Page 58 of Three Stepbrothers Save Christmas

“I did,” I reply as Travis kisses my head.

“Is there anything else you were told not to tell us?” Ethan asks.

“Only that if asked, I don’t tell you how much time I’m actually alone here, and if there are any issues, I contact them, not you.”

“Well, they can fuck off with that one. I want to know everything from now on. Plus, you will never be alone again, not now you have the three of us. One of us can always be home with you,” Travis says as I curl up into a ball on his lap.

“That’s one thing we need to work out,” Ryan says from across the room. “Where will home be?”

“Can we not stay here?” I ask, looking around at the guys.

“For the time being, yes, but in the long run, probably not,” Travis sighs. “When your dad finds out about us, I don’t think he will take it well, and I think he’ll try and get between us.”

“Can’t we just hide it from them? It’s not like they are ever here. Plus, I will need to find my own place in six months anyway,” I point out.

“And what happens when Dawn tells them we are constantly here? Or they notice themselves?” Ryan points out. “I, for one, am not hiding anything from them. The last thing I want is for them to return and try to upset you again. They knew what they were doing yesterday; they wanted to leave before you woke up. I tried to warn you, but you were too excited to listen and understandably. But I will never forget how you looked when you came out of that room with your dad.”

I sigh and force myself to ignore the despair that washes over me whenever I think of yesterday.

“How long do you want to hide it from them, baby? Cause I know they will start asking questions when you change your name or fall pregnant.” Ethan laughs

“What?” I yell, sitting up straight. “It’s been like a day!” I protest as I stand up. The smile on Ethan's face drops.

“Baby, I was joking; bad timing. I’m sorry.”

“So, you don’t want to marry me or for me to have your kids?” I demand, realising they are already looking for a way out. Ethan stands from the sofa and blocks my escape.

“Baby, I want all of that, but I know it’s not something that will happen immediately. I didn’t mean to freak you out, and I’m sorry.” He reaches up and cups my cheek. “I told you upstairs I love you, and I’m not going anywhere. One day soon, we will have to decide where we will all live and how this will work with us all. But one thing is for sure: you will become a Donavon because, for me, this is it.”

I look around at the others and realise they are on their feet, too, standing close.

“Sweetheart, none of us are going anywhere; we know it’s still early days. But things need to be worked out to ensure you are safe and protected.”

“No one is going to hurt me,” I point out.

“Not physically, because I would kill them. But your dad has been abusive and toxic for so long I don’t think you realise the damage he has caused,” Travis says from behind me. I look at him, and he steps forward and takes my hand. “That man has taught you not to cry, voice your opinions, or ask for anything. If he walked through that door right now and told you, it was him or us, which would you choose.”

I open my mouth to say him, it’s instinct, but after yesterday, I don’t know.

“He’s my dad; he’s meant to love me, to teach me right from wrong,” I point out as I blink back the tears.

“He’s meant to, but not the way he has. No one should ever tell you that you can’t cry or show any kind of emotion. You are human, after all; why wouldn’t you show emotion? You were in pain yesterday, and he told you to stop having a tantrum,” Ryan says as he steps up beside me. “You were in so much pain you shut down for over an hour. No one, parent or not, should make you feel like that.”

I look around them as my head starts to spin. It’s all becoming too much; the pain from my father abandoning me is still so fresh, and I know deep down what they are saying is true, but I can’t just cut off the only parent I have, even if they’ve done just that to me.

“Sweetheart, look at me.”

I turn and look at Travis, the words “help me” on my tongue, but all I can hear is my dad's voice.

“You can’t demand my attention. There are more important things for me to deal with than one of your tantrums.”

“I need a minute,” I whisper as I walk past them all, but Travis places a hand on my arm.

“Where are you going?” he asks. I look down at his hand on my arm, and he removes it.

“I’m fine; I’ll be right back.”

I don’t give any of them a chance to try and stop me again. I force myself to calmly walk out of the room, up the stairs and into my room before I lean back against the closed door.

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