by Nikki Chase
“This could be important.” I reach over to get the phone, expecting to see “Liam” on the screen.
But it’s not him.
I wouldn’t expect this caller to ever call me, especially at this hour, after school . . . but I have to pick it up.
“Sorry,” I say to the masseuse, who shrugs and walks out of the room. I tap on the green Accept Call button once I’m alone. “Hello.”
“Hi, Miss Green. How are you?”
“Hi, Principal Morgan. I’m good, thanks for asking. How are you?” I ask, my heart rate picking up as anxiety grips my heart.
“I’m good, Miss Green. Thank you.” There’s hesitation in his short pause. Then, he says, “This is difficult for me to say, but I feel I must tell you. There’s a handful of parents who’ve been making complaints about you.”
My stomach sinks. “What are the complaints about?”
“Apparently, some students heard you having an . . . argument with a man after school the other day, and some inappropriate words were exchanged.”
“Principal Morgan, I’m so sorry about that. I want you to know that I didn’t invite that man to the school grounds. I didn’t expect to see him there.”
“I understand,” Principal Morgan says sagely. He’s a calm, old man who’s probably seen so much disturbing stuff that little everyday things don’t bother him anymore. “I explained to these parents that we didn’t know all the details and should reserve judgment.”
“Thank you for doing that.”
“Don’t mention it. Personally, I think they were being too harsh and hasty. After I told them that, they started bringing up issues concerning your personal life.”
I frown. Yeah, this is not the kind of problem a Swedish massage can make me forget.
“Issues like what?” I ask.
“These parents are concerned about the people you spend time with,” Principal Morgan says diplomatically. Surely, he means rumors are already spreading about me and the gang bangs I’m having with the five Hunter brothers.
“Are you concerned about it, too, Principal Morgan?” I ask directly. I’m getting tired of all these dances people do around me to keep me from the truth.
“No,” he says, to my surprise. “What my staff members do with their own personal time is none of my business. And Miss Green, I honestly think they’re being too nosy about something that should be part of your private life.”
“Thank you for saying that.”
“Now, the reason I’m calling is . . . I feel like you should know that these parents, they just told me they’re going to bring this up to the superintendent. And based on what I know about his personality . . . Miss Green, I’m saying this as a friend. If you have other opportunities, pursue them now.”
I can’t believe this. My hands are shaking.
“Are you saying . . .” I clear my throat. There’s a lump there that just won’t go down. “You’re saying I might get fired over this?”
“Unfortunately, yes.” Principal Morgan starts to explain how the rules could be interpreted as saying that a teacher’s personal life, even if it doesn’t affect her performance at work, could result in disciplinary action.
I stop listening to Principal Morgan’s lengthy explanation halfway through. A million thoughts rush through my mind.
God. As if things weren’t bad enough as they are.
Now I’m about to lose Joseph’s lawsuit, and I’m also about to get fired.
How am I going to pay the judgment?
What am I going to do now? Where am I going to work? Will the rumors follow me wherever I go?
Where can I go? I’ve lived here in Ashbourne my whole life.
But most importantly, what about the Hunters?
Because everyone’s been preoccupied with the lawsuit, we haven’t even discussed what’s going to happen at the end of their stay here.
Are we just going to go our separate ways and see one another again when they come home for Christmas? Somehow, judging by how we’re always spending time together, I find it hard to believe they’ll just disappear into thin air.
But at the same time, what if I lose my job and become dead weight? I can’t let myself grow too dependent on them. Even though everything’s been going really well, I can’t give up my ability to take care of myself.
But what if the only job I can get is teaching in another small-town high school? I won't be able to maintain a job in this line of work, while also seeing the Hunters.
Aw, damn it.
If some parents know about me and the Hunter brothers, I can be sure that my mom’s also found out and told my dad.
“. . . Green?”
I can’t believe it; the day just got a little bit worse. I didn’t think it was possible.
“Miss Green?”
I jerk awake, suddenly aware that the phone call with Principal Morgan hasn’t ended. “Yes, I’m still here.”
“I was just saying . . . You should be careful. Even if the superintendent doesn’t take any action, these parents seemed so determined I wouldn’t be surprised if they also bring this to the media.”
What? The freaking media?
What if this becomes a widely-known scandal and the Hunters’ business gets associated with it?
Ollie
“I’m so sorry there was nothing I could do, Ava,” Liam says as we all sit around Ava’s coffee table. “The judge saw that one message you sent him about paying him back, and he said it was binding. According to him, you already said you were going to pay him, so now you have to do it.”
Ava nods and lets out a sigh. She’s sitting between me and Liam, so I sling my arm over her shoulders and rub her arm, trying to soothe her.
The living room is quiet even though all six of us are here. Nobody feels like saying anything. It’s been such a bad day.
But at the very least, I’m glad Ava wasn’t there at the hearing. It went pretty quickly. It was brutal. The judge didn’t even seem to have gone through all the material Liam had spent so much time preparing.
And that smug son of a bitch, Joseph, looked so fucking pleased with himself. I enjoyed watching his face fall when he realized Ava wasn’t coming, though.
I don’t usually condone violence, but right now it’s not just Mason who wants to inflict some pain on that asshole.
We’ve all seen the signs he left on Ava—no, not physical ones. But we’ve seen the surprise in her eyes whenever she’s being complimented or treated nicely, and the fear in her ragged breathing when she has nightmares while calling his name in the dark.
I’m not a psychologist, but I’ve read a lot on dysfunctional relationships because it fascinates me, and I have access to a wide range of medical literature.
From the way Ava described her relationship with Joseph, it seems to me like he was abusive—that’s a strong word to use, of course, and I don’t want to mention it in front of Ava in case that alone triggers something within her—but the way he verbally abused her and intimidated her was textbook abusive behavior.
Ava also mentioned how he used to punch the walls and grab her wrist to keep her from leaving volatile arguments. Those were early signs of physical abuse, and Ava was lucky to have escaped when she did.
From my time volunteering at the women’s shelter, I know how hard it can be for a woman to escape someone who’s bigger, stronger, and has more money than her, especially if he’s determined to hunt her down wherever she goes.
So now that Ava’s with us, we’re determined to protect her from that asshole. She didn’t need to watch her abuser win in court. She doesn’t deserve to suffer any more of his shit.
“Hey, at least it’s all behind us, right?” Noah asks, trying to stay positive.
“Yeah. We knew, going in, that we could lose,” Nathan says. He’s been spending all day cooking up a storm because he couldn’t go to the hearing and risk having Becky, the judge’s assistant, see him with us.
Yes, that means Noah had to stay home with hi
m because obviously, she would've recognized him as well. At least the twins had each other’s company while they were restlessly waiting for some news at home.
Ava nods, but her stare is worryingly blank.
“Ava, are you okay?” I ask.
Her eyes start to shine, reflecting the light as they fill with water. Yeah, that’s a sign that she’s not okay.
“I’m sorry, guys,” she says.
“For what?” almost all of us ask at the same time, frowns on our faces.
“There are rumors going around about us right now, apparently. Some parents are going to bring this up to the superintendent and my principal said I could get fired. He also said the parents may try to publicize this.”
“Publicize what? The lawsuit? That could only be bad for Joseph and good for you,” Liam says.
“What does the lawsuit have to do with the school?” Nathan asks.
“Not the lawsuit,” Ava says as tears fall down her cheeks. “Us. Our relationship. What if this gets into the news and affects your business? You’re trying to expand, aren’t you?”
I huff a big, relieved sigh as I tighten my arms around her shoulders. “That’s it? You were worried about us?”
“Yeah. I know you’ve all been working so hard, and now drama from my life’s bleeding into your business.”
“Ava, you’ve just lost your ex’s stupid lawsuit, and you’re about to lose your job,” Mason says. “Don’t worry about us. We’ll be fine.”
“Yeah, Ava. We’re more worried about you. Who cares what people think about us?” Nathan asks.
“But what about your expansion?” Ava asks, concern dripping from her voice.
“Don’t worry about it,” Noah says. “People will still want cheap medical care in holiday destinations, even if news about our relationship gets out.”
“Yeah, we’re confident enough that our products can stand against our competitors’, and we doubt our customers care that much about our personal lives,” Nathan adds.
“Are you sure? I’m thinking of just pre-emptively quitting my job before those parents do anything too extreme,” Ava says.
“I’m really glad you decided to talk to us before doing that.” I give her a smile. “And I’m really glad you’re thinking of us, but we’re more concerned about you, Ava. How do you feel about losing your job? Have you always wanted to be a teacher?”
Ava pauses to think. “It was actually my parents’ idea. I like my job okay, but I wouldn’t say it’s a life-long dream or anything.”
I let out a big exhale. “That’s good. I was worried you were set on teaching, because I can see that being a difficult career path for you because you’re seeing us.”
“Yeah, I don’t want you to have to choose between a career you love and us,” Noah says.
“Maybe this is an opportunity for you to change gears and find something you’re really excited about.” Liam gives Ava a serious look.
“Maybe . . .” Ava agrees tentatively.
“You know what?” Mason asks. “It’s not so bad. We lost the lawsuit—so what? At least we’re done with the case, and we don’t have to deal with that creep anymore.”
“I agree,” I say. “And if you’re not super attached to your job, I change my mind about you quitting. I want you to find something that makes you happy.”
Ava tears up again, but I can tell she’s crying with happiness this time.
“You’re all too kind to me,” she says.
“No, we’re not. You deserve to be treated with all the kindness in the world.” I give her a quick peck on the temple.
“I . . . I can’t make any decision either way yet about my job. I still don’t know what I should do next,” Ava says. “But I know I have to decide quickly because this group of parents who hate me may do something soon.“
“A lot’s happened in one day, Ava,” Noah says. “Just let everything go for now, and sleep on it. We’ll come back to this in the morning.”
I have no clue what our next step should be. Looking at the expression on Ava’s beautiful face, though, I can’t help but say, “We’ll think of something. We’ll fight back.”
Ava
I can’t believe this. I came home in the foulest of moods, and now I’m ugly-crying from how happy I am.
“Thank you guys so much,” I say, gratitude flooding my chest. “I don’t think I’ve ever felt so loved.”
“Oh, Ava, you poor thing,” Ollie says with a small laugh that triggers my own giggles. He wraps both his hands around me and gives me a peck on the cheek, while Liam chuckles and ruffles my hair.
Even though my parents never did anything I’d consider cruel or abusive, they’ve never been very warm or loving either, and we certainly don’t share the same closeness that the Hunters do.
Besides, my parents would never do what the Hunters have already done for me—defend me against Joseph and give me protection, even if their reputation will suffer.
All my parents ever talk about is other people, and they spend the rest of their time fearing that other people will talk about them, too.
As their offspring, my behavior reflects on them, so I must be careful to also avoid being the talk of the town—unless I get an award or win a competition or something like that. Otherwise, I should keep my head down and avoid standing out too much.
But what if they were wrong?
What if everything they’ve ever told me about living was wrong?
Maybe people don’t care as much about my life as I think they do.
Or, even if they do care, how much thought do they really put into it? I know my parents probably spend hours talking about some scandal one day and then never mention it again.
Why should I care whether they care?
A smile breaks out on my face as I realize what this means for my whole life, what possibilities lay in front of me, what adventures are just waiting for me to experience.
I wrap my arms around Liam and Ollie, who are sitting on both sides of me, as tears roll down my cheeks. “Thank you, Liam and Ollie.” I look across the room to see Mason and the twins coming over to join the group hug. “Thanks, Mason, Noah, and Nathan.”
“You are loved, Ava,” Noah says.
“It’s just so easy to love you.” Nathan comes up from behind the couch and wraps his arms around my neck. His breathing scorches my skin, waking up my desire, despite the emotions wreaking havoc in my chest right now.
Strange. I’ve never felt anything like this. I lift my hand up to stroke Nathan’s soft hair.
“I’ve never wanted to protect anything more. You’re so precious to me, beautiful.” Mason sits on the rug in front of me and caresses my legs. When our eyes lock, we share a tender look that says volumes about how we feel.
“I’ve loved you from the time I saw you having dinner with your parents,” Ollie says, reminding me of the first time we met.
I giggle. “That has to be a lie.”
I was feeling hideous that night, thanks to my parents’ incessant criticism over dinner and my weight gain. (I’ve gained even more since then, and I totally blame Nathan and his devilishly delicious cooking.)
“No, I was there and I saw it myself,” Liam says in his deep, baritone voice. “It was love at first sight for my kid brother, although Mason and I couldn’t take our eyes off you either.”
“All five of you must be blind,” I say playfully, more out of embarrassment than anything else.
“They say love is blind, but that doesn’t mean you’re not beautiful, beautiful,” Mason says. “I mean . . . I couldn’t stop staring at these long legs—” he runs his fingers lightly up my thighs “—and that spankable ass.”
“What he’s trying to tell you,” Liam says, “is that he loves you. And I do, too.”
I giggle. “I love you, too. All five of you. And I can’t even believe this is happening. I can’t believe how lucky I am to have all of you in my life.”
“Don’t speak too soon,” Nathan tease
s me. “You may regret it when we disagree on something and we all gang up on you.”
“I don’t care. You’re worth all that trouble,” I say, laughing as hands and arms envelop me with warmth.
“So you’re saying you don’t care if we gang up on you, huh?” Mason asks wickedly. “I’d like to test that.”
I know what Mason means, of course. I’m a high school teacher in a small town; not a nun. Besides, I have Internet access.
And to be honest, I have been looking forward to sleeping with all five of them at once, but Liam's been busier than any one of us in the lead-up to the hearing.
Well, now that the hearing’s over, he probably won't be working on his laptop late into the night anymore, which means we’ll have time for anything.
Is this the right time to be doing that, though? We’re in the middle of a crisis here.
“Now?” I ask Mason.
“Why not?” Nathan asks, his lips grazing my ear and lingering for a while, causing my skin to tingle.
“Because . . . we have problems?”
“There will always be problems, beautiful. That’s just life.” Mason’s on his knees on the rug in front of me, dragging his lips from my bare knee up my thigh, pulling my pencil skirt up inch by inch and quickening my heartbeat.
“What matters is we stick together and try to enjoy life anyway,” Noah says. “And right now, I can think of a few things that will help you enjoy life a little bit more.”
“Fuck that,” Nathan whispers in my ear. “You’ll enjoy it a lot more, Ava.”
“Nathan goes for the hard sell. I believe in under-promising and over-delivering.” Noah winks.
I can’t even respond anymore because Mason’s parted my legs and continued kissing up my thighs. He’s so close to the top it’s all I can think about. And Nathan’s nibbling on my ear lobe doesn’t help my already-crumbling self-control.
I bite my lower lip to stifle a moan, but it’s clear from my little gasps and my heavy breathing that I’m already gone.
“Let’s get those clothes out of the way,” Liam says with finality, his voice full of authority as he grabs the hair on the back of my head and pulls me into a searing kiss. His lips feel firm and hot, adding more fuel to the raging flame of arousal within me.