I nod and take the private elevator to the Residence unit. Despite its name, it’s a sterile hotel with nothing but furniture, basic bedding, towels and silence. I realize I didn’t bring anything with me.
I should probably ask the concierge to get me some clothes—something fresh for tomorrow. But I can’t bring myself to bother. I throw myself on the couch and place an arm over my eyes.
I should also check the email Cody sent, but I have no motivation. I don’t want dinner, either. Drinking is an option, but that would involve getting up. Too much effort.
Where did I go wrong with Molly? Did I push too hard, or somehow behave in ways that undermined her faith in me? Did I ever appear to be unreliable? Did I not present myself as a dependable man?
I never make promises I can’t keep. So many of my previous dates and girlfriends said in so many words that they counted on me. But the only woman I want to count on me refuses. My brothers call me solid, but any given woman might have a different perspective. I should think about what that difference is, but I’m too tired and my head hurts and my heart is raw.
* * *
I lie on the couch for a while, and then suddenly the door opens. I scowl.I didn’t order room service.Wait a minute… If I had, they would’ve knocked.
I lower my arm and lift my head, then drop it back at the sight of my brothers pouring into the room.
“What are you doing here?” I say to the ceiling.
“How could we not come over?” Sebastian says.
“Especially when you aren’t answering our texts or calls.” Grant grabs a dining chair, spins it around and straddles it.
“Didn’t hear it ring,” I mutter.
“Everything okay with you?” Emmett says.
“Yeah, what happened?” Griffin says.
“Could be Molly,” Huxley says.
Noah gives him a skeptical look. “I can’t imagine Nicholas doing anything that would upset her.”
My brothers take seats and look at me. They clearly aren’t going anywhere until I talk—undoubtedly to help me come up with a solution.
Don’t they know that some problems simply can’t be solved?
They need to go home. Return to their wives. I don’t need the women yelling at me for keeping their husbands away. Actually, they’re too nice to yell. But whatever. I don’t need their pity.
Fine. I sit up and tell my brothers what happened.
“Wow,” Noah says slowly.
“It’s like…” I sigh heavily. “She didn’t even understand why I needed her to call me. Why I wanted to be the first person she thought of.”
“Damn.” Sebastian breathes out. “Yeah. I would’ve been pissed if Luce said she’d rather wait than to call me, especially after something like that.” He would’ve been furious at missing a chance to break Jack’s face, too. I don’t think Lucie’s brother’s face healed right after the beating from Sebastian.
“Exactly.” Griffin scowls, probably unable to imagine Sierra not calling him if she had a traumatic experience. “Doesn’t she know you’d want to be there for her? You’d want to be there to keep her safe and beat the shit out of the other guy.”
“So what is this? A breakup?” Emmett asks.
Grant goes into the liquor cabinet and pulls out a bottle of whiskey. Noah and Huxley grab glasses.
“I don’t know. I want her more than anything, but I can’t pretend I’m fine when she doesn’t trust me to be there for her. I can’t even make sense of why she’s with me when she won’t depend on me—not even a little. I don’t know what more I have to do to prove how much I love her.”
“Did you tell her?” Huxley asks, as Grant offers me a glass he just poured. “Sit her down, look her in the eye and say, ‘Molly, you’re the only one for me. I love you.’”
“Tell her you’d give up both your kidneys for her. Women love that sort of stuff,” Noah says.
My brothers roll their eyes. I would too if I didn’t feel like shit.
