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Gavin held her back, his hands on her shoulders as he shook her lightly.
She nodded, tears overflowing out of her eyes and down her cheeks. “She’s so awful. She was the one who called that day and I suppose she’s behind the hang-ups we’ve been getting. I just can’t believe I’m related to her.”
“Shh, honey, it’s okay. You are nothing like her. I promise.” He held her close, running his hand up and down her back. “How about if Trace runs you a bath? I think you could use a bit of pampering.”
He nodded at Trace who climbed from the bed and moved into the adjoining bathroom.
“Everything is going to be all right,” Gavin reassured her. “As long as we’re together it will be okay.”
*****
Lila felt guiltily. So horrible that she couldn’t stand it. She’d hurt them. Really hurt them. She should have told them. She knew she should have, but she couldn’t bear for them to know how awful her mother was. To have them regret being with her.
The disappointment and hurt in their faces broke her heart, though. She’d prefer that they scold her, glower at her or…
Spank her.
At least then the slate would be wiped clean and this horrid feeling of letting them down might go away.
A loud knock surprised her and she glanced over at her bathroom door. She sat up a bit in the bath, only now noticing how cold it had grown.
“Yes?” she called out.
“You okay in there, Lila?” Trace asked. “You’ve been in there for an hour now.”
She had?
“I’m just getting out now,” she called back. Would he ask her if she needed help?
“Okay, we’re down in the living room.”
She heard him move away and her stomach dropped, tears flooding her eyes. Slowly, she climbed out of the tub, feeling like an old woman. Her body ached from their lovemaking, but that was a pleasant sort of pain. The rest of her felt drained, emotionally done in.
Lila grabbed some sweatpants and a long-t-shirt. She moved down the stairs, her stomach tied into knots. There was still a part of her that expected them to walk away from her, to realize they could do so much better.
Walking into the living room, she stared over at the three of them. Gavin was leaning against the mantelpiece, his arms folded across his thick chest as he stared down at the floor. Colin lay sprawled on the sofa, a beer in his hand.
Two arms slid around her waist from behind, pulling her against his wide chest. She let out a gasp of fright.
“Jesus, Trace, you scared me.”
He chuckled, nuzzling her neck. “Sorry, you seemed like you could use a hug. You okay?”
Lila looked over at Colin and Gavin who were staring over at her. She shrugged.
Trace bit down, a clear reprimand. “Talk to us.”
“I just, you’re all staring at me like I did something wrong when I only did what each one of you would have. I tried to protect you.” How come it was okay for them to protect her but when she tried to do the same they got all upset?
Gavin shook his head in disappointment. “No, honey, you didn’t do what the rest of us would have done.”
“Are you saying that you wouldn’t have tried to protect me if someone was threatening me?” Come on, Gavin.” He was so protective he made the President’s bodyguards look like they were slacking off.
Gavin sighed. “Of course we would protect you. But we would also talk to you. This relationship needs communication to work, we need to talk to each other, share things. Talk to us, baby girl. We’d do the same for you.”
Her anger melted and she leaned back against Trace. “You’re right. I should have talked to you. It just caught me by surprise. I love you guys so much. I don’t think I could stand losing you.”
Colin held open his arms. “Come here and give me a cuddle.”
