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His eyes narrow. “We know him, don’t we? Sometimes I think his voice is familiar to me, but I can’t quite figure out who it belongs to.”
I grin, shaking my head. “I’m not saying anything, but when youdofind out, try to remember that you love me.” I plead with my eyes, and he shakes his head and chuckles.
“Ok, I’ll try.” A flash of uncertainty flicks across his expression before he tries to hide it. I don’t say anything, though. I can’t just spill the secret, at least not without talking to Ty first.
Marcus leans in then, taking my lips in his for a gentle kiss that is a language of its own, telling me how much he cares. The need to crawl under his skin washes over me, but not in a sexual way. I just want to be so close to him and never let go. I’m so terrified that he will walk away from me one day. So terrified that the others will as well. I can’t control the future, though. Only hope that what we have is strong enough to last the distance.
When we finally emerge from the bathroom, Simon is cooking up a storm in the little kitchen, with Garrett helping, so I move to the living room and start tidying up, wanting to be useful. I need to get Simon to teach me how to cook. Maybe one day, I’ll need to cook for my five men and have dinner on the table for them when they come home from work.
And where the fuck did that thought come from?
I’ve never thought much about domestic bliss before, yet here I am, conjuring up images of a large table with my guys sitting around it as I serve them dinner. I’d be the dessert, of course, which is a much more Rhys George way of thinking.
I turn back to take in my guys as I fold blankets. They are good mates. The best. They are each so different in many ways, and so similar in others. I love that even though we have this group thing, I have something special with each of them individually. I love that I can have tender moments with just one of them, and at other times with all of them. Ty is missing from the picture right now, but hopefully, one day, he will be here with us. I’m not sure how he will fit exactly, but I hope he does. I can’t bear the thought of not being with him.
“Hey Kitten, what time is Ty picking you up?” Shaun asks as he sets the table.
“About five.” I smile, but when I glance over at the other guys, they all look unhappy. “What?” I ask.
They remain quiet, turning their backs on me and focusing on what they are doing.
“Marcus?” I ask, gaining his attention. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing, Rhee. All g.” His voice is flat and nothing like the happy guy from the bathroom only minutes ago.
“Marc. Sy. Gaz. Communication is the only way this is going to work.” I insist.
They remain silent.
Shaun sighs, looking at his mates. “If you aren’t going to speak up, then I will.” When the others don’t respond, Shaun turns his steel-greys to me. “They are pissed about Tyler. They think they have the right to know who he is, and they’re annoyed that you’re ditching us to go hang with him onourweekend away.”
I drag my eyes from Shaun to the others, who are trying really fucking hard to avoid eye contact with me. Shit, wasn’t I just feeling like this was perfect? Did I get my wires crossed?
I take a moment to consider the situation. They are pissed that I’m ditching them, which is fair. I do feel bad about that, and I agreed to some one-on-one Tyler time, not even considering their feelings. Only mine. Shit, this is hard. I want to make them all happy, but how can I do that when things are the way they are with Ty?
I wish the guys would tell me their concerns instead of Shaun doing it for them. Why is he the only one that will speak up?
“Guys? Why won’t you talk to me about this?”
“We are trying to avoid an argument.” Garrett’s deep voice rumbles as he mans up to answer, but he doesn’t turn to face me, so all I see is his back. “We don’t want to ruin the great night we had last night, Baby Girl.” His tone sounds genuine, yet kind of hurt.
My heart twists in a knot. I hate that I’m hurting him. Them. But I nod slowly in understanding and try to compromise. “I’m sorry, guys. I know this is a shitty situation. How about I talk to Ty about it tonight? See if we can come to an agreement about you guys meeting him properly.”
“You think he’d go for that?” Simon finally turns to me, and relief fills me that I’m no longer talking to his back.
I shrug. “I don’t know, Sy. The four of you have been friends forever, but he doesn’t have the same connection with you. It’s risky for him. For all of us.” I shrug again. “For what it’s worth, I want him to come clean. I want the five of you to know each other. To build your own friendships with him. So I will speak with him tonight. I promise.”
Simon and Garrett nod, seemingly happy with my response, as Garrett turns to look at me as well, but Marcus still avoids my gaze.
“Marcus Phillip Grady, stop avoiding me!”
His eyes dart up from the phone in his hands. “What?”
I place my hands on my hips, glaring at him. “Why didn’t you tell me your concerns in the bathroom before?”
“I was trying to avoid your wrath.” He shrugs with a smirk.
“Bullshit.”
