Her Best Men: A Brother's Best Friends Reverse Harem

by Rye Hart

  But she kept her gaze bouncing around, and it made me worried.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked. “Talk ta me, Katie.”

  “Just got a lot on my mind is all,” she said.

  “Then talk ‘bout it. It’s what I’m here for. It’s what we’re all here for.”

  “Actually, I think I should talk to all of you guys at once, so it diminishes the number of times I have to say it,” she said.

  It was something in the tone of her voice that turned my blood cold. I told her to stay there and not move a muscle, then I went in search of my brothers. I pulled Dylan from his office and found Andrew sipping on some coffee. I ran all the way out to the stables and told Wyatt something was wrong with Katie. He moved faster than I’d ever seen him, charging up the hill and leaving me in his dust.

  Then, when we were all gathered, I pulled us all into the break room.

  “What’s goin’ on, doll?” Dylan asked. “Why do ya look so upset?”

  “I can’t do this,” Katie said.

  I felt my heart drop to my toes as each one of my brother’s faces sunk.

  “Whaddaya mean ‘ya can’t do this’?” Andrew asked.

  “This. This thing between all of us. I can’t do it,” Katie said.

  “Why not?” Wyatt asked. “What changed from the phone call we had yesterday?”

  “This is all a huge mistake,” Katie said as she shook her head.

  “You know damn good and well it isn’t,” I said. “Now talk to us, Katie. We talked to you.”

  “No, you didn’t,” she said. “You talked behind me many times before I had the chance to talk for myself.”

  “Is that what this is about?” Dylan asked. “Because whatever we gotta do to make it up to ya, we will.”

  “Don’t do this,” Wyatt said. “Don’t do this now, Katie. Not when we’re all in so deep.”

  “None of this should’ve ever taken place. It was a bad decision made in a very emotional state. I should’ve listened to Whitney and Lizzie’s warnings.”

  “I don’t give a shit what your friends think,” I said. “I love you, Katie. And I ain’t leavin’ this without a fight.”

  “Just leave me alone, okay?” she asked as she pushed through us. “I’ve told you what I needed to say. I don’t know what came over me or what I thought could come of this, but it was nothing but a silly teenage fantasy.”

  I reached out my arm and caught her as she walked by me. I jostled her, forcing her to look up at me with tears in her eyes. This wasn’t like Katie, and I wasn’t going to stand by and have her walk out of my life again.

  “Did it feel like a teenage fantasy when I was holdin’ ya like this?” I asked.

  I pulled her into my chest as she placed her hands on my body.

  “Caleb, let ’er go,” Andrew said.

  “Did it feel like a teenage fantasy when I did this?” I asked.

  I crashed my lips down onto hers, and I felt her moan against my skin.

  “Caleb, cut it out,” Dylan said.

  “Does this feel like a teenage fantasy now?” I asked in a whisper.

  I tucked a strand of hair behind her ear as a tear wafted down her cheek.

  “What happened?” I asked. “What changed over the course of the last two days?”

  “I can’t do this,” Katie said breathlessly. “I just can’t. I’m sorry.”

  She pushed out from my grasp and turned her back on all of us. I watched her walk away, rounding the corner and taking off down the hallway. Her heels clicked quickly along the floor until an office door slammed, then I turned toward all my brothers who were staring, wide-eyed and slack-jawed.

  “What the fuck was that?” I asked. “What the hell happened?”

  “She left,” Andrew said. “That’s what happened.”

  “Well, why the fuck did she do that!?” I asked.

  I looked at Dylan and Wyatt, but all they did was shrug.

  “So that’s it,” I said. “We’re just done? Like that? After everything we all just went through?”

  “I don’t know,” Dylan said. “Does anyone know what the fuck’s goin’ on? Wyatt, you said you talked to her or somethin’?”

  “She called me yesterday. Wanted to check up on me and make sure I was okay with all of this.”

  “Those were her exact words?” I asked.

  “Yeah. She was in good spirits yesterday mornin’.”

  “Then what the hell happened after yesterday mornin’?” I asked.

  “Don’t look at us,” Andrew said. “Fucked if we know.”

  “Somethin’ ain’t right,” I said.

  “She ain’t ours anymore,” Wyatt said.

  “There’s never been a point in this lifetime where she hasn’t been ours. Y’all know that as well as I do. So, are we gonna figure out what the fuck’s goin’ on, or are we gonna stand here with our cocks in our hands lookin’ like a bunch of pussies?”

  I watched my brothers look around the room at one another before Andrew turned his head back to me.

  “You got a plan, Sherlock?”

  “Fuck yeah, I got a plan,” I said. “So sit down and shut the hell up.”

  CHAPTER 35

  DYLAN

  “Fuck!”

  I threw my cell phone against my office wall, and it shattered into pieces. I watched them fall to the floor, my head throbbing with confusion. There was a herd of footsteps coming down the hall as my office door burst open, and soon all my brothers were at my side.

  “The fuck’s wrong with you? What's with all that language?” Andrew asked.

  “Don’t start with me,” I said.

  “Must be serious if you’re cussin’ with customers out here,” Caleb said.

  “Where’s Katie? Isn’t she supposed to be workin’ the front desk today?” Wyatt asked.

  “She’s not comin’ in,” I said.

  “Why not? She okay? She sick?” Wyatt asked.

  “No,” I said. “She quit.”

  I turned to face all of them and watched their expressions grow dim. A text message. She’d sent a fuckin’ text message saying she wasn’t coming in and that she was quitting. Every time I tried calling her, she sent me to her voicemail.

  Only a text message that said “sorry” and “I quit.”

  Not in so many words. The damn thing was four fuckin’ texts long. But that was the gist of it.

  “What the hell’s goin’ on? This isn’t like Katie. Did she call ya?” Andrew asked.

  “No. She sent a text message,” I said.

  “That’s really not like Katie,” Wyatt said. “Somethin’s wrong’, y’all. I’m worried ‘bout her.”

  “I tried callin’ her last night, but she wouldn’t pick up,” Caleb said.

  “I’m not tryin’ to jump down her throat or anythin’, but this has me worried,” Andrew said.

  “I’m not gonna let this happen,” I said. “I’ll be right back.”

  “What the hell do you think you’re gonna do?” Wyatt asked as he grabbed my arm. “Ya just gonna bust down her door?”

  “I’ll be right back,” I said again, yanking my arm from his hand. “In the meantime, someone check in our guests. And give them a lunch voucher for havin’ to be privy to this nonsense.”

  Before anyone else could stop me, I was out the door. I hopped into my truck and sped out of there like a bat out of hell, my heart drumming in my chest. I sped all the way around town, running yellow lights and taking back roads to try and get to Katie’s apartment faster. I was only focused on one thing, and that was figuring out what the hell was going on.

  Then, I needed to figure out how the fuck to fix it.

  I skidded into a parkin’ spot before I high-tailed it up the steps. I knocked on Katie’s apartment door, my motions growing more furious. I knocked until my knuckles hurt, then I balled my hand up into a fist and started trying to bang down her damn door.

  Why was Katie not opening up?

  Finally, the door whippe
d open. I focused my gaze on the person standing in front of me, ready to hash all this shit out. I wasn’t leaving until I had answers.

  But instead, I was staring at Lizzie.

  “Knock it off,” she said.

  “Where’s Katie?” I asked.

  “Not here,” she said.

  “Then why are you here?”

  “Because I have a key, and I can be here whenever I want.”

  “Don’t you have an apartment of your own?” I asked.

  “Yes, and Katie’s got a key to it. That’s what best friends do. They have keys to each other’s places when they’re single and tryin’ to navigate their lives.”

  “Where is she?”

  “Not here.”

  “Let me talk to her,” I said.

  “Not a chance, even if she was here,” she said.

  “Get outta my way before I move you. Katie!”

  “I’ll call the fuckin’ police before I let you in this damn place. Now go away.”

  Lizzie slammed the door in my face, and I kicked it. Running my hands through my hair, I did the only thing I knew I could do. There was one other person who was bound to know what was going on with Katie. One more friend she had that knew everything going on in that head of hers.

  I only had to track her down.

  I raced back to work and barreled into my office. My brothers were looking at me like I was insane, and I knew I probably looked it. I pulled out file drawer after file drawer, going through all the employee records until I came to Katie’s name.

  I prayed to all the gods I knew that Whitney’s number would be in here.

  “What’s goin’ on?” Caleb asked.

  “You find Katie?” Andrew asked.

  But all I did was keep flipping until I came to it.

  Katie’s emergency contact information.

  “Hell, yes,” I said as I whipped out my phone.

  There it was. Written as plain as day in that picture-perfect handwriting. Whitney’s cell number.

  I dialed the number and pushed everyone out of my office. I slammed the door, knowing damn well they’d come knocking it down in a few minutes. The phone rang and rang in my ear, and I was preparing to hang up the phone and call right back.

  Until she finally picked up.

  “Hello?” she asked.

  “Whitney, don’t hang up. It’s Dylan Lee.”

  “Dylan? Fuck, is something wrong with Katie?” she asked.

  “That’s what I was callin’ to ask you about. Do you know what’s goin’ on with her?”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “It’s a long story. And involved. The gist of it is things were going well, then suddenly Katie backed away and quit her jobs here at the resort. Have you spoken to her at all?”

  “Not in a few days. We were supposed to have a girl’s night where we ate dinner and all watched a movie together, but Lizzie picked up her phone saying Katie wasn’t feeling well. Dylan, what’s going on? You’re scaring me.”

  “I don’t know. I was seriously hopin’ you could answer that question for me. I went to her apartment to talk to her about her quittin’ because she’s not actin’ like herself, and Lizzie was there. She’s hidin’ out at her apartment with that girl as her attack dog.”

  “Doesn’t shock me. Lizzie’s good at that,” she said. “What did you guys do?”

  “Seriously, I don’t know, Whitney. But I’m worried. We all are. I’m sure you and Lizzie have opinions on all of this goin’ on because y’all care for her, but all of us were together on Saturday.”

  “Like at work?” she asked.

  “No, Whitney. Together. All of us at once. And we talked about things. Admitted feelings to one another that have gone unspoken for years. Then we all agreed to be with one another, as a cohesive unit. Then Katie comes into work talkin’ about how she can’t do it and it was all a mistake, then the next damn day she quits! Via text message!”

  “Okay. So, lots to digest there. But, setting it aside, you think Hunter found out?”

  “Hunter’s a very confrontational person. He would’ve come to us if Katie went to him with somethin’ like this. If it was Hunter, he would’ve stormed in here by now and laid into us. I don’t think this is Hunter.”

  “Okay. Well, I can try to talk to her. But that’s all I can do.”

  “All I’m askin’ is you try. I’m worried sick ‘bout her.”

  “I can tell. If it’s all the same to you, I was supportive of the fun. I was wary of anything long-term with all she’s going through and, you know the entire situation, in general. But she was happy having fun, and I was all for it.”

  “Thanks,” I said. “I appreciate it.”

  I hung up the phone and turned around to see my brothers standing in my damn office. Their brows were furrowed tightly, and their arms were crossed over their chests. I sighed as I tossed my phone onto my desk, then slumped down into my chair.

  “How long y’all been standin’ there?” I asked.

  “Long enough. So ya got nothin’?” Caleb asked.

  “Not until Whitney can pull somethin’ out of her,” I said.

  “This is too weird. You mean to tell me one of her best friends don’t even know what’s goin’ on?” Andrew asked.

  “I know, I know. Y’all aren’t sayin’ anythin’ I don’t agree with,” I said.

  “What are we gonna do?” Wyatt asked.

  “We could always go with my plan,” Caleb said.

  “Your plan’s to corner the damn girl ‘til she talks,” Andrew said.

  “Well, we didn’t fuckin’ do that last time and look where it’s gotten us! Maybe she wanted to be in the damn loop in the first fuckin’ place! What if we all go over to the apartment?” Caleb asked.

  “First, I need you all to shut the hell up,” I said.

  “Then what?” Wyatt asked.

  “Then, we’ll figure it out. Together,” I said.

  CHAPTER 36

  CALEB

  This thing with Katie was getting to me. I didn’t know what the fuck was going on, but Dylan wasn’t making any headway with Whitney. Lizzie kept picking up Katie’s fuckin’ phone and all of her video calls were going unanswered, whatever the hell that meant. So, I decided to pay a visit to the only other person that Katie might’ve reached out to.

  I decided to go visit Hunter.

  I was nervous about talking to him, but I was desperate. Something was wrong with Katie, and I’d gotten in too deep with her to let it go now. I hopped into my truck on my lunch break and drove to Hunter’s place, hoping to fuck he had the damn day off. I got to his house and knocked, then my heart started slamming against my chest when he opened the damn door. He had kept up residence in his momma’s house after she’d passed, but I knew it wasn’t doing him any favors being in a place that reminded him of her like that. I saw his eyes rimmed with red, and I wasn’t sure what was going on. I didn’t know if he was tired or drunk or crying or what. But I knew this was my last shot.

  “What’s up?” Hunter asked.

  “You got some time to talk?” I asked.

  “Sure. I’m off today, so I got all the damn time in the world. You hungry?”

  “Nah. I’m good.”

  “What brings you ‘round? You guys don’t come up here much anymore.”

  “I don’t know how you can stand to be up here,” I said.

  “Only home I’ve known, and I don’t intend to stop livin’ here now.”

  “You’re a stronger man than me,” I said.

  “So, what’s got you all bent outta shape?” he asked.

  “Have ya heard from Katie lately?” I asked.

  He narrowed his eyes at me as he leaned against the staircase.

  “No. Why?” Hunter asked. “Somethin’ happen at work?”

  “So, you really haven’t talked to her?”

  “The fuck does that mean?” he asked.

  “Somethin’s wrong with her. That much I know. She quit out o
f the blue and now her attack dog’s at her apartment fieldin’ everyone who comes over. We can’t get a read on what’s goin’ on, and Lizzie won’t let us talk to Katie.”

  “That’s some bullshit. Katie fuckin’ quit? She needed those jobs. Why the hell would she do somethin’ like that?” he asked.

  “I don’t know. I was hopin’ you could tell us that.”

  “What aren’t you tellin’ me, Caleb?”

  “I’m not sure what you mean?” I asked, trying to play dumb. I really didn’t want to get into a fistfight with one of my best friends right now.

  “I know you. There’s a part of this story you ain’t tellin’ me. I know my sister. She don’t quit nothin’ out of the blue. Hell, she hung onto a guy that wasn’t right for her until her damn rehearsal dinner. Quittin’ ain’t in Katie’s blood.”

  I clenched my jaw, knowin’ exactly what would come of this conversation.

  “This is my fuckin’ sister we’re talkin’ about. Now you clue me in, or we’re gonna have a problem,” Hunter said.

  “Okay, look. I know you’re gonna be mad, but you gotta understand, we love Katie.”

  “We? Who the fuck is ‘we’?” he asked.

  “Me. And my brothers. We—we’ve been courtin’ your sister.”

  “What?” he asked, incredulous.

  “It sort of just happened. First with Wyatt, then with Dylan. We all sort of fell into things, and we had a long talk ‘bout it. Katie’s apparently loved us for a long time, and she was wantin’ to be with all of us.”

  “That’s not Katie,” Hunter said. “That’s your sorry asses wantin’ one woman like you always fuckin’ do. Hotshot Lee brothers sharin’ women and breakin’ hearts.”

  “Hunter, it ain’t like that. Not with Katie,” I said.

  “Are you tellin’ me you all fucked my sister? That your definition of ‘courtin’?” he asked, his face turning a dangerous shade of red.

  “Hunter. Listen to me. Somethin’s goin’ on with Katie. We all agreed to be together. Exclusively. Then the next day she came in, said it was all a mistake, then sent a text to Dylan sayin’ she quit. This isn’t like her.”

  “No. It fuckin’ isn’t. But it sounds like she came to her damn senses and did what she needed to do. My sister’s better than that. Better than any of you fuckers. And if you lay one more finger on her, I’m gonna hunt you all down and mount your fuckin’ heads on my wall!”