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My phone beeped and I waved goodbye to Terri before pulling it out of my purse. It was a message from Lydie. She’d made it back to Blackfoot. I dialed her number as I walked towards my front door.
“You just can’t get enough of me, can you? Don’t tell me that you already miss me.” She sounded sad and the sarcasm in her words wasn’t as committed as usual.
“I do miss you. I’m sorry you had to go back today.” I took a deep breath and blew out a raspberry. “Do you think you might want to come here next year? No pressure. I just have to ask.”
“Oh, Liv, I’ve already been looking at the different degree programs. This weekend made me realize just how much I hate being away from you and Jesse. So much is changing in your life and I want to be there. I’m your sister. I deserve to be there, dammit.” She sniffled. “And I hate it here. As soon as I walked into the house, Mom and Dad both just asked if you were pregnant again. They didn’t ask about me at all, or about Jesse. I’m going to transfer, Liv. Maybe I can live with you for a while, until I find my own place?”
“Yes! Lydie, yes! You’re always welcome here. I want you here. You deserve to be around people who see you, sis. I’ll do whatever I can to help. You know Jesse is going to freak out. Caleb sent me an SOS text this morning because Jesse cried after you left.” I stopped at my door and smiled. “Maybe we’ll both find happiness here.”
“Jesse cried? That’s it. I’m coming back right now.”
“No! You need to finish your semester, at least. I’m not your mom, but I am your big sister and I’m not going to let you throw a semester’s worth of tuition away.”
“You’re only my big sister by eleven months.” She groaned. “But okay. I’ll wait. I’m going to have to sleep around a lot to feel okay about still being here, though.”
I stammered until I heard her laughing. “That’s not funny. You’re going to explode my brain one day and then you’ll be sorry.”
“Yeah, yeah. I love you, Liv. I’m going to go tell Mom and Dad the good news.” She sounded like she was getting back to her normal self. “If they don’t want to bring the fight to me, I can bring it to them.”
Before I could tell her I loved her, she was gone. I was shaking my head and smiling when I walked into my apartment. The silence perplexed me because I’d left Jesse with the guys and they were rarely quiet. I walked past the kitchen and gasped. The kitchen was spotless, except for a large pot on the stove that smelled amazing. The floors even shined.
Dropping my purse to the ground, I turned and hurried to the living room and found it spotless, too. Taylor’s gaming system was nowhere to be seen but my shabby little entertainment center had been turned into something much more impressive with a huge TV and a bunch of things under it that all had matching controllers. A recliner had been added and against the far wall was a child’s table with two small chairs around it. A stack of children’s books were placed neatly on top. The coffee table held a huge vase of fresh flowers.
I hurried down the hall to find my guys, glancing in my room and then hurrying to Jesse’s. Inside, the four of them were standing in front of Jesse’s bed in suits. The guys were stunning in their well-fitted suits that highlighted their strong builds and they’d even styled their hair. They looked amazing. Standing in front of them, holding his hands together in front of him, was Jesse. In his own suit, he grinned up at me and I saw they’d styled his hair, too. He was standing so proud, waiting on me to say something.
I dropped to my knees and held my arms open for him. When he ran into my arms, I held him and looked up at the guys with tears in my eyes. “This is amazing.”
Andrew stepped forward and held his hand out for me to take. “There’s one more thing.”
Jesse bounced and grinned. “You’re going to be so pretty, Mommy!”
I took Andrew’s hand and let him lead me to my room. Hanging on the back of the closet door was a long garment bag. I touched the bag and looked down at Jesse. “And what’s this?”
Jack smiled from the doorway. “He picked it out himself.”
Caleb nodded. “Little dude has excellent taste.”
I held the bag to my chest and hugged it. “No one’s ever done anything like this for me before.”
Andrew pulled me closer and kissed my forehead. “Get used to it. You’ve got as long as you need to get ready. We won’t be rushing you. Dinner will be ready when you are. Afterwards, we’re going to an ice cream shop on campus that Jesse saw today and desperately needs. Not wants.Needs.”
“There was a cow on the window, Mom!”
I nodded seriously. “I’d better hurry up then.”
After they left the room, I closed the door and slowly unzipped the bag. I stared down at the dress in front of me and couldn’t believe what I was seeing. When I pulled it out, I could see it in its full glory and covered my mouth with my trembling hand. Floor length, full, and the exact color green of my eyes, the dress was straight out of my dreams. The top was a fitted band of material with tiny straps holding it up. Just under my breasts, it flowed down and out with a floral embroidered overlay that made it fairy-like. It was delicate and beautiful.
I took a quick shower and skipped underwear after seeing how the top fit would close around my chest. A part of me also felt emboldened and brave after seeing how much effort the guys put into me. I put my hair in an updo with a few pieces hanging down, applied enough makeup to match the dress, and then tip-toed out of the bedroom barefoot. They were in the living room, waiting on me, and when I walked in, all four of them jumped to their feet.
My cheeks burned as I ducked my head and smiled. “I need help with the zipper.”
Caleb nearly pushed Andrew and Jack over to get to my side first. He leaned in and let his knuckles drag up my spine as he slowly pulled the zipper up. “You look so fucking beautiful, sweetheart.”
I turned into him and wrapped my arms around his neck for a tight hug. “Thank you. I’ve never felt more like a princess.”
“You look like a princess, Mommy! And you have four princes!” Jesse touched the flowers on my dress and stared up at me with wide eyes. “You’re so pretty.”
“Thank you, Jesse. You’re very handsome.”
