Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 79332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
What the hell’s going on?
“What were you thinking?” Colby says, and I know he’s speaking into the phone, but I can’t help but apply those words to our situation. What was I thinking, coming to this motel room for group sex with the Townsend triplets? What was I thinking, risking getting pregnant?
I was focused on the awesome sex and living without self-constraint. I wasn’t considering the future or the risks.
“But what about us? What about our family?” Colby says.
There’s a moment of pause as he listens to a response. “You’re seriously telling us we don’t have anywhere to go?”
Another pause.
“We have assignments. We can’t just roam around like nomads.”
I take a step closer, trying to hear who Colby’s speaking to, but it’s too muffled to make out anything than it’s a man’s voice.
“Fuck.” Colby lowers the phone until his hand is resting in his lap, but he doesn’t stop looking at it. It’s as though he’s expecting something more to be revealed, even though the other person has already disconnected.
“What’s happened?” I ask. “Who was that?”
When Colby raises his eyes to mine, I see the same dark clouds as Seb. “It was dad. Your mom has changed the locks on the house. She found out he cheated.”
“What?”
“He cheated when he was away for business. Fucking stupid, selfish fuck.”
I take a step back, trying to process the implications of Colby’s statement. Mom changed the locks. Harry is telling his sons they can’t go back to the house tonight.
What about me?
Can I go back? It’s not like I have anyplace else to go. And what will I find? Mom raging. Her anger spewing out with full force. I don’t know if I can bear it by myself. I’ve gotten used to facing mom with the triplets in the background. Somehow, their presence has moderated her outbursts until they have become something easier to deal with.
“She can’t keep you out of your home,” I say, a whisper of hope sneaking into my voice.
“Dad has told us not to go back. He’s worried it will antagonize Lara even more.”
“Why would you antagonize her? It isn’t you who cheated. You’re just innocent bystanders. And her favorites.”
“We’re not her sons,” Micky says softly. “We look just like dad. I get it.”
“You should go home,” Seb says, moving to rest his hand on my arm. I stare at his fingers. The same fingers that brought me so much pleasure only minutes ago now feel like those of a stranger.
“What’s going to happen?” I ask.
Colby shrugs. “Looks like dad has messed up everything for all of us.”
“Does he want to break up with mom?”
Colby shakes his head. “He knows he’s been an idiot. Apparently, it was with someone he works with. He says she went after him and then tried to blackmail him.”
“Of course, it’s a woman’s fault. Of course, he wouldn’t take responsibility for where he stuck his dick.”
Colby’s jaw ticks, and he stands, dropping the phone on the mattress. At his full height, I’m forced to crane my neck to look up at him. Even though he’s still naked, there’s no self-consciousness in his stance. “He was asking if we knew where you are and wanted to find out if we could get in touch with you to warn you about what’s happening. He asked if we thought you’d pack some things for us. Enough for a couple of days.”
“Are you asking me to pack you a bag?”
“I’m telling you about the conversation. I’m not asking you anything.” His nostrils flare as he stares at me in the way he used to before we fucked. The old Colby is back. It didn’t take long for him to revert to type.
“I’m asking you if you could pack us some things,” Micky says softly. “We’ll write you a list. We’ll keep it simple. We can park on the street so your mom doesn’t see the car, and you can walk the stuff to the end of the drive. We don’t want to cause any additional trouble, but we need our stuff for tomorrow.”
“Of course.” I take a step back and fold my lips between my teeth, unsure of what to say next or even how to be around these men. After what we’ve done, I shouldn’t feel awkward around them, but I do.
I spot my skirt on the floor and my shirt and bra nearer the bed, and I bend quickly to scoop them up. Then, before anyone can say anything else, I rush back to the bathroom to dress.
The deep murmur of voices rumbles through the door, but I can’t make out anything being said. They’re keeping their conversation to themselves, and the secrecy layers anger on top of my previous panic. I’m not a blood relative, but we’ve been part of the same blended family for a long time. What affects them affects me too. I’m not an island here, especially after what we’ve done. Why won’t they include me in their discussion?