Page 125 of Secret Baby for My Brother's Best Friends

I mean by this point everyone in this room probably assumes we’re all dating each other. Which is fine. I mean, it’s what I wanted, right? It’s what I proposed, but it’s a lot harder than it looks to accept this much attention.

“You wanna go home?” Adam asks, and his voice is teasing, but his eyes are soft and understanding. He doesn’t seem to give a shit that other people are staring at him. Neither do the others. He probably wouldn't be disappointed either if I told him it's too much for me right now.

But I would be disappointed in myself.

“No, I can do this.”

“You don’t have to prove anything to us, you know,” he says next. “We already know that you care about us. That much is enough.”

“Yeah, but…if this is going to work, I have to get over my fear of being seen and being judged.” My entire life, I’ve been ruled by my people-pleasing tendencies, the urge to be the perfect daughter, the perfect friend, the perfect girlfriend. Perfect stranger even. And that got me nothing but heartache.

The first time I was freed of that urge, when I truly threw caution in the wind and didn’t care what anyone else thought, was the first night with all three of them. That girl took what she wanted and didn't let anyone else's opinion sway her.

She was amazing. She was me.

I was her for that night. I want to see if I can be her full-time.

When I explain it to Adam, he smiles and brushes his hand over my cheek. “You are her. You've been her all along."

His gaze is softer than I've ever seen it, and I fall into his eyes, so tempted to kiss him.

To tell him how I feel about him.

I want to do it, but something still holds me back, still keeps me from breaking through my shell.

But eventually, I will. I'll keep working on it until I do, and I won't give myself a choice.

Footsteps announce Sam and Jake's return, with cups of ice cream for everyone except Adam.

"Here you go, babe," Jake says as he slides over my ice cream to me. "What did Adam say to make you smile like that? Because I'll say it even better."

"What, no ice cream for me?" Adam quips.

"Yeah, because I know how picky you are. Besides, since when were you into cold, sweet treats?"

"Since... well..." Adam smiles at me devilishly, and my mind immediately shoots back to the night in their home, with the ice cream.

God, that was hot. And messy and sultry and awkward at times.

But mostly hot as hell.

It also reminded me of our first night together.

"What are you thinking about, Chelsea?" Sam, of course, notices that my mind has gone somewhere else, and he points it out.

"Nothing, just remembering the first night we met.”

"Ah," Jake says. The single word is said with an audacious wink that leaves no question as to the nature of his thoughts.

"Pervert," I say.

“I resemble that remark." He closes his eyes, smiling as he licks his spoon. "You know I've had a lot of wild nights in my day, but I don't think I've ever had anything happen to me like that before. Don't think I've ever been as turned on as when I walked into that room and saw you there, and it was just like fireworks going off in my body. But it was really your eyes for me. They were so pretty and your face so innocent, I couldn't believe that came out of your mouth."

"I think it was when I kissed you," Adam continues, "And you just didn't let go. You looked all shy, but then you turned into a hell cat, and it was so damn irresistible."

"I saw you before all of that," Sam says. "Saw you the moment we walked into that party. Watched you the entire night and knew you just had to be mine.”

I bite my bottom lip, throat thick and my body heated.