Enzo laces his fingers through mine as we walk inside, and I see Mason, Noah, and Ethan sprawled out on the sectional in the living room playing video games again. It’s cute, seeing them so relaxed, shirts off, low-slung sweats on, and the kicker is when I walk in—they actually drop their controllers.
I know. It’s bonkers to think I have won their undivided attention so quickly, but I have.
“Hey, cutie,” Noah says, reaching for me and pulling me onto his lap, where he sits on the couch. I laugh as he nuzzles his mouth against my neck and ear playfully.
“Did you guys have a good day?” Ethan asks, watching Noah and me. Ethan turns off the television and turns on soft music, and with the windows open and the ocean breeze blowing in, it truly feels as if I’ve received a new lease on life.
A chance at a life I never expected for myself.
“It was wonderful,” I tell them. “I was really nervous, but Enzo held me against him the whole time we were skydiving, and he made me feel so safe.”
I feel Ethan’s eyes on me while I speak, his dark and brooding eyes never leaving mine. When he looks at me, it’s like he really sees me. My nipples harden as he watches me in Noah’s arms. Then his jaw clenches and he excuses himself. I wonder for a moment if I messed up, but then Noah is tickling me and there isn’t much time to think about it.
Mason heads to the kitchen to make dinner and I hear him and Enzo talking. On the car ride home, Enzo asked me if it was okay if he shared with the guys about my childhood, and I told him of course. I like the idea of all of us being on the same page, but rehashing my sad past is exhausting. I don’t really want to think about it right now, to be perfectly honest.
Right now, all I want is to listen to Noah tell me how excited he is to spend tomorrow with me.
“And what will be doing?” I ask.
“I’m a rock climber.”
My eyes widen. “That sounds...”
“Badass? Well, it is.” Noah grins, and I throw a pillow at him.
“You are trouble, you know that, right?”
He just wiggles his eyebrows and pulls me to stand. “Let’s go help with dinner and you can tell us everything you and Enzo did together.”
“Everything?” I twist my lips. “I don’t want to make you jealous.”
“It won’t make me jealous. It will make me horny.”
I go to push him away, his chest is solid though and I can’t move him an inch. Just touching him gets me wet. I should really find some panties.
“Well, I’ll let Enzo decide what he wants to share.”
Awhile later, we sit down to a simple dinner of grilled chicken Caesar salad and crusty French bread. Apparently, the carbs are a treat— out on the deck overlooking the Caribbean Ocean. It is so beautiful, sunlight dancing off the crashing waves and the golden sand promising long walks at sunset.
Enzo pours me a glass of red wine, and even though I know next to nothing about vintages and whatnot, even I can tell this Pinot Noir is expensive.
For a moment, it puts a sour taste in my mouth, remembering Jordan. During the month that we dated he would take me to ultra-posh restaurants all the time as if that was something, I would even care about.
“What’s on your mind?” Mason asks, always thinking of others.
“Nothing. Just thought of Jordan for some reason. Sorry.” I slather the butter I insisted they buy on my bread to avoid their gaze. I hate that I even mentioned his name.
“Speaking of,” Ethan says, clearing his throat. He finally came back after being gone thirty minutes before dinner. “I heard that Jordan is looking for you. Apparently, he is back in L.A., and he ostensibly hired a PI to find you.”
“And you know this, how?” Enzo asks, dropping his fork. We are all listening to Ethan raptly.
“Because I hired a PI myself and just spoke with him.” Ethan shrugs as if this is obvious.
“Why?” I ask. “I don’t care about Jordan. I couldn’t care less where he is.”
Ethan nods. “I can understand that Chloe, but truth is, you can sue Jordan for what he did to you, and ensure he doesn’t do it to anyone else. And it’s in your best interest to make sure we know his whereabouts in case you decide to.”
I shake my head. “It makes sense he’s in L.A. That is where we are both from. And I appreciate you looking into this, Ethan, but I’m not litigious. I don’t want Jordan’s money. I don’t want anything from him.”
Ethan looks angry. “That’s insane. Chloe, you can’t just let people walk all over you. This guy left you stranded without identification or money in a foreign country. It’s unacceptable.”