I watched as even Andrew flinched. The woman was a warrior with a clipboard, hellbent on making Macy’s wedding happen on time.
“Calm down, Tilda, it’s fine. We’re going now.” Macy grabbed my hand and looked at her brothers, standing guard. “Do you think you can let her out of your sight while we get ready, or do I need to clear a spot for you three in the dressing room?”
Lucas yawned so big his jaw popped. He stretched and shook his head before reaching for me and dragging me into his chest. “I’m going to nap before this thing happens. I don’t do well without a full eight hours, and it’s been too many nights with barely any sleep at all.”
I hugged him tight, slightly self-conscious of Macy watching us. “I’ll see you later.”
He stole a kiss and then stumbled away, making room for Warren to grab me and hug me tight. He was more aware ofMacy’s eyes on us as he kissed my cheek and let me go. “See you soon, Cupcake.”
Andrew leaned down and kissed me, his mouth hot and intense. When he pulled away, I was left semi-stunned. “Don’t take shit from anyone.”
My smile was probably ditzy as I nodded and gently pushed him away. “Bye. Love you.”
As soon as the words were out of my mouth, I gasped and spun around to face Macy, my eyes wide and my mouth gaping. I knew that Andrew was still standing behind me; I could feel his eyes burning a hole through the back of my head.
Macy covered her mouth with her hand, her eyes just as wide as mine. She kept looking over my shoulder at her brother and then back at me with the same shocked expression, not helping me at all.
I hadn’t meant to say it. I didn’t know that I loved them. I mean... It was too early. I just had let it slip. Because it’d definitely been on my mind. But just the possibility, not that I actually did feel that strongly for them. The words were out there, though, and I couldn’t take them back. I hadn’t meant it in some huge romantic sense, but just in the comfort of telling someone you loved goodbye. Yet, with it hanging in front of me, I realized that there was something to it. There were weight and meaning to the word.
Andrew’s arm snaked around my waist and he pulled me back into his chest firmly. Leaning down to whisper to me, his words were rough with emotion. “We were wondering when you’d join us, baby. See you tonight.”
Then, like some sort of figment of my imagination, he was gone. Outside the kitchen, I could hear the three of them talking to each other and arguing amicably as they moved away. I felt relieved for a moment that I wasn’t going to have to deal withfacing them just yet, but when I looked at Macy, she was still there, staring at me with wide eyes.
“You love them?”
Worried that she was going to be mad at me, I gestured to the cake. “Look at this thing I made out of love for you.”
She laughed then, breaking the spell. Pulling me in for yet another hug, she gently shook me back and forth. “You love them.”
I pulled back and shrugged, acting nonchalant, even though I was freaking out inside. “I don’t know. That just slipped out. I...”
“You love them.” She was smiling a lot for someone who wasn’t sure she liked the idea of me being with her brothers. “You really do. I can see it all over you.”
I cringed and shook my head. “We’d better go. Tilda vanished for the moment, but she’ll be back any second.”
“You love my brothers. It’s gross, but sweet.” She grabbed my arm and pulled me out of the kitchen, with one last loving look at her cake. “Who knew I could get over my brothers being in a harem with my best friend so easily when a cake is involved.”
I groaned and hurried along with her towards the suite that had been turned into a dressing room for the bridal party. “Can we not scream that into the universe just yet?”
She looked back at me and stopped walking. “Of course, Sara. It’s not my business to tell. It’s something that will get out eventually, though. I mean, if you stay with them.”
I nodded. “I have to cross that bridge later. And I will deal with it. I just... I just want right now to be about you and your wedding. I don’t want to have anything else pulling focus.”
“You know the craziest part of all of this?”
“I’m scared of what you’re about to say.”
Laughing, she rolled her eyes. “The craziest part is that I have a strange feeling my parents are going to be thrilled about this. I had to literally marry a perfect man for them to be happy, butI think you joining the family is going to send them over the moon.”
I choked on nothing and gasped for air. “Not...telling...your...parents.”
“Oh, honey. Youlovemy brothers. There’s no turning back. You’re stuck now.”
“Stop saying that. It just slipped out.”
“They love you, too, Sara. Clearly. I wonder how a harem wedding would work...”
I staggered and grabbed at the wall. My heart skipped several beats and I was suddenly very hot. “I think I might’ve liked angry Macy better.”
