by SM Olivier
“She shouldn’t have gotten that far,” Axel clipped out concisely.
“How far?” I asked before looking around the room and seeing little Isa in the corner. “Oh! How is she? How long was I…sleeping?”
I remembered now, blacking out after seeing Isa’s name. It was such a coincidence for her to have a name similar to my daughter. It was one of the names we had thought about for her.
“She’s coming around, Avery.” Easton’s face softened with a broad smile. “Our little girl really is a fighter. By the afternoon, I hope we can feed her some real sustenance.”
I felt an overwhelming sense of relief fill me.
“You were only out for about three hours,” Wyatt said slowly, making no move to remove me from his lap. He then cleared his throat. “Is anyone going to tell me what happened?”
“I…sleep run,” I told him in a quiet voice. “It’s triggered by stress.”
“How long have you done this?” Easton said with a frown as he began to clean my other hand.
“Since I was about twelve,” I said, shifting uncomfortably. I felt Wyatt place one hand on my hip, while the other one began gently rubbing my back.
I didn’t want to tell them why the running began. It was too early in the day, and I was still emotionally raw from the earlier revelations.
“It comes and goes,” I confessed instead. “I ran on and off for about a year, and then it stopped. There’s no cure for it. No medicine has ever worked. Tae Kwon Do, running, and meditating works sometimes, but stress overrides all of it.”
“But if you sleep next to someone, it helps, right?” Easton asked.
I nodded, still feeling embarrassed.
“Will you be okay if we…sleep next to you until you feel less…stressed?” Easton asked gently.
“I don’t want to feel like a burden,” I admitted quietly.
Corbin sighed loudly. “You won’t be a burden. I’ll gladly lay with you.”
“Me too,” Easton said with a touch of pink entering his cheeks.
“Me, three.” Wyatt squeezed my hip.
“I’ll come up with a schedule,” Axel stated.
Axel and his schedules. If the situation weren’t so severe, I would have teased him about it.
“For now,” Axel added. “I think it’s time we started getting everyone up so we can hit the road.”
“I’ll start breakfast,” I mumbled.
“No, you’ll rest here,” Axel said with a no-nonsense tilt to his chin.
I sighed. I wasn’t going to win that argument. No use engaging Axel in one.
Chapter 15
I peered down at Isa and softly stroked her cheek. “We were going to call my daughter Bella Mae after my mother, Isabella, and Trevor's mother, Pamela Mae,” I explained to Easton as he emptied the first aid office in the mall. “We contemplated naming her Isa Mae for a moment. Finding out Isa’s name… shocked me—what a coincidence for her to have the name of my baby. We chose that name because my mother was Isabella Harris.”
From his expression, it was no surprise to him. “I knew who you were long before Corbin and Wyatt told me about you,” he softly said. I noticed the tinge of pink in his cheeks was back. “My brother and I saw you and your sister on the Teen Choice Awards when you were twelve or so. King had a crush on Emery, and I…” He didn’t finish, and I filled in the blanks. I smiled at his openness at the risk of his own embarrassment.
I could imagine a younger Kingston having a crush on Emery. In a lot of ways, they were the same. Both were extremely outgoing and gregarious. They liked being the center of attention and had an aura that drew people to them naturally. I wondered if he still had a thing for her.
I felt warmth enter my cheeks but then remembered the chaos of that day all too well. Marlon had known the producer of the show and had gotten us a hosting spot.
“That was when our careers were at an all-time high,” I explained ruefully. “Disney and a few other talent agents wanted us to cross over to the acting side. Emery and Mom wanted it. Dad and I did not. Then something… happened, and we left that world for good.” I wasn’t ready to tell him about Marlon and his pedophile ways.
Easton gave me a gentle smile. He had this energy about him that felt so relaxing. I could imagine I could sit in his presence for hours without feeling any discomfort.
“I think you guys broke Kingston’s heart,” he said, “when he found how young you were. He used to have pictures of you two on the wall of his bottom bunk. I tried to remind him you guys were young, but he didn’t care.” He gave me a rueful shrug.
“So what your trying to tell me is that I should tease Kingston that he had a crush on Emery, who was seven years his junior?” I teased him.
He laughed. “I say save it for your arsenal. You may need it someday.” He gave me a conspiratorial grin.
I laughed and nodded. “I’ll keep that in mind. Hey, East?” I said tentatively.
“Yes, Ave?” he asked, pausing in his movements.
“I’ve heard kangaroo care for a young infant can sometimes make them healthier. Do you think if I carry her on my chest, skin to skin, it can help her? I know I’m not her mother, but maybe…” My voice trailed off.
He gave me another warm smile with a nod. “I don’t think it would hurt to try. Kangaroo care isn’t only done with mothers. It’s done with fathers, too. I just want to make sure we’re careful to watch her IV. Do you have a button-up shirt? It may be easier to transfer her to your chest.” He suddenly cleared his throat. “I can, uh, get one of the women to help you, if you like, after instructing them on what to do.”
My eyes widened. I hadn’t thought of that. I finally smiled and shook my head. He was such a gentleman. “Doc, if you don’t mind seeing a pair of boobs, I don’t mind showing them to you so we can make sure it’s done correctly.”
He took a step forward, surprising me with his closeness. He lowered his head so that our eyes met. Damn, he had some beautiful eyes. The caramel tone of his skin only made them even more startling.
“I don’t think I’d be able to look at them in a professional capacity,” he admitted huskily.
I gave him a crooked smile. “I’ll go get a button-up shirt,” I told him boldly. I didn’t have one, but I knew where to find some. I’d make a quick trip to one of the stores right outside the office and grab a few.
I watched him bite his lower lip before I slowly turned away from him.
What was wrong with me? I’d had Axel between my thighs two nights ago. Then I had him in my mouth yesterday. Last night I had Corbin’s tongue in my mouth, and now I was entertaining the thought of Easton gazing at my breasts.
Was I so loved starved that I was rushing this? Had I been in a famine for so long that, the first time I find five highly attractive men desiring me, I was willing to feast? Was I moving too fast? Should I have been taking my time in getting to know them?
I was so deep in thought I didn’t notice Jade, Natalie, and Emery until I nearly ran into them. I backed up and hoped they’d move on. They hadn’t seen me yet, and I was okay with that. I didn’t need their negativity in my life right now.
“Their interest in her won’t last long,” I heard Natalie scoffing.
“I’m pretty sure it just a pity fuck,” Emery added with a laugh. “Trevor always said she was unenthusiastic in bed. Why do you think he cheated on her so often?”
I felt a twinge in my chest. I really hoped Trevor didn’t talk about our sex life to my sister. I wouldn’t say I was unenthusiastic in the sack, but I knew my inability to have an orgasm had bothered him. He had thought I wasn’t that into sex, and when he wanted to be daring, it made things even more difficult for me to come.
No one wanted to be thought of like a dead fish in the sack. I didn’t believe Trevor would have discussed such intimate details about our sex life, but then, I never thought he would have cheated on me, either. I didn’t know what the truth was, nor whether Emery was making up things to make herself
look like the more… interesting twin.
“Is it true you slept with him while they were still together, Emery?” Jade laughed, no recrimination in her voice.
“No,” Emery sounded shocked. “They were on a break. She’ll lie and tell you differently, though. She’s always felt insecure and jealous of me. She was such a tomboy, and no guys wanted her if they could have the better version. So, no. Trevor had texted me and wanted me to come over to party with him and his frat brothers. When I got there, he was flirting with me all night. He invited me back to his room and told me how he’d always wanted me but didn’t think he had a chance, so he settled for her.”
I knew some of her stories were all lies, but I wondered if Trevor had really called her over. They had hung out often, and his frat brothers had a thing for the sorority girls. Did he plan on seducing her that night? Was that why he wouldn’t text me the whole day?
Both girls laughed. “The boys will get bored with her real quick then,” Jade said smugly.
When had they become such good friends? Maybe it was when they all realized they had a common enemy. Not that I did anything to deserve it. I may have humiliated Natalie, but perhaps she shouldn’t have been such a twat to that cadet.
“Corbin and Wyatt love to share, and if she can’t satisfy one man, she won’t be able to satisfy both of them,” Natalie said snidely.
I frowned. Had Natalie been with the boys too?
“Like, together?” Emery asked. I looked around the corner to see her shudder with interest. She was basically salivating. “Are they…good?”
“The best.” Natalie grinned.
I blanched. I knew they weren’t interested. I knew the name of the game, but did I want to face two girls for goodness knows how long, knowing they’d been with all the guys I was interested in?
“I don’t know. I’ve always been partial to Kingston and Axel, myself.” Jade gave her a knowing smile. “If you like it rough, Axel knows exactly the right amount of pain to give you to bring you pleasure, and Kingston,” she made a deep sound in the back of her throat, “is a freak. When he’s in the mood, he doesn’t care where or what you’re doing. He’ll pull down your pants and fuck you right there.”
“Kingston can be yummy at times,” Natalie agreed. “I just wish Axel would kiss me or go down on me. He’s a bit selfish.”
“Well, I like a little roughness, and kissing can be so overrated. When you say anywhere, does that mean anywhere at all?” Emery’s voice was breathless. “And which one’s Kingston? The blond or the brunette?”
“Why?” Jade asked with a laugh. “You’ll leave your vanilla boyfriend and try and help us get our men back? I guess it may take all three of us to keep them interested. They are a bit insatiable at times.”
Emery laughed back at her. “Have you ever had them all at once?”
Natalie and Jade laughed.
“Easton and Axel really aren’t into the group thing, but Wyatt, Corbin, and Kingston are always up for a little group fun,” Jade answered.
“You’re asking an awful lot of questions for a girl who has a fiance, Emery,” Natalie said a bit snidely.
Emery snorted. “Trev was always the consolation prize. My sister has always wanted what I wanted. I wanted Corbin first, then Trev. Since she knew she couldn’t get Cor, she moved onto Trev. Now that he’s mine, she’s moved onto Corbin. But I’m sure if I talk to Trev, he’ll be okay with sharing me,” she said flippantly. “You need to tell me everything, though… what each one of them likes. Lace, leather, a lot of ass, a lot of tits? I want to know it all.” She was nearly purring.
All her lies and her attitude revolted me, and suddenly I felt sick to my stomach. I closed my eyes and leaned my head against the wall. I wasn’t going to compete for the men's attention. Maybe it was time I stopped things before it got too far.
“You know it’s rude to eavesdrop,” a masculine voice purred in my ear.
“It’s call reconnaissance,” I whispered back, nearly jumping out of my skin. “It’s always good to know who your friends and foes are.” I straightened, needing to get away from Kingston. I had a lot to think about. It had been foolish to have even entertained the idea of me with five guys.
With my head up, I moved towards the girls. I had no other choice. The store with the flannels I needed were in that store.
All three of them looked at me with varying looks of hate. What I ever did to my sister, goodness knew.
“Tick-tock,” Jade taunted.
“Blub, blub, little fishy,” Natalie added with a laugh.
Emery laughed. “Oh! I get it. A clock, like time, is running out, and she’s like a fish in bed,” she clarified.
What were they, twelve? I thought. I rolled my eyes, choosing to ignore them.
“Hey, girls,” Kingston drawled suddenly.
I cringed, not realizing he was still behind me.
“Hey, Kingston!” They giggled simultaneously.
I continued ahead, but I still caught his words.
“Just want to let you girls know, just in case you get any wild ideas in those little heads of yours… my brothers and I would never, ever be interested in any of you, now or ever again,” he said almost coldly. “The fact that you have to tear down a beautiful, intelligent, strong woman to make yourselves feel better is just one of the reasons why you’re all ugly, small-minded, weak women.”
“Oh come on, King,” Jade said in a pouty voice. “We didn’t even know she was there! You know we’re just joking around. We didn’t mean anything by it. Want us to take you to the dressing room? We’ll show you exactly what you’re missing.”
“You knew, all right,” he bit out. “That’s why you were having a loud conversation in the spot you’d seen her last. And as far as any invitations go, never again.”
Tears of hurt, humiliation, and confusion threatened to fall.
“Avery,” he said quietly, following me into the store. “They’re jealous of you and will do anything to tear you down. You don’t really think it was just a coincidence they were in the part of the mall they knew you were in, right?”
“It’s not a big deal,” I muttered, looking around the shop.
It was almost summer, so not a lot of stores had flannels or long sleeve button-ups for sale anymore. I grabbed one of the deep shopping bags the store had available for its customers and moved towards the back.
“We shouldn’t be judged by our past mistakes,” Kingston stated resolutely.
“Okay.” I shrugged, refusing to meet his eyes as I began sifting through the racks.
“Let’s go, people,” I heard Chad bellowing. Moving out in ten!”
I quickly shoved shirts into the bag, and impulsively grabbed some leather pants in my size as well. They were faux leather, but I was sure they’d clean up as well as my leather jacket had. When Axel had returned it to me, I was surprised that not a drop of blood had remained.
“Why do I have a feeling those girls ruined what we could have had?” King grumbled.
“We didn’t have anything.” I finally sighed. “Look, I like to consider myself as a realist. I should’ve known better. I don’t like to get hurt, Kingston. I’ve been hurt enough to last a lifetime. I was only fooling myself in believing five, highly attractive men would stay interested in me for long.” I turned then and looked him in the eye. “You guys discarded sex on heels and one of the strongest girls I’ve ever met. And now you have the more feminine, sexually confident version of me wanting you.”
I shook my head. “I can’t compete with that,” I whispered before running off.
֍
I knew I had confused all the guys, save Kingston, when I refused to ride with any of them. I didn’t want to tempt myself further. It was better if I ended things before it started—well, continued, in the case of Axel and Corbin.
“Wanna talk about it?” Sylvia gently prodded from the driver’s seat of my truck.
I was beyond ecstatic to be reunited with my truck, Blanch
. That family had left a mess in it in the short time they’d had it, but Wyatt and Corbin had cleaned it out really well.
“There’s nothing to talk about,” I muttered as I gently stroked Isa’s cheek.
With the help of Steph and Aunt Pam, I had secured her to my chest with a baby wrap. It brought her in snug to my chest, and I still had the use of my hands. With her so close, I could feel each rise and fall of her chest. She hadn’t woken yet, but color had returned to her cheeks, she was breathing more comfortably and didn’t feel limp or lifeless.
“Then why do you look like someone kicked Bane?” Sylvia inquired.
At the mention of his name, Bane popped up from the back seat. He had been lying on the bench seat while Sylvia’s dogs laid on top of him. She still wouldn’t tell me their names, but I still had a feeling I wasn’t going to be crazy about them.
“I would hope no one would kick my baby boy.” I turned to look at him.
“Deflecting and diverting won’t help deter me. Is it Axel, Corbin, or Wyatt?” she gave me a pointed look. “Who do I have to cut?”
I would’ve laughed had she not looked serious. She was weirdly protective over me, more so after Trevor.
I looked out the window as we passed the last convenient store at the foot of the mountains. I saw movement near the store and thought it looked like a little boy with dark hair. I could see the flash of a white t-shirt and a pair of dark jeans before it disappeared into the broken door of the store.
“Stop!” I yelled suddenly.
Sylvia slammed on the brakes. I braced my hands on the dashboard, nearly crushing Isa to my chest. I cursed at my thoughtlessness as I heard the squeal of tires behind us. Good thing we’d only been going about thirty-five miles an hour.
I looked back, and I knew my heart was beating over a hundred miles an hour. We were the sixth vehicle in our procession of cars. Everyone, save Steph and I, was driving solo. Chad was driving Steph and the kids.
I breathed out in relief, thankful that my impulsive decision didn’t cause the vehicles behind me to crash.