The coffeemaker beeps loudly, reminding me it’s done, causing me to jump a little and come back to reality.
This time, shaking my head does make the thoughts go away as I grab a mug and fill it.
When I realize the thoughts and questions are trying to sneak back in, I turn my music up to drown them out and start cooking.
Dancing along to the music, I let my mind wander to mundane things.
Flipping the last pancake, I squeak when an arm wraps around my waist and hot breath tickles my neck. Instincts kick in as I throw my elbow back as hard as I can before spinning around, spatula in hand. I’m horrified when I turn to see Cole doubled over, clutching his side.
“Oh my gosh, Cole. I am so sorry!” I cover my mouth before glancing over to see Ren and Nash laughing from the island.
“Damn, Rich Girl,” Cole wheezes out the words. “Your elbow is pointy as fuck.”
Reaching out to him, he lifts a hand to stop me.
“Nope. I’m good. Can’t say the same about your pancakes though.” He takes a few steps back to the island and sits.
“Shit,” I mutter to myself, turning around to take the food off the stove.
These last couple pancakes are burnt, but thankfully the ones from before are fine.
I grab the potholders and open the oven to grab the pan from inside, holding the warm ones.
I place the pan on the island in front of the guys.
I had already set out plates, so I put three on each before turning to fetch the syrup and butter for them.
We eat in silence until I clear my throat. “Cole, I really am sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
Ren holds back a snicker as Cole looks at me. “It’s alright, Rich Girl. At least I now know you can defend yourself.” He winks at me and my insides heat. I push the hair back behind my ear as a blush creeps up my neck.
“So what jobs do you guys have today?” I ask, getting the attention off of me.
“We have a few things to patch up at the elementary school before school starts this fall, so we’re going to start that and then we’re meeting with a potential new client after. We shouldn’t be home too late,” Ren answers before downing his juice.
“Oh, a new client? That sounds nice.”
“Yeah, we’ll see,” Nash says sarcastically before standing up and bringing his dish to the sink to rinse it off.
“Hey, Love?” Ren asks sweetly.
“What do you want, Ren?” I ask, eyebrow cocked.
“How do you know I want something?” His voice is playfully defensive.
“Because you only use that sweet voice when you want something, Ren,” Cole says, jumping into the conversation.
“I—” Ren looks between us before rolling his eyes and focusing his gaze on me. I smirk at him before he huffs out a breath and continues, “Lucy, can you pretty, pretty, please make me another one of those smoothies you made the other day before we leave?”
I laugh when he bats his lashes. “That depends. Was it you who left dirty boot prints in the entryway last night?”
He puts his hands up in front of him. “No way! It was probably him!” He points his thumb over towards Cole.
“Yeah, right,” Cole scoffs. “I always take my boots off when I come in.”
“Yeah, okay, Pookie.” Ren rolls his eyes as Cole grunts and gets up. He looks back at me. “I swear it wasn’t me.”
I give Ren a playful glare. “I believe you. So yes, Ren, I will make you a smoothie. I don’t have the same ingredients, but I’ll make it just as tasty.”
“Thank you, Love.” Ren’s smile appears big, dimples showing up on his cheeks, and I almost melt.
I get Ren’s smoothie made while the guys get ready to leave, and when I meet them at the door to say goodbye, they each place a kiss on my cheek on their way out.
I giggle to myself as I wave goodbye from the porch.
When the taillights leave my view, I let out a sigh and smile.
Being here with them has changed me. I can’t imagine not having them in my life.
I walk to the edge of the porch and close my eyes as the sun warms my body.
I stand there for a few minutes before deciding to get some chores done before I read.
Heading inside, I feel light. My heart feels full and happy.
It’s going to be a great day.
I spend the morning cleaning and getting laundry done.
When lunch comes around, I make myself a yogurt with fruit cup and decide to grab the book I started yesterday before heading outside to eat lunch on the porch.
Checking my phone, I see Ember hasn’t returned my call or answered my text.
I furrow my brow and bring my phone out with the rest of my stuff.
Setting my food and book on the small table, I pull up Ember’s contact again and hit call.
The moments tick by before her face finally pops up on the screen.
“Hey, Lucy.” She rubs her eyes and yawns.
“Were you sleeping?” I glance at the time at the top of my screen. It’s almost 1pm. Why is she still sleeping?
“Yeah, sorry. I didn’t get much sleep last night.” As she says it, I notice the dark bags under her eyes.
“Did you have a visitor?” I wiggle my brows at her, causing her to quietly laugh.
“I wish. Something weird is happening. Someone keeps leaving things outside my door and on my car almost daily, so I was up late trying to catch them.” She shakes her head.
“What kind of things?” I ask.
“Random things. First it was flowers and chocolates a couple times a week, and now it’s those plus weird love notes I guess you could call them?
I don’t know. It’s been weird. I can’t figure out who it is, and they somehow keep themselves hidden in the camera's blind spot. I’ve tried moving it, but it hasn’t worked.
” She lets out a long sigh and rubs her face.
“Have you called the police?” I ask, already knowing what she’s going to say.
“Yes. They said there was nothing they could do. Nothing being left is ‘cause for concern’ in their eyes.” She quotes what they said before shaking her head and sitting up in her bed.
“If you want to escape for a while, you can always come here, Em. There’s always room for you.” I look at her through the screen, and can see her warring with herself. “Just think about it, okay?”