“Guys I live here,” I protested.
“Yeah but we need to make sure you are ok. You hardly ate dinner and you haven’t had enough fluids,” Theo protested.
“The alternative is that we all stay here,” Matt cut in. “I don’t know who is getting the couch, but I know it isn’t me, plus it means one of us would have to sleep with you.” My eyes flew to Colton without thought as I flushed.
Colton grunted. “Theo’s right Ari. We have clothes for you at our house. C’mon, you’re coming with us. That way we all get a bed and no sharing.” My heart dipped in disappointment.Calm down tigerI warned myself internally.
“Whydoyou have clothes for me there?” I wondered out loud. Matt looked at me like I was an alien.
“Why wouldn’t we?” he asked. I looked at the three of them all staring at me.
“You don’t think it’s weird that you have clothes for me? In a room for me?” I muttered.
Theo looked at Matt. “Did she hit her head?” Matt shook his head. Theo reached out and went to take my temperature, I ducked out of reach in annoyance. Matt chuckled.
“I didn’t hit my head!” Of course, I wasn’t sure, so I looked to Colton who was grinning. “Did I?” He laughed out loud.
“No, you didn’t. The clothes are there because these two weren’t to be told otherwise. When they found out your dad was gone and you were alone, they allocated the room to you. Theo called his mom and she told them what you would need. She then ordered a heap of things online for you and within days you had a wardrobe,” Cole shrugged like it was no big deal.
“That’s so very generous of you, but why?”
Theo had me in a crushing hug in seconds. “Because you are our family. Once we get this fighting out of the way and Connor controlled. Hopefully through sedatives…” Matt barked out a laugh, Colton frowned. “You’re coming to stay with us.”
I pulled back. “I’m what now?”
“I told you, we’ll explain it to her later,” Matt chided, “She’s stubborn. C’mon Bit, let’s go get you ready for a sleepover.” He pulled me out of the room.
I threw a hasty look over my shoulder at the other two. Theo was grinning at Colton who was shaking his head and admonishing him about timing.
They had it all planned out it seemed.Yeah well, we’ll see about that.
Matt tugged me into my bedroom and then promptly sat on the bed. I looked at him, he calmly looked back. I shrugged and he rolled his eyes.
Matt smothered a grin and then stood and began sorting out an oversized tote for me while I focused properly on events. I stood in the room and considered him, he eventually cottoned onto the fact that I wasn’t doing anything and stopped.
He frowned as he looked at me. “Why aren’t you getting your books for school? Are they in the other room? Tell me which ones you need for the next few days and I’ll go get them,” as he started to cross my bedroom.
I held my hand up to stop him. “Matty,” I began, “just stop.” He was still giving me a confused frown. “What is going on here? I don’t need to come to the house with you. Ihavean apartment,” I indicated the walls around me. “This is my home.”
“No. This place isn’t safe. That alley to your stairwell? You’re lucky it’s still light out, in the winter you won’t know who’s down there until it’s too late. The stairwell? Fire hazard. You have one meagre lock on that door that’s so thin my fist would go right through it. Don’t even get me started on that balcony or the lock on the door to yourbedroom.”
“Hey! This is my home and my Gran and Papa approved of it for your information!” I protested loudly.
Matt was nodding as he collected random textbooks. “Yeah, I know, and it’s fine but you need to come stay with us. Rent this out now rather than wait to graduation. Then you don’t need to worry about getting a job and can concentrate on school, whilst receiving an income. We’re thinking of you,” he put my Kindle in the bag as he looked round the room checking he hadn’t missed anything.
“Matt, I just can’t do that! I mean seriously, think of how just entirely fucked up the situation is!” I whispered furiously.
“Nah that will settle down. Anyway, didn’t you two agree to just ignore it?” The look that accompanied that statement told me Matt hadn’t changed his opinion on the whole thing.
I rolled my eyes. He huffed out a laugh as he walked past. I looked round my room and just took a moment to catch my breath. I hadn’t done anything, but I felt it all slipping out of control. I needed five seconds just to centre myself.
I breathed in deeply a few times and exhaled. An arm slipped round my waist and a warm body pressed into my back. I leaned back without thinking and melted into Colton. His other arm slipped around and he hugged me to him. I placed my arms on his and exhaled. I felt him stoop slightly and his chin rested on my shoulder. I closed my eyes and just savoured the feeling of having him close.
However, our stolen moment was interrupted as a shout to hurry up carried down the hall. Sighing in resignation Colton unwrapped his arms and stood back. When I turned to follow, he was already gone.
My eyes widened in disbelief as I walked into the hall and took in the two bags Matt and Theo had with what seemed all my textbooks and my laptop. Muttering I followed them and stood back impatiently as Theo locked upmyfront door.
Still grumbling I shouted out a protest when Theo gave a bag to Matt and scooped me up again as he carried me to the car.