The look of dismay on my face must have touched a nerve as he took pity on me. “There is a gate in the yard, and it’s unlocked. So if you were really fast, perhaps no one would notice you sneaking through.”
I rushed through the kitchen like a spring breeze and didn’t look back.
That was the absolute height of running away from problems, a skill I already had mastered some advanced techniques in. I did not reply to texts, and became an expert in avoidance. Although recently, it had mostly been because I’d felt too ill rather than by any deliberate decision to evade the people who cared about me.
I made my way to the twin’s house, now my new home, and hoped someone would be there as I didn’t yet have a key.
Ugh, on top of it all, I was starting to hate myself for all this. I ghosted them in texts, outright avoiding them wherever I could, and now I was essentially ducking out of a date by using the lame as hell ‘I have to go to the bathroom’ excuse.
I should have thought myself blessed with all these men wanting me, but leave it to me to turn such a blessing into the worst curse possible.
My new home was in sight.
I planned to rush in, go to my room, bury my face in my pillows, and cry myself to sleep.
Again, nothing could ever be that simple. When I knocked on the door, I was relieved to hear movement right up until I saw who answered it.
Speaking of ghosting, when did I last talk to Kelly?
“Kelly!”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
NOAH JONES
My brother thinks we should all wow her with dates and may the best man win. But that leaves a lot much to chance and puts too much pressure on her.
“What, do we like, work out schedules or something?” Ryan scratched his chin as he tried to make sense of Brandon’s way of thinking. “Like, my brother and I get custody of Grace from six pm until six am, and you get her through the daytime with your brother? That seems kind of dumb, in my opinion.”
I got up and left them debating at the table, as if they’d get to decide anything for Grace.
I made my way down the small corridor to the bathrooms and paused outside of the mens’ room. Grace had been a long time. I knocked on the door to the other toilet and called out, “Grace?”
An older lady came out and looked at me. “There’s no one in there now,” she said.
“Oh, thanks. I’m looking for my friend.”
“Well, she’s not in there,” the lady said before shuffling away in the direction of the food.
I pulled my phone from my pocket and sent her a text:
Hope you R OK.
I pressed send before thinking that wasn’t enough. I typed some more:
I’m really sorry for behaving like a jerk. I don’t know what I was thinking. Forgive me. Forgive us all.
That was better. I pressed send and put my phone away. She was renowned for not replying to messages, especially when upset, so I didn’t expect a reply.
I returned to the table and interrupted the heated debate. “Guys, she’s gone and not coming back.”
“She’s ditched us?” I knew that look on my brother’s face. Devastation. “Really odd behavior from a girl we’re sure likes us.”
We’d totally ruined their date, and I felt like shit about it.
“Usually, I’d take this as a strong sign she’s not interested,” Ry said, and he also looked upset but trying to hide it.
“She’s into us—trust me, man. She’s into all of us. I know she’s into me and Ry. I could just tell when I saw her the other day.”
“Even though she spent most of the time puking?” Ry asked.
“Yes, even so. And as I know she’s into Ry and me, I think she must be into you two guys as well. Both of you, otherwise she wouldn’t spend time with you when she could be with me.” Sam narrowed his eyes like he’d just thought of something, and leaned across the table, getting in Brandon’s face. “Man, have you fucked her?”
“How is that your business?” Brandon looked pissed.
“I’ve already told you he hasn’t.” I put a hand on Sam’s shoulder, hoping he’d calm down and I wouldn’t have to pull him off. The trouble with the Baker twins was that their fiery temperaments sometimes meant they acted first and thought about things second.
“I want to hear it from him.” Sam snapped back and continued to glare at Brandon.
“And I asked, how’s that your business?”
Ryan answered. “Because we care about Grace and her little problem. We want to know if there’s any chance you are the father.”
Poor Brandon, he had no idea and the blank expression only confirmed it..
Sam sat back. “She’s pregnant, dude. And we’re the father unless there’s any chance it’s you. So have you?”