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With Bug strapped into her car seat and us following the guys' jeep through the neighborhood, I wait for Gabby to speak. She's been staring holes in the side of my head for the past few minutes.
"So," she drawls with a shit-eating grin next to me. "Jude, huh?"
"Don't worry. I won't go after your brother Gabby." Even though every atom in my body is screaming for the release he can provide.
"Oh, he's not my real brother. He and Jackson are my foster brothers. I've known them since I was fourteen and they have always looked after me. Even after they moved out." A shadow passes through her eyes; a sign that there is more beneath her bubbly exterior.
I don't say anything for a moment, trying to think of a response and give her time to work through whatever memory that’s haunting her.
"They went to college close by. I spent more time at the house they lived in with Marc and Leo than I ever did at my foster family home. As soon as I turned eighteen with my high school degree, I went to their university and got a dorm room of my own."
"Do all four of them still live together?" I’m curious about the dynamics happening in this little family. Jude and Marcus seem really close. Maybe they’re in a relationship? But that has me confused because I'm pretty sure they were both flirting with me.
Her hand cuts through the air. "JJ and Jude moved out when Leo and Marc established their relationship and became serious."
"Wait, so Marcus is in a relationship with Leo? I thought Jude and Marc..." I hesitate to finish my sentence, not wanting to offend or assume. Although it's too late for that.
Stopped at a stoplight, I take the opportunity to look at my friend. With a small smile in place, she watches me with a hesitancy that looks out of place in her eyes. "Caught that, did you? I don't know much about the dynamic between the guys, but I think all four of them might have something going on. I'm not sure what, though."
The light turns green in the middle of her musings, and it gives me a really good excuse to hide the fierce blush trying to burn my eyebrows off. What a fucking picture she’s painted in my head. And it's one that has me holding back the panting hussy that's clawing her way to the surface.
"What? Omg, please don't judge them. It would kill me if you wrote them off because of their preferences and their relationships. I also don't know for sure! Please tell me what you're thinking. I can't have you coming to dinner with us if you’re going to look at them in disgust."
"Gabby!" I look in the rearview mirror, happy to see Layla still has her headphones on with her little gaming pad. "I am in no way disgusted or judging, I promise you that."
"Oh. Then why do you look like that?" Leaning in closer to my scorching face, she takes a good look at the lust leaking from my pores. "Oh!" She giggles, pointing at me as I pull into the diner parking lot a few spaces away from the jeep.
Turning to her, I glare. "Shush, Pixie." I point right back. "You painted the picture."
"Omg, this is going to be amazing! I have no qualms with you and the guys getting together in any way. Just please don't hurt them." Her wide eyes are pleading, but before I can respond, there's a knock on my window.
Marcus quirks a brow at me through the glass before opening my door. Jude moves to get Bug out of the car before I can protest. Her big grin and giggles as she wraps her arms around his neck halt my fussing. With a chattering Layla on his hip, Jude nods along, their blonde hair waving in the wind as they cross the parking lot.
Rushing after them, I tune out Gabby's giggles, keeping my focus on my daughter being carried away by a man. They both simultaneously tip their heads back and laugh. And I swear the sun chooses that moment to shine down on them, creating a scene that showcases a life I can never have.
This is just temporary. I'll keep reminding myself of that until it sticks because right now, I really want this to become my reality.
ChapterEleven
LEO
"Babe, you're about one breath away from drooling." Marc's deep chuckle makes me snap my mouth shut.
"What am I looking at here?" I murmur.
Gabby hums beside us, having hung back too. "Yeah, you know, Jude and Layla have really hit it off. I think he's replacing me as her favorite." Her pout deepens when the little girl and Jude toss their heads back in a fit of laughter.
I watch, transfixed, as Rylee catches up to them and murmurs to her daughter. Layla shakes her head and clings tighter to Jude, much to Rylee's shock. She doesn't move far from them, though, keeping a watchful eye on the man holding her little one.
"What are you guys doing?"
"Ah!" I jump, hand to my chest, and whirl around on Jackson standing behind us. Marc chuckles, running his knuckles down my left arm, eliciting a scattering of shivers.
"Sorry, babe." The endearment is out of JJ's mouth before he can stop it. A flush creeps up his neck, embarrassment heating his stubbled jaw. "Um. Are we going to head in or just stand out here all night?"
Gabby, Marc, and I look back at the restaurant, seeing that the other three aren't there anymore. I fight the smirk that wants out, remembering Marc telling all of us he wasn't telling JJ about the girls. Gabby chuckles and begins her strut towards the building.
"Guys, I was going to make dinner at home. What was the emergency for the family meeting?"
