Chapter Thirteen
Everleigh
The guys reacted well to what I told them, although at this point, I should really stop being surprised. When I said that the guy wasn’t so pretty anymore, I knew my grin had turned savage but Jensen didn’t care, in fact he looked like he wanted to devour me and I’m still dealing with the after effects of that. We’ve been driving for a few hours now and Riot has only just woken up, he grins happily at me. Still holding my hand as he talks with the others.
That giant coffee is starting to make itself known and making me desperately need to pee, but I get distracted as the world outside starts to turn whiter.
“It’s so pretty” I say quietly.
When it snows like this and it remains undisturbed, it makes the world seem so much more softer, less jagged edges and shitty people and more magical, I guess. I love the snow, especially in the country where it stays undisturbed for longer.
“Wait until we get to the cabin, if it’s already this white down here there’ll be loads of snow up there. We haven’t got long to go, we just need to stop off and grab some food” Cash tells me turning to grin at me.
Oh good I can get Trick’s replacement present.
It’s not long before we finally arrive in a tiny little town that only has a couple of shops down the main street but does have a fairly decent size grocery store on the outskirts. As soon as we pull in, I rush out after Rafe, my body shivering as the freezing air envelops me. After being in the warm car surround by my men, the cold is jarring. I start to rush towards the store my boots crunching in the snow.
“Where are you rushing off to?” Riot shouts after me.
“I need to pee, stupid giant coffee” I yell back and they all chuckle but rush to catch up to me.
As soon as I enter the store I find the bathroom and when I come out, they’re all waiting for me and I grin. Jensen throws his arm around my shoulder.
“Come on lets go get some food” he says as the guys grab two carts.
I’d be shocked if I hadn’t already seen how much these guys eat, add in hopefully Atlas as well and we’re going to need a lot of food.
“Ok. I just need to grab something. Me and Jensen will meet you by the fresh fruit?” I say not giving the others a chance to protest as I tug Jensen towards the section of the store that has loads of games. I’m hoping I can find one for his new consol.
“What are we doing, Angel?”
“I need to pick Trick up another present, his other ones no good. I thought I could get him a game but I’ve no idea which one, hence why I need your help” I explain.
“Alright, got it. We’ll find something, Dragonfly.”
It doesn’t take long at all for us to find a game he’d like and pay for it. Jensen runs it out the truck and hides it in my suitcase before coming back in and we go and find the guy’s which are surprisingly where they should be.
“You guys ok?” Trick asks curiously.
“All good brother” Jensen nods, “let’s get some food.”
As we’re going around the store I can’t help but get the feeling that they’re taking it in turns to distract me. I’m beyond curious but since I’m so curious about a lot of shit right now, I easily decided that I’ll leave them to whatever they’re up to. I’m sure I’ll find out at some point.
I watch in amusement as the guys throw mostly snacks into the cart before I can’t really take it anymore and decide to step in.
“Are you guys seriously only going to eat snacks for this whole trip or are you planning to eat proper food too?” I grin.
To my amusement several of them blush.
“Well none of us can really cook, so it’s ramen and microwave meals for dinner” Cash explains, “and cereal, lots of cereal.”
“You’re joking?” I ask.
“Nope, sorry Ever. I guess we probably should have warned you about that before we bought you up here?” Luc says.
“You think?” I grumble but unable to hide my amusement I end up smirking. “Right well can you read a box?”
“Well yeah, of course we can” Riot answers for all of them sounding slightly confused about where I’m going with this.
“Ok, so can you follow instructions?”
“Yes” Jensen answers sounding just as confused.
“Then you can cook most stuff. Loads of food has the instructions to cook it on the back of the packaging” I explain. “Since I don’t want to eat ramen this entire trip and I also don’t want to be in charge of cooking all the meals. I’ll chuck a few easy to put together ones in the cart and then get the ingredients for a couple of more complicated ones that I’ll cook, but you guys have to make the effort to try and cook the easy ones. Deal?” I ask.
“Absolutely! Thank fuck Ever” Trick says his voice filled with relief.
I chuckle at them as they all look at me like I hung the fucking moon. Man, if that’s all it takes to keep these guys happy then I’m sure as shit in for an easy life.
Life?
Fuck, getting a bit ahead of yourself there Ever, are you not?
Focusing back on the guys and not on my wayward thoughts, I pull out my phone and write a quick list of meals or we’re going to be wandering around the store aimlessly whilst I think of shit to make and the things we need to make it. I would like to get to the cabin before nightfall.
I take the lead this time and the guys follow me as I tell them what to pick up and what it’s for. I even show them where the instructions are on each pack if it has them. I am slightly surprised that their mom’s didn’t show them to be honest, but then again it is a pretty common sense thing to do, to read the packet.
We’ve been going around for probably ten minutes when I start to notice Rafe adding his own mix of ingredients to the cart. I carrying on watching him and after the third item, I get suspicious.
“What are you planning to make Big Guy?” I ask.
He looks like a deer caught in headlights for second when all of the guys turn to look at him accusingly and my grin just widens.
“Erm, nothing?” he replies like it’s a question.
“Now why does that not sound completely honest?” I push and I’m rewarded with a look that promises retribution. I just smirk.
Bring it Big Guy.
“Fine. I thought I’d cook balsamic glazed pork chops with mustard mash and garlic green beans, when it’s my turn to make food” he explains reluctantly.
I am not the only one that is gaping in shock at him right now.
Say what?
That definitely wasn’t what I was expecting. I was almost thinking that he was adding things because he had a meal in mind that he wanted me to cook or that he wanted me to teach him a certain meal.
“You can fucking cook dickhead?” Jensen curses, quicker to recover than the rest of us.
“Well yeah” he replies scrubbing his hand on the back of his neck as two pink dots appear on his cheeks.
“Why the fuck didn’t you say something?” Riot asks amused.
“Fuck that. Why the hell have we been eating ramen and snacks whenever we’ve come up to the cabin?” Trick demands.
“Like fuck did I want to spend the whole week cooking for you fuckers and if I cooked once, you would’ve wanted me to cook every damn day” he growls.
I hum my agreement, he actually has a point. Of course Jensen has to be a cheeky fucker though.
“Maybe we wouldn’t. Maybe you’re a shit cook” he grins cheekily and Rafe rolls his eyes.
“I’m a good cook. You remember those brownies that I said mom made?”
“You mean the ones that Jensen literally begged you for a week to ask your mom to make him more?” Trick ask, chuckling.
“Yep those” Rafe grins smugly, crossing his massive arms over his chest.
“No fucking way” Jensen’s mouth falls open. “You made those!”
“Yep” Rafe replies again, obviously getting tired of using long sentences now.
Jensen’s
eyes go comically wide, as the others look suitably impressed. I have to admit, I really want to try those brownies right now.
“You have to make them on this trip” Jensen practically pleads and Rafe just stands there with his eyebrow raised.
Seeing that he’s not going to get anywhere, Jensen turns to me.
“Ever, help” he pleads, breaking out his pout and making me chuckle.
“Normally I wouldn’t entertain him but I really, really want to try those brownies now so . . .” I trail off as Jensen interrupts me.
“Yes!” Jensen celebrates before I’ve even had a chance to try and convince Rafe.
A little premature if you ask me.
I walk up to Rafe and run my hand up his wide chest as he smirks down at me, his blue eyes glittering in amusement.
“Pretty please can we make brownies Big Guy?” I ask pouting up at him.
His grin just widens and challenge flashes in his eyes. I’m pretty damn certain that the second I said I wanted to try them, he was going to make them but I’ll play the game, it’s fun.
I grab a handful of his shirt and pull him down until his face is next to mine. He comes willingly, his hands landing on my hips.
“I bought lots of super pretty underwear with me” I whisper in his ear. "Trick sent you a photo of it."
He inhales sharply and I repress my smirk.
“I’ll let you chose which set I wear and then model it for you?” I ask, biting down on his ear.
He groans, before moving back and slamming his lips against mine in a heated and two curling kiss.
“Deal” he whispers huskily as he pulls back.
“What the fuck did she say to you?” Cash asks, curiosity burning in his tone.
I turn around to see all the guys heated stares are on me.
“She got you guys brownies that’s all you need to know” Rafe smirks.
“Why do I feel like you’re getting the better end of the deal out of this?” Trick says shrewdly and then smirks.
“Oh I definitely fucking am” Rafe doesn’t even try to deny it as his grin widens, “Ever bought all her new underwear with her” he reminds them with a giant fucking grin.
“Oi, I said some of it and if you don’t quit it I won’t model any for you!” I threaten before realising that actually I just made worse.
“That’s what she promised” Riot chuckles.
“Holy fuck, you lucky fucker” Luc adds, grinning.
“Well played my giant friend, well played” Jensen chuckles, clapping Rafe on the shoulder.
“Alright enough of that, we need to get this shopping done. I really want to see the cabin!” I say trying to get us back on track.
“You guys go ahead, I just want to talk Rafe” Trick says waving us forward.
I shoot them both a curious look but they both wave me on with the rest of the guys. When I look back again it’s to see Rafe nodding and both of them with giant grins on their faces. I’m guessing it’s got something to do with the fact that Rafe can cook but they obviously don’t plan on telling me what’s going on.
I feel like curiosity is my constant friend at the moment.
The curiosity about Atlas pretty much out weighs every other thing I’m curious about though. I really hope he shows up.
As we finally finishing loading up the carts, Luc pulls me back behind the others when we get to the tills and the guys start to load up the groceries getting a curious look from the pretty cashier that’s only a couple of years older than me, presumably because of the amount of food we’ve bought. That is until she realises how good looking they there and suddenly she goes from frowning and bored to grinning and batting her eyes. I chuckle as the guys take no notice and she starts to look super confused. I leave them to it as I turn my attention to Luc.
“You ok?”
“Yeah I’m good. I just wanted to ask you something” he rubs his neck nervously. “So my aunt actually only lives about an hour away from here. I was wondering if you would still like to come with me to see her?”
“Of course! I would love to” I grin. “Will she be ok with me coming with you? You said before that she’s just had twin baby girls?” I ask.
“She doesn’t mind, Firecracker. She can’t wait to meet you.”
“Oh really, you’ve been talking about me?” I smirk up at him.
“Of course I have,” he grins, “I’m glad you said yes because I told her we would go and see her tomorrow” he says in a rush and I can’t help but giggle.
“I can’t wait” I smile.
He smiles at me softly and dips his head lightly kissing me.
“Oi, do you think you two could actually give us a hand packing” Jensen calls chuckling and making us pull us apart.
Luc flips him the bird and I giggle as I go to the end and help the guys pack the groceries, the carts were so full we could’ve almost done with getting a third one. I can feel the checkout girls eyes on me but I studiously ignore her not wanting her to bring my mood down. I felt eyes on me whenever I passed someone as we were going around the store. I know I look like shit right now since I’m scraped up but damn, there’s no need to be rude about it and stare.
“You guys just need me to pay for all the shit you bought” Luc chuckles good naturedly and then suddenly becomes the entire focus of the checkout girl.
I almost throw something at her. Her flirting didn’t bother me because none of the guys paid her any mind but the obvious gold digging right now pisses me off.
Jensen chuckles from beside me obviously picking up on my mood.
I abandon the packing, the guys weren’t letting me do much anyway, catching most of the groceries and packing them before they could get to me. They’re determined that I take it easy since I’m still healing, although doing absolutely on Christmas day yesterday has helped massively.
I step up to Luc’s side and wrap my arm around his waist. He automatically drops his arm around my shoulder as he glances down at me with amusement in his chocolate eyes. He’s already guessed I’m up to something. Just because I can, I slip my hand in his back pocket and squeeze his ass, he smirks at me as his gaze turns heated and Riot bursts out laughing seeing where my hand is.
“Oh just you wait Firecracker” Luc promises and I chuckle.
“Excuse me” a snarky voice interrupts before I can reply to him and I turn back towards the cashier.
“Yes?” I ask raising my eyebrow at her.
She winces as my eyes meet hers and her gaze darts to my grazes. Oh for fuck sake.
“That will be seven hundred and fifty three dollars and ninety two cents” she says speaking directly to Luc and out right ignoring me.
Luc raises his eyebrow and frowns, the guys continue to load the cart back up with the bags of groceries but I can feel their attention on what’s currently happening. She takes the card from him and then gives him a receipt and a small slip of paper. Clearly scrawled across the back of it is her name and number. I didn’t see her write it and wouldn’t be surprised if she had a stack of paper with her number on it in case a hot guy came in, she seems like the type.
I chuckle.
“You have got to be kidding me” I mutter incredulously and her gaze snaps to me sending me a glare.
Luc hands me the piece of paper with her number on for some reason obviously not knowing what to do with it which I find slightly hilarious. It’s not like I want it either so I hand it back the girl whose staring at Luc like he’s lost his mind.
“Have some respect for yourself” I tell her as I drop it in front of her, “I’m standing right here” I shake my head in disbelief.
Her cheeks flame red when I call her out for her behaviour but predictably instead of apologise she choses to lash out at me.
“What, are you afraid of a bit of competition?” she spits.
“There is no competition” Cash comments kissing me on the cheek and then grabbing a couple more bags to put the cart. The cashier looks between me, Luc who still ha
s his arm around me and Cash.
“Not even a little bit” Rafe growls out sending her a glare for good measure that has her shrinking back in her seat but looking even more confused.
Jensen comes up beside us and tips my chin towards him, his lips land on mine in searing kiss that takes my breath away. He pulls back and carries on helping the guys load the cart back up.
Trick just winks at me, and smiles.
The girls gaze is pinging between us all unsure where to land and unsure what to make of what is going on. The final blow to her confusion comes when Luc swoops down and kisses me too. Now instead of looking confused she just gapes, wide eyed and the guys all smirk. Luc turns back to face her.
“They’re right” he says simply, before turning away.
We all make our way out of the store and I make it until we are just outside of the doors before I crack up laughing a couple of the guys joining me and the others grinning as we push the cart's to the truck and start to load the groceries into the trailer since all of our bags are in the back of truck and there’s not much room left.
“Did you see her face?” I chuckle.
“Brilliant” Riot grins.
“I can’t believe how obvious she was about it when she realised Luc was bank rolling our shopping trip” Trick says.
“Do you think she would’ve done the same if I paid?” I joke batting my eyes for good measure and the guys burst out laughing as we all get back into the truck.
“I don’t think so, Sweetheart” Trick grins as he pulls out.
“So how far have we got to go now?” I ask impatiently.
“I’m surprised you lasted this long before asking” Riot chuckles next to me and I send him a mock glare. He ignores me and carries on telling the guys, “when I took her for our date she was practically bouncing around the cab and lasted not even ten minutes before she asked where we were going” he chuckles and the grin.
“What, I was excited and I had no idea, this time I know where we are going but still, how long?” I ask again.
We’re pulling out of the town limits now and start going up a one lane road.
“About half an hour ish” Cash finally answers me and I shoot him a grateful look, leaning over and kissing him softly on the lips.
Secrets Worth Keeping (Finding my Home Book 2) Page 13