Bailey
I frownedat the salon in front of me. “I don’t want to go in,” I mumbled. I hated public places. They made me anxious. It felt like everyone was staring at me; I couldn’t handle it.
Mom grabbed my hand in hers. “I’ll be in the chair right next to yours,” she assured me. “It’s going to be okay. And Seth will be in the waiting room. You’re not alone.”
I drew in a deep breath. After my ultrasound the other day, I’d hit a major low. Seth had made love to me for hours afterward, and then, when I’d been unable to sleep, he carried me out into the living room where I cuddled with his brother who eventually lulled me to sleep in the rocking chair. It was like a routine now when I had a bad day.
Seth was never angry when I sought comfort from Stephen. In fact, he seemed to encourage it. And that next morning, Seth had greeted me with a kiss and a smile, wishing me a good morning.
And now, I was falling for Stephen all while I was in love with Seth, especially after I found out they’d bought a house together and they wanted me tolivewith them. Stephen had even been the one to say it.
Yet, falling in love with Stephen while I loved his little brother didn’t feel wrong. And if I wasn’t mistaken, Seth wasencouragingit.
“You’ve got this, baby girl,” Seth soothed, leaning down to brush his lips with mine. “Get through today, and I’ll make you forget all about it tonight.”
My cheeks flushed. I nodded my head and followed Mom into the salon. Trimming my hair didn’t take nearly as long as I thought it would. Mom was still getting her hair done when I finished, and without a word, Seth paid.
“You two have fun!” Mom called from her chair.
I looked up at Seth as he led me out of the salon. “Where are we going?” I asked him. “We rode with my mom.”
My question was answered when I looked straight ahead into the parking lot and saw Stephen leaning against his car, a smile on his face. I couldn’t help it; I smiled back at him, and when I got near enough, he pulled me into him, wrapping his arms around me. His lips settled on my temple.
“Proud of you,” he murmured, pressing his lips to the top of my head next. “Come on. I’m suffering through a manicure with you, and then Seth has you for the pedi.”
My eyes welled with tears. They really were too good to me. “You two are really going to do this for me?”
Seth gripped my chin in his hand and pressed his lips to mine all while Stephen still held me in his arms. “We’ll do anything for you, baby. Just open your eyes, and you’ll see that.”
Ididhave my eyes open, and my vision was a lot clearer with every passing day, but I had a feeling I was still missing something both men desperately wanted me to see.
I just didn’t know what.
* * *
Stephen hadme cracking up the entire time we were getting our nails done. He kept making jokes, keeping a smile on my face. I didn’t even feel the normal anxiousness that I did when being in places like this.
It was so smooth sailing. And when he handed me over to Seth, he kissed the corner of my lips instead of my cheek like he normally did, making my heart skip a beat in my chest.
If Seth noticed it, he never said a word. He just fist-bumped his brother, settled me into my chair, grabbed my hand in his, and kept my attention as we both got our feet done.
It was easily one of the best days I’d had in a long time, and I had both Seth and Stephen to thank for it.
I touched my fingers to the corner of my lips, my heart skipping a beat as I thought of Stephen kissing me there.
And If I’d been paying enough attention to Seth, I would have noticed the small smile playing on his lips when he thought I wasn’t looking.
Did Stephen want me, too?
Was that what Seth had been trying to tell me?
5
Seth
When Bailey stepped across that stage, I didn’t even give a fuck that I was out in the crowd with the rest of my peers. I stood from my seat and cheered for her. I heard Stephen and her brother whooping from the stands as well.
She’d made it. Despite the odds being against her and her mental health dragging her down more than it ever helped her up, she had made it to this day, and she was walking across the stage to get her diploma.