Page 80 of Their Starlight
“It’s time to get up.” The smell of cinnamon envelopes me as Brent leans over me to run his nose over my cheek. “Mmm, you smell of sex and honey.”
I open one eye to look into the gorgeous, rugged face hovering over mine. “It’s too early,” I complain.
He chuckles and buries his face in my neck, nuzzling the duvet out of the way. “We need to get up.”
“You’re already up, go on without me. I’m lost the sheets now. They’ve accepted me as one of their own. Have a good life, Brent. I’ll always remember you.”
I squeal when two arms rip me from my comfy confines and haul me into a solid chest. He swings me around and puts me down until my feet plant into the plush carpet. Warm soft lips cover mine and rough fingers lightly trace my jaw. Brent looks at me with reverence masking something that looks like worry buried beneath.
“Hey, you okay?” I ask, stroking his beard.
“I’m good, trouble. Come on, you’re needed in the kitchen.”
“Five words I never expected to hear,” I yawn. “And I’m trouble again?”
“You’ve always been trouble,” he growls as he kisses my temple and throws a t-shirt at me. I put it on as he pulls a pair of sweats over his boxers and then we walk hand in hand out to the kitchen.
It takes me a second to realise that I’m walking out into the communal areas holding Brent’s hand and wearing nothing but his oversized t-shirt and my knickers. My cheeks blaze as I see Lance and Hayden both in just sweats standing in the kitchen. They don’t seem surprised to see me half dressed and clutching on to Brent.
“Hey Sweetheart, there’s a tea here for you.” Lance slides a steaming mug over, which I accept with a nervous smile.
“Thanks.”
“Don’t thank me, Brent made it.”
“Morning, baby-cakes.” Hayden’s usual cheeky smile greets me across the counter.
“Morning, and don’t call me baby-cakes.” He snorts and passes me a plate of pancakes and bacon.
This is awkward. There’s a heavy silence as we all sit around the island, tucking into breakfast. Brent stares at his plate like the answer to world hunger is written beneath the maple syrup. Lance seems to be looking everywhere but at me, and Hayden is smiling to himself at some personal joke. I tap on the side of my mug with my nail, my stomach roiling too much to eat my breakfast. Why do I feel like something big is happening? And why is no one talking?
“Can someone say something? I’m kind of freaking out over here.”
“Why are you freaking out, baby?”
“I don’t know, something feels weird,” I shrug.
“We did want to talk to you about something…” Lance says, still not looking at me.
“Oh?”
“We seem to find ourselves in an awkward situation,” he continues. Yeah, that’s what I’ve been saying. It’s fucking awkward right now. “We’re all in love with you, Elle.”
Oh.
“We all want you, baby.” Hayden smiles gently, urging me with his eyes to understand what they’re saying.
“I…uh…” Words have escaped me. What the Hell am I meant to say to that? I mean, this is the dream, this is what I spent imagining for years when we all lived together before. They all loveme. They all want me. But now, I have no idea how to take this. Everything is different.
Lance and I have hardly spoken since that fateful dinner with my parents; since I’d felt used and broken. But it was different now, wasn’t it? Now I can look at it with more context. He’d always wanted me and that moment outside the restaurant had been a combustion of three years’ worth of longing and regret.
And what is it they are actually saying here? They want us all to be together? Or do I have to choose? Oh shit, my head is reeling.
“Breathe, Elle.” Hayden reaches over and grabs my hand.
“I don’t really know what to say,” I admit.
“It’s okay,” Lance sighs. “Neither do we.”