by Quell T Fox
“I promise, Cupcake.”
“Wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Alec nods his head, and Maddox continues to smile, finally give me an “of course.” I take the responses for what they are.
“I’m sorry to be the cliché girl right now, but lucky for you all, it doesn’t happen often. Thinking of being in a relationship with all of you is more terrifying than that time I walked in on Maddox and Callan… and that was awful.” I tuck some hair behind my ear and wet my dry lips. “I’ve never been good at relationships. Friends, family… and especially boyfriends,” I continue.
“This will be different, because we are different. We will never hurt you. Ever. I can promise you that for all of us.” Callan answers. The others nod their head in agreement. It’s amazing that everyone can agree so easily to something that has to do with us, yet, can barely stand to talk to one another.
“Okay. That’s all I needed to hear. Enough of the girly stuff, let’s eat.” I had more to say, but I know that it’s too much. There’s no point in beating a dead horse. They get the point of what I’m saying. I pick up my menu and look down the long list of breakfast items. I’m too indecisive for this kind of thing. Why couldn’t they have a simple, four option menu?
“You are enough for us.” Alec’s rough voice fills the silence around the table. My nails dig into the menu. I feel his eyes on me and I look up to meet his stare. I can see in his eyes that he understands what I was saying, without saying it… because he feels that way too. He feels like he isn’t enough. He gets it. He gets me.
“Is that what you’re worried about?” Maddox asks. “Because if so, it stops now.” His firm words have the wrong effect – or maybe the right one. I think wanting to drop my panties and have him bend me over this table for everyone to see is not what he was going for. Who am I kidding? This is Maddox I’m talking about. Of course that’s what he wants. He expects girls to drop their panties with every smile he offers, and probably expects an award for doing so.
“I–“ I lick my lips and put my menu down. At some point, I will figure out what I’m going to order. “It’s just that every guy I have been with has cheated on me and it was just two of us. It’s hard to believe that the four of you are okay with sharing me. That I can satisfy each of you enough for you to not seek what you need elsewhere. If I wasn’t enough for one, how will I be enough for four?” I drop my shoulders, picking at the imaginary lint on the white, cotton tablecloth.
“Because you are. That’s just how it is.” Maddox picks up his menu, and I know he thinks that his answer is enough. That his words should be the end all, be all, of this conversation.
“But how?” I dig. Needing more.
“It is not something that can be explained, but it will be proven. Give us time to show you. Be patient.” Callan’s words always help me to see the bigger picture, to think more clearly.
“We’re family, Friday. All of us. Like Callan said, give us time. We will show you.” Lenny leans over and kisses my cheek. I nod my head and pick my menu back up. I’m reading it but I can’t tell you what it says. I have too many thoughts going through my head. Too many questions that I need answers. No, they have been answered, but it isn’t enough.
French toast. That’s what I decide on, because who doesn’t love French toast?
CHAPTER 3
Friday
-TUESDAY-
We spent close to two hours at the diner. The service was slow, but the food was good. The place was busy, so I can’t blame them too much. I’ve been a waitress; I know how it is. I checked the receipt before leaving, making sure that Maddox left a generous tip. He did, and it made me proud. He’s caring in his own kind of way. After eating we head to a local grocery store, and we all go in together. Lenny is in front of me, and when he walks through the door his shoulder bumps against the frame, causing me to bump into him. “Pay attention, jerk. There are people behind you.” Maddox scolds from behind me. I’ve never seen Lenny this attached to his phone before. I expect that from Alec, but he’s barely touched his today. Should I ask Lenny what he’s doing? No. I don’t want him to think that I don’t trust him. That makes me look crazy. I am being crazy, though. They don’t need to know that!
The grocery store isn’t busy and we’re in and out in a short amount of time. Callan had a list on his phone that he made on the way here. Surprise, surprise. It’s adorable how organized he is. It’s something I can appreciate since my life has always been (and still kind of is) such a mess. We browsed around and let Callan do his thing. I was told it was better to not mess with his system, so I stayed out of his way. When we get back to the hotel the guys grab the bags, not allowing me to carry anything. The valet takes the keys to the Jeep and drives it off to the private lot. I help them put everything away when we get to the room. And by them, I mean Callan, because no one else helped. I plop onto the couch once everything is done and find something on TV to watch. I’m joined a little while later by Callan, who sits at the far end of the couch. He picks my feet up and rest them over his thighs and picks up his book.
“We should do something.” I suggest.
“What would you like to do?” Callan looks up from his book, placing the bookmark down and closing it softly. He pushes his glasses up his nose, and I don’t know why I find the motion so adorable.
“I don’t know. Something.”
“Want to play cards?”
“Yes! Do you know how to play Rummy?”
“Do I– of course, I know how to play Rummy.” He gives this genuinely proud smile that does things to my insides. Dirty, dirty things.
I curl my legs up towards me – ignoring the ache between them – and sit up. Callan walks to his bag and pulls out a deck of cards, waving them at me. “Come on, let’s go to the table. It’ll be more comfortable.”
I skip to the table, glad to be doing something other than being a couch potato. I have energy that I need to burn. I wish I could go for a run or out to a bar, but we all agreed that we would try to stay low until we figure out what is going on. And by all agreed, I mean Maddox told us so.
Maddox walks down the hallway, Lenny hot on his heels. Alec’s door is closed, so I assume he’s had enough socializing for today. He gets a gold star for participation from me.
Something about yesterday makes looking at Maddox a little easier. Physically, he’s easy on the eyes. Talking is what causes a problem. But even that has become more tolerable. I don’t have this urge to piss him off as much as I did just a short time ago. I mean, it’s still there, but it’s been turned down from a high heat, to a medium one. Progress. Maybe drinking my blood made him nice. Does that work like that?
“Play with us?” I ask, as I draw a card.
“Going out for a smoke.” Maddox points towards the sliding door, not slowing his steps. Or taking the time to look at me. That arrogant sonofa…
“Lenny?” I ask more cheerily. He’ll play with us, he always does stuff with me.
“Sorry, Cupcake, going with Maddox. Got business stuff to discuss.” Huh. He doesn’t look up at me when he speaks either, he keeps his bright blues on his phone. Maybe that’s what it is. Business stuff. See. I am acting crazy for nothing.
Callan and I play seven rounds of cards. He beats me every time. Every. Damn. Time. He reaches the 500 goal quicker than I’ve seen anyone do before. We even play beyond that mark because I was sure I’d beat him. I thought I was good at this game, but clearly, I’m no match for Callan. He teases me each time I lose, and I swear to him at the beginning of each round that this will be my lucky hand. It never was. I finally give up, throwing my cards down and my hands into the air. He has a smug grin on his face and tells me that next time he’ll go easy on me.
“Don’t you dare.” I squint my eyes at him. He chuckles and then starts on dinner while I head to the couch, feeling a bit better about laughing and playing cards for a whil
e. Alec is still locked up in his room. Not much has changed on that front. He’s opened up a little, he’s talking more. That’s a step in the right direction, which is all I care about. As long as we are moving forward and not backwards, I can’t complain.
The whoosh of the sliding door fills my ears as I aimlessly flip through channels, not finding interest in anything. Maddox and Lenny walk in, followed by the faint scent of cigarette smoke. Maddox heads down the hallway, probably to his room and Lenny takes a seat on the opposite couch… okay, that’s weird. He always sits with me. Anger boils in my gut, but I push it aside. I am being fucking ridiculous. A spoiled brat, that’s what I’m acting like. Lenny is an adult and can sit wherever the hell he wants. He’s turned the volume off on his phone, but the vibration is still sounding every few seconds. The second he puts it down and I think he’s going to pay attention to me, it vibrates again, and he’s got it right back under his nose.
I look away from the TV and notice that even Callan is giving Lenny a strange look between chopping vegetables. At least I’m not the only one that notices it. That makes me feel a little less crazy. I get up from my spot on the couch and head into Maddox’s room. The door is open, this time. He’s bent over his bag that’s on the floor in front of his bed. I knock and enter, shutting the door behind me.
“Hey. What’re you doing?” I ask sweetly, taking a seat on his bed.
“Grabbing clothes. Going to head downstairs to the gym. It’s been too long.” Uhm, am I invited? I want to watch him work out… and get all sweaty… and just hot. My face must give away what I’m thinking. “I’d invite you to come with me and watch, but the gym is split – male and female. Unless you want to sneak in? I’m all about breaking the rules.” He wiggles his eyebrows at me, causing me to laugh.
I wish I had known there was a gym earlier. Did I know that? I would have gone down downstairs to let the energy out. Too bad it’s gone now and I’m in no mood for physical activities. Unless, Maddox is involved, that is. Sneaking in doesn’t sound half bad…
“So, you can break rules, but others can’t?” He gives me a hard look but ignores my question. “What do you want?” He asks, pausing what he’s doing. One hand is digging into his bag, while the other is holding a bunched up shirt.
“I was just going to see if you were still okay with me spending the night with you… “
“Is that what you want?”
“Maybe.” I nibble on my bottom lip.
“If that’s what you want, then yes. Don’t do it because you feel bad for me. I don’t need your pity.” He’s always so harsh, and to the point. I’d appreciate it more if it were aimed towards someone else, and not me. “I’ll be back late but wait in here for me… if you want, that is.”
“Maddox–“ He pauses in the door frame and turns towards me, raising an eyebrow in question. “Does your other offer still stand? You know… the one about healing me?” I look up at him under my lashes, brushing my hair away from my face.
“I’ll be back in a few hours. We’ll talk then.” He leaves the room, and me alone.
I stare at myself in the tall mirror that’s in the corner of his room. I look fucking awful, and that’s an understatement. My face is a mix of purples and yellows and everything in between. I caught a glimpse of myself in the bathroom mirror earlier. That damn mirror takes up the entire wall over the sink. It’s ridiculous and almost impossible to miss my reflection. I’ve been brushing my teeth with my eyes closed for the last few days. How do you think that’s been working out for me? Not fucking well, that’s how. If I had seen how bad I looked before breakfast, I never would have gone out in public. I remember everyone staring at me at breakfast. I imagine they thought I was a hooker, and they were my pimps. Or that one of the guys kicked my ass, or something terrible like that. The awful thing is, that’s not entirely wrong. Am I stupid for staying? Are these the red flags that I’m going to kick myself in the ass for ignoring a couple years down the road? My hand goes to the necklace around my neck. The one that Callan bought me before we went out for dinner, before the explosion. It made it through, and so will I.
I shake my head and walk away from the mirror. I can’t deal with my face looking like this any longer. I get it, this all happened less than a week ago. Healing takes time. But I didn’t realize how much I relied on my looks… maybe that’s why I’ve been acting like a jealous bitch? Ready to pounce on any female that comes too close to one of my guys.
How are the guys okay with looking at me? Fuck, is that why Lenny has been avoiding me? Well, that just makes me feel like a royal heaping pile of shit. No, he wouldn’t do that. No way. He’s too sweet to even think that way. And Alec, how does he feel? Knowing that part of this is because of him. I slide the star pendant back and forth through the thin chain as I lay down on Maddox’s bed. I haven’t taken the necklace off, and I don’t plan to.
If Maddox can heal me, why not let him? What’s the worst that can happen?
CHAPTER 4
Maddox
I’ve been looking forward to going to the gym all day. Then, Friday walks into my room, with those perky tits and perfect lips, telling me she finally wants to spend the night with me and now I have no interest in the fucking gym. At the same time, she pissed me off. I asked her to spend the night with me like two nights ago and she chose everyone else. Which is why I left her alone and came down here anyway.
Do I care? Not really. I guess I’m being petty. That’s just who I am – a petty mother fucker. We had an awesome day together yesterday. Shit with me and her isn’t going to be easy, I know that. It’s going to be hard and need a lot of work. We’re both stubborn, but we will make this work. Of course, I want to spend the night with her, and every minute of the fucking day. She’s all I think about. She’s like an addiction and I can’t kick the habit.
Right now, I need to focus on the gym. When I’m home, I go daily. I never miss. Not going is one of the hardest things about being on this vacation, other than being stuffed into a car and hotel rooms with these Shitheads. I guess I have to admit that this is going better than I expected, and it’s getting easier to be around them by the day. I may even have enjoyed a few moments. Ugh.
I’ve been extra cranky lately, which I blame on the lack of gym. Plus, I’ve noticed Lenny is being weird as fuck today and I don’t understand why, but that isn’t helping my mood either. I can’t even think of anything that would keep him this distracted and glued to his phone. He hasn’t been up Friday’s ass like he normally is, that’s how I know something is up for sure.
I get in the elevator and reach the bottom floor within seconds. I hook a left around the corner and enter the men’s gym. Thankfully, it’s not busy. I’m the guy at the gym that everyone goes up to and asks for tips and pointers. It’s cool, I appreciate the compliments, but really when I’m at the gym I just want to work out and do my thing. I head to the locker room to change. It’s small, but still bigger than I expected. I wanted to change before I came down, but when Friday walked in talking about staying, I knew I had to get out of there ASAP, or I would have stayed and bent her over my bed.
The first thing I do is hit the mats to stretch. After stretching for a few minutes, I head to the treadmill. I put my headphones over my ears, blast some FFDP and run to warm up. I run for a half hour. By the end, I’m feeling good. I’m warmed up, heart pumping and a thin layer of sweat covers my skin. I’ve finished my bottle of water, so I fill it up before heading to the weights.
The high of the gym is intoxicating. Before I know it, I’ve been down here for two hours. I’m sore and feel fucking amazing. I’m also dripping with sweat, now. The locker room down here has showers, but I’d rather use the one upstairs. I grab my bag from the locker and head up to the room, knowing that I have the best present ever waiting for me, because I know she stayed.
Lenny and Callan are laying on their self-appointed couches when I come in. The sun went down
at some point when I was gone. The room is covered in darkness, other than the light from the TV. I can’t tell if they’re sleeping, and I don’t care to check because I have business to attend to. I’m not in the mood for talking. Especially to Lenny. He never hides anything from me, but I know he’s hiding something now. I promised them all when we were young that I wouldn’t force them to be truthful with me, but I may have to if he doesn’t start telling me the truth. Because we also promised we wouldn’t lie to one another and not that two wrongs make a right, but I’ll be damned if he’s doing something to fuck this up for us. I’d rather break a promise to him, than to Friday. Besides, Alec and Callan would probably agree with me. And if they didn’t, oh the fuck well. I’m in charge. It’s my decision to make.
I already made a mistake, and I feel bad enough. Luckily, it was easy to fix with Friday, but I don’t know how many more of our mistakes she is willing to take. She’s strong, but I can see how fragile she is on the inside. My fuck up set us back with her. I do regret it. I realize now that it wasn’t the right thing to do, but there isn’t anything I can do about it. I see the way she looks at me sometimes. Like I’m the monster that hides under her bed at night. If she only knew that I very well could be.
I make it to my room without anyone asking questions. The door to my room is closed and I walk in without knocking. I stop dead in my tracks, when I find Friday in my bed in nothing but a white lacey bra and panty set. The lamp is the only light in the room, shrouding her in a soft, golden light. She’s laying on her stomach, kicking her feet in the air, playing on her phone. She’s facing away from me, so I have the most perfect view of her ass. Her long red hair falls in waves down her back. My dick hardens instantly.
She did this on purpose.
She looks at me over her shoulder, her full lips taking on a devious smile and all I can think about is shoving my cock between those perfect lips of hers.