“It’s okay, sweetheart. You can visit her in two weeks and she can come here. We can always help.” Nick assures as he kisses the back of my head.
Roman pats my side. “It’s a luxury we can afford, Bambina.”
“What are the perks of being an adult again?” I ask.
“Drinking and no bedtime!” Gunner yells.
“Freedom from your parents.” Holden agrees.
“There are a ton of perks.” Nick gently turns my chin so I can see him. “They just don’t seem like perks when you have to say goodbye.”
“But it’s more of a …. see you later.” Roman agrees. “Not goodbye forever or for another year, or even another month if you don’t want it to be.”
I dab at my face and Roman kisses under my eyes. “We all have today off. Should we play board games?”
“I will destroy you all! I kick ass at board games.” Gunner yells, making me laugh.
Holden shoves him. “Hopefully you play those better than you play video games.”
I giggle again and melt between Nick and Roman. “I’m lucky to have you guys.”
“Then it’s settled.” Nick releases me after a slow kiss, a pat to my ass, and a wink. “We’ll do pizza, drink some of this leftover beer, play board games or whatever else you want to do.”
Roman kisses me softly and smiles. “I didn’t get one this morning.”
“I’m sorry. I’m not usually so forgetful.”
He gets a second kiss, and a third as his big hand slides behind the back of my neck. Then he just rests his forehead on mine. “I’d like to take you on a date this week.”
“Yes, please,” I murmur.
I know that we have a lot to iron out, even more, to discuss in terms of what the hell is going on with that ring he bought, but I think I need some one-on-one time with him too. As much as I love our group activities, it can be hard to have a straightforward conversation with four men at once.
They all want to weigh in, share stories, give opinions, which I love, but it means that we lose track of our points and get lost in each other's stories and more and more things change until I don’t remember what started it.
I take another nap since I am desperate to have one and wake up to Nick being little spoon against me. I smile and rub my face against his back. He chuckles. “I promised I’d nap with you.”
“I like being big spoon,” I admit. “Makes me feel all strong and powerful.”
“Like a panther?”
“Sure. A panther.” I was thinking of myself as a dragon.
I have my hoard – of sexy successful men – and I love wrapping myself around them whenever I get the chance. If I could breathe fire at bitches like Sasha who make a go at them or try to steal them from me, I’d be set.
I snuggle closer to Nick and he reaches back to rub my thigh, hand spread wide to hook the back of my knee and drag it over his hip. “Now I feel twice as safe.”
My eyes close and I manage to get another hour or so of sleep until my phone rings. Rolling away from Nick, I see that Valerie has gotten home safe and sound, is settled, and already missing me.
I let her know that I missed her the moment I let her go and she sends me vomit emoji. Then she says “you’re as soft as your men. I love you.”
That’s Valerie alright.
Nick and I get up, then head downstairs where the guys are passing around a how-to book and explaining the rules to each other, correcting, and explaining again. Nick pulls out my chair, always the gentleman, and pushes it back in for me.
He sits and looks at the game. “I love Betrayal at the House on the Hill.”
The three other guys shoot him glares. Gunner snorts. “How do you figure this shit out?”