Chapter Seventy Two
Raleigh
It’s Monday and as much as I’m dreading it, I have to go back to school. I’m so far behind on everything that I can’t afford to miss even one more day. As it is, I’m likely going to find myself attending summer school in order to graduate.
I take in the reflection of the person staring back at me, noting how her blonde hair looks ratty and like it’s a few days past needing washed. Her eyes are puffy and red-rimmed, her face pale and there are dark circles beginning to form beneath her olive green eyes.
I scoff and look away, hating seeing myself so unraveled over a guy who I thought had felt for me just as I had felt for him.
He’d said that he *loved* me.
That’s not a phrase that I hand out lightly.
Fool me once, shame on you.
Fool me twice…
“That’s not going to happen…” I murmur, my hand going to my still flat stomach. *You two are my priority now, second to graduating so that I can get a good enough job to take care of you,* I think as I turn away, shaking my head as I make my way to the closet to get ready.
Twenty minutes later, I clear the last step and round the corner only to find all three of my brothers in the kitchen.
“No…we should do it—huh? Oh, hey, sis!” Ryker says, stopping mid sentence, his eyes widening when he sees me standing in the doorway of the kitchen.
“What’s going on here?” I ask, glancing from one of them, to the next in confusion, until I’ve given all three of them my attention. “Why aren’t you guys at work?’
Ro shrugs and starts walking towards me, “It’s your first day back to school. We wanted to be here in case you needed us.” He’s saying all the right things, and I can tell through the sincerity in his words that while that may be true, the fact that he won’t look me in the eyes tells me that there’s more to the story than what he’s telling me.
“That’s the only reason? There isn’t something else that you’re not telling me?” I ask, watching him closely for any tells that he’s going to lie to me. His mouth turns down, his jaw clenching as if he doesn’t *want* to lie to me but also doesn’t want to tell me the truth.
My suspicions are confirmed when he says, “That’s all.”
“I made you breakfast,” Ryler says as he comes up beside us, interrupting the tension as he holds out a plate of scrambled eggs, buttered toast and bacon. Then, with a wink he says, “You need plenty of protein to feed those growing babies.”
“Thanks…” I say with unease as I take the plate, knowing that there’s something that they’re keeping from me.
I watch them the entire time I eat my food, listening and watching for any kind of slip up but outside of everyday conversation, nothing sounds out of the norm.
A knock sounds at the door just as I put the last bite of toast in my mouth. I get up to get it but Ryker waves me off. “I got it. Finish your breakfast and juice,” he says with a nod at my still half full glass of orange juice.
Whispered voices carry in from the front door but I can’t make out anything that is being said, only that it’s a girls voice mixed in with Rykers. The voices quiet down for a few minutes and then I can hear the sound of footsteps as they head this direction.
Serenity steps into the kitchen with Ryker right behind her, watching her every move closely and for the second time, I can’t help but wonder what’s going on between the two of them.
“How are you doing this morning?” She asks as she comes up to me and gives me a hug from behind.
I stand up and turn around, my around wrapping around her waist tightly, giving her a proper hug, “Is it bad if I don’t really know how to answer that question?” I ask sheepishly.
She draws back, her eyes taking in my face, noting all the same flaws that I found earlier when I looked in the mirror. Her face falls and she pulls me in for another hug as she murmurs, “Under the circumstances, no one can blame you for that. Personally, I want to kick his ass.”
“Get in line!” A deep voice growls from behind us. We break apart and find Ryker still in the doorway but now Ryler and Rowen are standing on either side of him, each wearing similar murderous expressions on their faces.
“If he doesn’t want us, then we don’t need him,” I state, my hand automatically finding my lower belly as a tight feeling builds in my throat and the back of my eyes start to burn even as I say the words. Forcing a smile, I look at each of the people in the room with me, “I have everyone that I need, right here.”
“We will always be here for you,” Ro says as he closes the distance and wraps his arms around me tightly, his entire body shaking slightly.
“I love you,” I murmur against his chest as I tighten my grip on his back.
“I love you too, Monkey.” A moment later I feel more arms wrapped around me as Ryker and Ryler join in on the hug.
“And we also love you, Monkey.” Ryler says, from by my left ear as Ryler murmurs, “And don’t ever forget that,” from behind my right.
“And you know that I’ve always got your back,” Ser says from next to Ryker just before Ryk jumps and shouts, “Ouch, shit! That was my ass!” Ser cracks up laughing, making me have no doubts that she’s the culprit.
Raising a brow, I give her a look that let’s her know that she and I are going to be having a talk on the way to school. I love the girl as thought she were my own sister. But, Ryker is my brother, and although he’s gotten into some stuff that I wish that he hadn’t and has been known to get into trouble a few too many times, he’s still my brother.
“And that’s our cue that we need to go!” I say as I turn to give each of my brothers an individual hug and then grab my bag off the floor before heading for the door, knowing that no matter what awaits for me today these four are always going to have my back.
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