by Mia Belle
Wait. The guys are here?
Leaping to the door, I throw it open. All three of them stand there, looking more handsome than ever as they stare at me, their eyes shining. I just gaze at them like I’ve never seen them before. I don’t know what it is. Maybe because of my confused feelings about them. Maybe because we’re together, in my room. Maybe because things are changing between us.
“Hey,” Zane says, flashing me that crooked smile. “Permission to enter?”
I knew his eyes were a beautiful shade of green grass, but they seem even prettier now. The same goes for Caleb’s sky-blue eyes and Aidan’s chocolate ones.
Oh, gosh. What’s wrong with me today?
They blink at me as though trying to figure out if I lost my brain. I think there’s a high chance I have.
Shaking my head to rid these crazy thoughts and emotions, I widen the door and invite them in.
“Keep the door open,” Dad repeats, and like before, I cringe. I swear it’s like his eyes are on the walls.
I force a smile. “Don’t mind him.”
Zane chuckles. “Yeah, having the principal as a dad can be a real party pooper. But your dad’s cool.” He leans against the wall near my TV while Aidan drops down on the bed, and Caleb sits beside him.
I remain at the door, shifting from one foot to the other. The Armstrong boys are in my room, and they’re regarding me with unreadable expressions.
“Is your dad okay?” Caleb asks me. “How’s it going with his therapy?”
I squeeze between him and Aidan on the bed. “It’s going well, I guess. He doesn’t really talk about it, but he seems happier. He has an appointment in twenty minutes.” Which means the guys and I will be alone in the house.
I’ve never been alone with three guys before, guys I’m crushing hard on.
Right on schedule, Dad knocks on my open door. He takes in the two guys on either side of me and Zane leaning against the wall.
“Okay,” he mutters to himself. “There are three boys in my daughter’s room.”
“Dad,” I groan. “We’re just friends.”
Aidan’s eyes meet mine, but like before, I can’t understand the look on his face.
Dad’s quiet as he examines one guy after the other. Then he nods slowly. As if trying to convince himself he can trust me to be alone with these boys. He has to see that they’re not just any boys. They’re the Armstrongs—the sweetest, kindest guys I have ever met.
He smiles, though it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “Have fun, kids.” He nods again before leaving my room.
Zane chuckles lightly. “Man, it really feels like he’s the prison warden sometimes, doesn’t it? But I get he’s looking out for you. Wants to protect you.” His gaze meets the others’. “Same way we want to protect you.”
I lift a brow. “Protect me?”
“From your ex and his friends,” Aidan tells me.
“We know you’re strong,” Caleb adds. “You can take care of yourself, but we want to watch over you just in case.”
I look from one to the other. “What are…did they say something to you?” Was that what Aidan was hiding from me a few hours ago as we sat wrapped in each other’s arms?
A hard swallow makes its way down Aidan’s throat as he nods.
Zane clenches his fists at his sides. “They want your blood. But not literally, I don’t think.”
“They want revenge,” Aidan clarifies. “They have something planned, but I don’t know what it is.”
Zane snorts. “Too bad we can’t have you as our inside guy, spying on them to know what they’re up to.”
My eyes widen and I hug myself at the sudden cold. “You guys think it’s really that bad?”
Aidan’s chest heaves. “You took away something he loves.” He shakes his head. “No, you didn’t take it away. I meant to say he thinks you took it away, but he brought it on himself. He has no right to pin this on you.” He slips his hand in mine, giving it a squeeze. “Please let us watch over you. I couldn’t bear anything happening to you.”
“Me, either,” Caleb says, taking my other hand.
Zane comes to stand before me, placing both hands on my shoulders and gazing into my eyes. His pretty green ones are searing with anger and hatred, but there’s kindness and warmth in there that’s only reserved for me. “You know I’d sooner kill myself than let any harm come your way.”
Before I can stop them, tears seep into my eyes. “You guys are so nice to me. I don’t deserve it.”
“Of course you do,” Zane says, sweeping his thumb across my eyes to rid the tears.
Caleb runs his thumb over my palm. “Maybe those guys are all talk and no play,” he tells me, most likely trying to make me feel better. “They’re football players and have a reputation to keep. And you have a restraining order against Josh.”
Zane grits his teeth. “Something tells me if those assholes want something, they’ll move mountains to get it. But don’t worry, Lia. We’re not letting you out of our sight.” He yanks me into his arms. “Never.”
I shut my eyes, resting my head on his strong chest and allowing the tears to slide down my cheeks. “Thanks,” I whisper. I open my eyes and reach for the other two. “To all of you.” I pull back. “But I’m not going to let those jerks hold me back from being happy and living my life.”
“No, never,” Aidan says. “You deserve to be the happiest person in the world, and no one will take that away from you.”
I smile. “I’m so happy you guys are my friends.”
They exchange a strange, secret look with one another. Zane is still bent on the floor, right in front of me, his eyes erupting with the most emotion I’ve seen from him. “Lia, there’s something we need to talk to you about, but now might not be the best time.”
I glance from Zane, to Caleb, to Aidan. They’re still wearing those strange looks.
“What?” I ask. “You can tell me anything.”
Aidan searches my eyes. “You sure? It’s selfish of us to bring this up now when you have so much on your plate.”
Once again, I look from one guy to the other, curiosity filling me up. Their expressions have turned serious and I can’t help the different theories taking control of my brain. That they’re in trouble, that they might move away.
I place one hand on Aidan’s shoulder, the other on Caleb’s, and stretch my foot out to Zane, wrapping my ankle around his. “You guys know you can tell me anything.”
Zane’s eyes trek to his brother and cousin. They nod to him. He takes both my hands. “This might sound crazy. Hell, none of us have ever dealt with this before.” He blows his hair out of his eyes. “I like you, Lia. I’m crazy about you. I know Aidan told you the same thing when you went on your picnic, but yeah, that’s the truth.”
I already suspected he had feelings for me. He did try to kiss me after all. But hearing him say those words makes butterflies flap around in my stomach.
Caleb turns to me, his sky-blue eyes deep with emotion. Lifting his finger, he strokes my cheek. “I’m crazy about you, too.” He rubs the back of his neck. “Remember when I was up late baking after you went out with Aidan? I was…a little jealous and hurt, I have to admit. But I understand that you like Aidan and I’ll get out of your way.”
Hearing the pain and loss in his voice only makes my feelings for him grow stronger. As I sit with the Armstrong boys in my room, one thing I’m certain of: I’m not letting go of any of them.
Sliding my hands out of Zane’s warm ones, I get to my feet and wrap my arms around myself. This is crazy. This is insane. But it feels so, so right.
I lift my head, catching each guy’s eyes. “I do like Aidan,” I tell them.
With an understanding nod, Zane stands up and returns to his position against the wall, deep in thought. Caleb averts his eyes from me, but I can see the dejection inside them. Aidan just stares into my eyes, hope and guilt mixed into his.
“But I also like Caleb,” I continue. “And Zane. I like all
three of you.”
The guys’ jaws fall open as they exchange glances with one another. Zane pushes off the wall. “What?”
“You like all three of us?” Caleb asks, eyebrows knitted.
“Each one of you holds a special place in my heart.”
“But what does this mean?” Aidan asks.
I shrug. “I’m not really sure. You guys told me how you feel and I’m telling you how I feel. I was confused before, but I’m not anymore. I like you. All three of you. A lot.”
“As boyfriends?” Caleb asks.
I nod, then laugh lightly. “This is insane.”
Zane steps closer to me. “Doesn’t feel insane to me.”
“Or me,” Aidan agrees.
“Not to me, either,” Caleb adds.
My eyes flicker from one guy to the next. “You don’t care that I like all of you?”
Zane’s the first to talk. “We all care about you and want to keep you safe. And you care for us just the same. Why should it bother me if you like them, too?” He shrugs. “Besides, I’ve heard of people having a few girlfriends or boyfriends.”
Again, I just stare at him. Then I turn to the others. “And you feel the same way?” I bury my hands in my hair. “I’m seriously going to have three boyfriends?” I mutter to myself.
Aidan stands, placing his hand on my back. His touch is as light as a feather. “I would do anything to be with you. And I know Zane and Caleb feel the same. But if you’re not ready for three boyfriends, then…”
“I’m not choosing,” I tell him, shaking my head. “I can never choose.” I take a deep breath as I think it over. I banish the worries from my head. I won’t be afraid anymore. I’m no longer scared to let anyone in. “No. I’m ready. For all of you.”
“Are you sure?” Caleb asks.
“Very sure. But we need to take things slow. I need time to get used to having a boyfriend—boyfriends—and letting myself grow close to you guys.”
They nod in unison. “Of course,” Caleb says. “We’ll go at whatever pace you need.”
I take in the deep, intense emotions displayed in their eyes like a neon sign. Just looking at them, I know how much they care about me. “But is this what you guys want? Don’t push my needs before yours.”
They spend a few minutes reassuring me that this is exactly what they want. They settle down next to me on the bed and I turn on the TV. None of us are watching, though. I’m thinking how crazy but exciting all this is. And from the expressions on their faces, I know they’re thinking about it, too. There is no jealousy brewing in their eyes, like one would expect in a situation such as this one.
I still can’t wrap my head around it.
A few minutes into the TV show, Aidan says, “There’s something we need to consider. Who’s going to be Lia’s public boyfriend?”
Zane crosses his arms over his chest. “We shouldn’t have to hide. Screw everyone who has a problem with it.”
Aidan gives him a look. “And what about her dad? He wasn’t even okay with us being alone in the house with her.”
Zane frowns.
“We can’t bring attention to ourselves,” Caleb says. “Whatever we do is our business. But we’ll have to tell your dad…one day. And Craig and Julia, too.”
One day. Is he assuming we’ll be together forever? I wish we could. Honestly, there is no other guy—or guys—I see myself having a future with. I hope they feel the same, but we’re only sixteen, too young to be thinking about serious relationships. It hurts my heart to think about them dating other girls.
“Okay,” Zane says. “Aidan should be Lia’s public boyfriend. Everyone at school already knows you have a crush on her.”
His cheeks turn slightly peek. “What are you talking about?”
He rolls his eyes. “Alexis knows, so pretty much the whole school does.”
I think back to two weeks ago, when Sophie told me Aidan liked me. I couldn’t believe it back then and I’m still struggling to believe it now. Even though we kissed and he told me how he felt about me, it’s still too crazy to imagine that a guy like Aidan—a guy like all three of them—chose me out of all the girls at school.
“I think Aidan’s the best choice,” Caleb agrees, and a small smile forms on his face. “It definitely would get all those girls off your back.”
“Alexis won’t be too happy when she finds out we’re a couple,” I say. “Not that I care.”
Zane nods. “Okay, that’s agreed on. What else?”
Caleb shifts on the bed, his thigh brushing against mine. “Private stuff? You know, between each of us and Lia.”
“Will stay private,” Zane says. “Hugging and kissing in public is fine. But not anything beyond that.”
“And no getting jealous,” I add. “If anyone gets jealous, this won’t work.”
They nod in agreement, and it takes me a second to accept that they’re taking this so casually, like it’s totally normal for me to have three boyfriends.
Zane tucks some curls behind my ear. “You’re worrying too much, Amelia,” he says softly. “It’ll be fine. Like we said, we’ll take things slow, go at whatever pace you need.”
I lean against the back of the bed, shutting my eyes and enjoying the warmth of these three sweet, amazing guys swallowing me up. “You guys are awesome, do you know that?”
Zane’s got that crooked smile teasing his lips. “Sure do.”
Aidan chuckles, his eyes twinkling at me while Caleb smiles sweetly. “I’m trying to convince myself that the son of a murderer could be awesome,” Caleb says. “And you know what? He could be the most awesome person in the world. We’re not defined by our parents. We choose who we want to be. Who we want to date. What we want to do. We pave our own paths.”
I slip my hand in his. “We totally do.”
We watch the rest of the TV show, but it’s hard to concentrate when they’re sitting so close to me. Zane’s chest sweeps against my arm every time he breathes. Caleb’s thigh constantly brushes mine. And Aidan, who’s the farthest from me, keeps sending me warm smiles that turn me to pudding.
As nice and wonderful as this is, it hits me that I’m not the only person living here. “Uh…” I run my hand through my hair, hating that our special time has to come to an end. “My dad will probably be home soon.”
The guys frown. Zane crosses his arms over his chest. “Don’t want to leave you.”
“I know, and I don’t want you guys to leave, but we’re not adults and don’t have our own place yet.” My face heats up the second the words leave my mouth. Did I just reveal that I want to live with the guys after we graduate? What if they don’t plan on being with me forever? “I mean,” I sputter. “I just said that because…”
Zane sandwiches my hand between both of his. “I don’t know about the others, but I’m not going anywhere, Amelia.”
Caleb rubs my arm. “Neither am I.”
Aidan slides his hand behind Zane and squeezes my other arm. “Or me. We don’t know what the future holds, but I know you’re going to be in it.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Zane
The guys and I get home, barely sneaking past her dad, who came literally two minutes later. The last thing we need is him banning us from the house. Not that it would keep me away. Nothing and no one would keep me away from this girl.
Her blinds are up, perfect. And she’s in her room, on the bed with her laptop, staring at the screen. Her textbook sits next to her. Damn, she’s cute when she’s studious.
It’s probably best not to interrupt her when she’s so focused on her homework, but I can’t resist. I bend toward her window. “Hey, neighbor.”
Her head shoots up, eyes zeroing in on the window. A cute smile forms on her lips. “Hey.”
“What you up to?”
She waves her hand around. “Nothing fun.”
“Yeah, doesn’t look like much fun. How about you come here?”
She rubs the back of the pen against her lips. H
er lips that I want more than anything to press mine to. But I’m going to take it slow. She’s driving this train.
“Hmm,” she says, rolling her eyes around the room. “I think I’d rather stay here. It’s comfy.”
“It’ll be even more comfy at the window across from me.” I wiggle my eyebrows, which makes her laugh. I love her laugh, it lights up her entire face. Just a few weeks ago I would have done anything to bring out a smile. Now it takes no effort whatsoever. I’m glad she’s slowly demolishing the walls she built around her heart. Amelia Kelly deserves only good things. And I’ll do whatever I can to make sure she gets them.
“What are you staring at?” she asks, eyes narrowed curiously.
I blink. “Nothing. Just waiting for you to get your little butt here.”
She slides off the bed, strutting to the window. She places both elbows on the edge, resting her chin on her hands. “Well, here I am.”
I chuckle. “What’s up?” I study each feature on her face.
“You’re staring at me again,” she complains.
“‘Cause you’re beautiful. Inside and out.”
Her face reddens. “I’m not.”
“You are.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
She rolls her eyes. “Are we five?”
“If you keep denying it, then yes, we’re going to act like we’re five until you accept it.”
She raises an eyebrow. “You can’t force me to accept that.”
“Sure I can, because it’s the truth.”
She throws her hands up. “You’re impossible!”
I smirk. “In the best way possible. And hey, you’re smiling and laughing. That’s all I want—to make you happy. Because when you’re sad, it feels like my world is ending.”
She gives me a look like she doesn’t believe me. “There’s more to your life than me.”
“Not at the moment. You’re all I care about. I want to keep you safe and happy.”
She stares at me for what feels like hours. “Why?”
I lift a brow.
“Why do you want me to be happy? Why do you and the others care about me? There are so many girls at school who would…”