“I’m going to die on this trip!” I close my eyes when Ryker takes a step forward. “You didn’t think all the craziness last night was enough? What else can we throw at Bailey? Oh, I know, let’s take her camping, another thing she’s never done before. Is this my weekend of firsts?” I bite my tongue, realizing that it’s completely possible since I can also add graduating and a kiss to the list.
“If we’re lucky,” either Kace or Devon mumbles.
Ryker must not have heard the comment, or he choose to ignore it, because he asks, “Kace, please hand the top loop to Bailey, then you and Devon can help secure it to the hook.”
My fears of being on Ryker’s shoulder are unfounded because between Kace and I, we’re able to hook everything together quickly. Ryker never wavers in his support of me on his shoulders. Once the tent is up, Kace and I unpack the sleeping bags and arrange the inside, keeping the packs to the outside corners.
“We brought you an air mattress. Do you want me to blow it up for you?” Kace asks as he pulls the mattress from one of the bags.
“Are you guys sleeping on one?” It would be awkward to be the only one using a mattress.
“No. We just brought one.” Kace shows me the inside of the bag.
“I’m good.”
“If you change your mind tonight, let me know. It’s not a big deal.” He pushes it back in the pack and zips it up.
I place my hand on his shoulder. “Thanks, but you don’t have to go through any extra trouble for me.”
Kace turns to face me. “Yes, I do. I would hike back to the truck, drive to my house, pick up my mattress, drive it back here, and hike with it to this spot if you asked me to, because you mean that much to me.”
My voice catches. I stop and take a deep breath before trying again. “I wouldn’t ask you to do that, but thank you.”
Kace looks away from me. “You would probably ask Devon to do it.”
“What?” I knee crawl in front of him, then place my hands on his cheeks to turn him to face me.
His weary eyes look at the wall. “Never mind.”
He scoots back in an effort to stand, but I push him back down. “Please talk to me. If I’ve done something wrong, I want to fix it.”
Kace licks his lips, his brown eyes pained. “You haven’t done anything wrong. I just watch the way you are with Devon, always goofing off or teasing each other. With Ryker, he takes care of everything and makes sure you don’t need or want anything. When either of them have dated someone, I watched the hurt in your eyes, longing for that girl to be you.”
If I thought my mom’s words hurt me earlier, they don’t match the devastation I feel at listening to the pain in Kace’s voice. “How do you see me with you?”
“You’re my friend.”
“I am. You’re my best friend. My silent protector that waved to me every night before I climbed into bed and walked with me to class when people were picking on me. You were by my side when I felt all alone. I don’t know where I would be without you.” I scoot closer to him, my knees touching his. “You’ve always been there for me. I can remember times at lunch when girls would come up to you. I would get so jealous. I wanted to scream at them that you’re mine, but you weren’t, aren’t.”
“You would get jealous?” His shoulders straighten a little. “I had no idea.”
“When your focus was on them, you probably didn’t notice. I tried to hide it from the three of you.”
“My focus has always been on you. It’s why I’ve never asked anyone out. I just worried that you wanted to be with the others more than me. I wasn’t boyfriend material, I was lucky to be friend material.”
“You’ve never been on a date? I thought you were going out with Candace.” Confused, I think back to conversations I overheard. She told several people she was dating Kace.
“Not true. I think she told some people that, but I never asked her out.”
“Wow. I’m not sure what to say to that. She heard me talking to Karyn about asking you to the Sadie Hawkins dance. That’s when she told me that the two of you were already going. I didn’t see you that night, so I assumed you went.” I purse my lips, trying to remember that night.
“We went camping that weekend. None of us had dates.”
I pull my knees to my chest. Listening to gossip took away my opportunity to ask Kace out. “I’m sorry. I should have asked you, but I didn’t think I could handle the rejection.”
Kace leans into me, his hand running up my arms to my shoulders. “We’ve both been wrong. I’ll be better at talking to you in the future.” His hands continue their path up to my cheeks. With his eyes searching mine, he leans in and kisses me, softly at first but the intensity builds.
Shifting to my knees, I link my arms around his neck and pull him closer to me. His lips graze mine before working across my jawline to my ear.
“I love you, Bailey,” he whispers as he continues his way down my neck.
“I love you, too, Kace.”
He pauses to look at me. “Our future is looking brighter already.” He kisses me one last time, my heart racing.
Collecting myself after Kace’s last kiss, I slowly make my way to the tent entrance and climb out. Once outside, I discover Ryker and Devon are nowhere to be found. Did they hear Kace and me? I need to talk to Ryker. I’ve made a mess of this. I should talk to Kace, but I don’t know how to break this news to him. My heart drops as I realize that I could lose all three of them in one night.
Confessions
Pacing the site, my mind races with conversations I need to have with Ryker and Kace. With the way I’ve acted, I don’t deserve either of them. I wring my hands to stop the shaking that’s set in.
After ten minutes, Ryker and Devon return, carrying wood. They place some of it near the fire pit and the rest behind the logs for sitting.
“Fires pop, especially if wet wood is mixed in with the dry kindling. If we leave it back here, it’s less likely to catch from an ember.” Ryker explains what they are doing. “We also swept this area of all needles and leaves.”
“Okay,” I respond.
“You still look pensive. We won’t let the campsite burn up.” In the firepit, Ryker builds a chimney like structure out of the wood he collected. He places smaller twigs in the middle of it.
Shaking myself out of my meditative state, I sit on the log next to Ryker and watch him work. “Do you set the pot used to cook on top of that?”
He adds the last couple of twigs before reaching behind him and grabbing some metal rods. “No, I’ll build this over it to hang a pot. We also have a grilling grate in one of the packs. I don’t think we’ll do any hunting, though.”
“If you hunt something, please don’t make me watch you kill it. I can help with anything but that.” I wave my hands in front of me. “No.”
“Well, if you change your mind…” Ryker laughs and finishes assembling his cooking contraption.
“Is there anything I can help with?” The guys did the bulk of the work. There has to be something I can help with.
“Actually, Devon is going to go get some water. Do you want to go with him and keep him company?” he suggests.
“Sure, I can carry some water, too. I saw the jugs tied to the packs.”
“They’ll be heavy, and it’s about a half mile from here.” Devon steps out of the tent with the jugs and an empty pot.
“Can we take a break if it gets too heavy? Or do we need to be back? It’s still pretty light out.” I glance up and notice the sun hasn’t started to set over the mountain line.
“If you need to, but I can carry most of it.” Devon hands the pot to Ryker.
“Let me try this time. If I can’t handle it, one of the others can go next time.” I reach for the pot.
“You’re asking for it.” Devon switches the pot out for one of the jugs in his hands before walking down a path to the right of where we came in.
Close behind, I follow him, watching my steps as there aren’t man
y places to step walking down the inclines. The vegetation becomes denser, but the sound of trickling water greets us. The plants must thrive this close to the stream.
“Stay there, and let me set this stuff down. I’ll come back and help you down. These rocks become slippery as moss grows on them because of the moisture.” Devon sets two jugs and the pot down before grabbing my jug and setting it next to his. He then puts his hand out for me to hold. I slip slightly and end up in his arms.
“Good call on setting the jugs down first. How many times have you fallen into the water to know that it’s dangerous?” Straightening myself, I cling to Devon’s arms to avoid falling.
Devon’s arms tighten around me, securing me next to him. “I think Ryker’s fallen twice and Kace twice, but it might be more than that since I’m not always with them to get water. If I had to guess, it would be higher since they’ve come back to the site wet. I didn’t question it, though.” Devon’s laugh fills their air as his green eyes settle on me.
Maybe Devon would be a good sounding board for my dilemma with Kace and Ryker. With their relationships, he would be the best person to confide in.
“I’m glad we got the chance to be alone.” Devon kicks at one of the stones near his foot, making it rock back and forth. “I need to talk to you about something.”
My chest tightens. Ryker told him while they were getting sticks. Or maybe they heard Kace and me in the tent and then Ryker told him. I focus on his foot to avoid looking at him. “Okay.”
“Here.” He guides me over to the bank to sit on a dry rock next to him. “I’ve been trying to figure out how to tell you this for a long time, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. At first, I was worried you would think less of me, and then I worried that you would be mad that I hadn’t told you. Now, I’m worried that you’ll be glad to be rid of me. I’ve never been this insecure about anything, but you mean a lot to me, so your opinion of me matters.”
At least I didn’t bring up Kace and Ryker, he might not have brought this up. I loop my leg over his and hold his hand. “It would take something catastrophic for me to think less of you. I’m always here for you. I can’t say I won’t be a little hurt that you didn’t tell me before if it’s something important, but it’s your news to tell. I respect that.”
Devon bites his nails. With my free hand, I take his hand out of his mouth and wait for him to be ready.
“In the middle of our Junior year, my dad lost his job. Work was really hard to find for him, and with my mom sick, she couldn’t work.” Breathing deeply, Devon glances off to the left. “We were kicked out of our apartment. I moved in with Ryker after that.”
“Is that why I haven’t been to either one of your houses? You always come over to Kace’s or my house?”
“Yes. I was embarrassed that I was homeless. My parents talked to Ryker’s, and they agreed to take me in so I could finish school. You see, after I moved in with Ryker, my parents moved into the underground.” Devon pauses, giving me a chance to soak in the information.
“I haven’t heard of that area. Is that far from the Heights?” Kace and I live in the Villas while Devon and Ryker live in the Heights.
“No. It’s not far from here, though. People live off the grid there. They remove their chips, leaving them in random places.” Devon turns my arm over and runs his fingers over the spot in my forearm where my chip is located.
“The government doesn’t try to find them?” I ask, wondering how a couple could just disappear without anyone noticing.
Devon turns his arm over and shows it to me. The spot where his chip should be has a small scar over it. I run my fingers over it, not feeling the small metal object each of us are given at birth. “I removed mine and wear it around my neck.” Devon pulls out the necklace to show me a small tube hanging from it.
Cupping the small object in my hand, I look at him in wonder. “Wow. Did you do this right away?”
“No. My parents did theirs first. They wanted to ensure that nothing would happen to me once I tried. Kace then helped me devise this so the chip would think it was still encased within me. I can take it off and leave it someplace, and then put it back on without anyone knowing.
“When my parents moved into the underground, they weren’t sure what would happen. People in the Heights hear stories about the people that moved there, but some were too good to be true, and others were scary.” Devon surrounds my hand, holding the trinket, with his own.
“What did they find out?” Engrossed in his story, I bend forward.
“The people are very protective. They hide their lands from outsiders. You’re blindfolded and taken into their lands, so you don’t know how you got in or how to get out. They clone your card and place the signal moving away from their land, so it can’t be tracked because you also have to wear a sleeve to block the real signal.
“Once inside, the place is amazing. With the help of Kace and Ryker, they built protection grids similar to the sound barriers that Kace designed. Satellite signals bounce off them, making it look like nothing’s there. The housing is all in the mountain, which is how they got their name.”
“All of you have been there?” I hide the hurt since I promised to be open-minded about this.
“Yes. After my parents found them, we helped them move. The tunnels into the mountain are both natural and carved. The people used some of the old coal mines to weave through the area. My parents have three rooms: their bedroom, my bedroom, and a common area where they can entertain guests and fix their food.
“Each family has a job, and all items are shared. You can keep some food in your home, but many people choose to eat in the communal dining hall. It’s peaceful there.”
“And you’ve been by yourself, or with Ryker, since then?” With my free hand, I run my fingers down the side of his face.
“Yes. I haven’t felt alone, though. Ryker’s family has been great, and I get to see my parents every now and then. I’m hoping that after my internship or college I can do more for them. I don’t think they’ll want to leave, though.” Devon squeeze my hand.
“I wish I would have known. I would have tried to do something.”
“I know you would have. It’s part of the reason I didn’t tell you. My parents didn’t want help, even if your dad could have helped him find a job.”
I purse my lips. “I meant, I would try to do something for you.”
“What would I do without you? For the last week, I knew I needed to tell you about this, and in the last day I’ve nearly made myself sick over it, just for you to be understanding. I’m sorry I underestimated you.” Devon leans in and brushes his lips across my temple.
For better access, I bend to meet him, sliding my other leg over his to maneuver onto his lap. His mouth leaves trails of kisses down to my jawline. His nose skims across my neck as he tilts my head the other direction to cover the opposite side with stringing nibbles and kisses. He slows on the way up my other cheek and connects his mouth with mine.
Passion draws me in as his tongue separates my already parted lips to explore inside. I welcome him by returning the gesture, pressing myself closer to him and wrapping my arms around his neck.
Taking a quick breath, Devon whispers, “I love you,” before finding my mouth again, determination crushing us together.
His hands flow down my arms and up my sides, skimming against my bare skin. I gasp as they reach my ribs, pulling us apart slightly.
Devon takes a deep breath and rests his forehead on mine. “Sorry, I got carried away.”
“Don’t be sorry. I’ve wanted that for so long. I love you, too, Devon.”
~
My nerves from earlier return in force as Devon and I make our way back to the camp. The weight from the jugs is a welcome punishment for what I’ve done. If they leave me here, I won’t blame them.
The camp is quiet when we reach it. A small fire blazes, causing a reddish-orange glow to emanate from the small ring of rocks.
Devon carri
es the pot over after setting the jugs by the logs. In a smaller pot, he pours in some of the liquid and then hooks the pot over the fire to heat up.
“Boiling the water helps clean out any contaminates that may be in it. We also have some chemicals we can use, but we’ll only do that as a last resort if we don’t have a fire.”
“Uh, huh.” I set my water down and then slump on one of the logs, placing my face in my hands.
A hand on my back make me jump. “I knew we shouldn’t have let you go get water.” Ryker sits next to me, worry settling into his smoky eyes. “If your stomach’s still upset, you should have rested.”
Settling back into my spot, I dig my fingers back into my scalp. How can I tell them what I’ve done? I don’t deserve their kindness.
“Can you grab a water from the bags, Kace? Bai, if you aren’t feeling well, one of us can carry you out and drive you back. Where does it hurt?” Ryker’s soft voice stabs my heart.
“Please, stop.” I shake my head, unable to say anything else.
“She was fine when we were getting water,” Devon says from the other side of me. His hand rests on my knee.
My body vibrates from stress, tightening my muscles as I sit there. With my mind racing between each of the guys, sobs escape me. How could I let this happen? I knew better; I’ve always known better. This is why I never chose one of them. I slide off the log and sit on the ground, pulling my knees up so my cowardly face can hide behind them.
“Bailey, you’re scaring me. Please tell me what happened.” Kace voice comes from in front of me.
“I’m sorry,” I mutter. Tears flow freely as I wallow in my self-hatred.
“What are you sorry for? Please tell us so we can help.” Kace gently touches my calves.
His pain is too much for me to bear, so I look up into his deep brown eyes, narrowed with worry. My stomach clenches as I decide to explain. They deserve that much from me.
Looking down, I grip my legs tighter for support. “I’ve kissed all three of you.” I bang my head against my knees. “I’m not sorry it happened, but I’m sorry that you’ll all hate me, now. I’ve tried so hard over the years to just stay friends, but you each mean so much more to me than that. Can you ever forgive me? Can we still be friends?”
Falling For Them Volume 2: Reverse Harem Collection Page 62