Page 12 of Shared By My Brother's Best Friends

“We’re coming with you,” Webster insists.

“No. Please. I need to do this alone.”

Webster frowns, but nods, helping me to stand and taking Kelly’s shirt off the back of the chair next to him before pulling it down over my head. “We’ll be right here if you need us.” Webster leans in and places a kiss on my forehead.

“I’m so sorry, Web,” I whisper between us. “I didn’t listen. I—.”

Webster shushes me gently and kisses me again. “You didn’t do anything wrong. I knew from the moment I opened that closet door, this is where we’d end up. I was a fool to try and fight it.”

“You’ll always be our sunshine,” Royal says, standing next to us, leaning down to kiss the top of my head.

“Love you, baby girl,” Kelly says, mirroring Royal’s kiss on the other side of my head.

“You love me?” I look into each of their eyes. “All of you?”

Royal smiles. “Damn right.”

With Webster’s lips touching my forehead, he whispers, “With all of my heart.”

“I thought I was crazy, but now… Yeah. I love you all, too.” If this was just a fling, I’d accept my brother’s fury, apologize, and let them go. But this is so much more than that. For the first time, I can see a future and it’s with these three men. If my brother loves me, he won’t deny me a lifetime of happiness. He’ll understand.

seven

Knock, Knock Again

With a light swat on my rear from Webster, I make my way out of the cabin to talk to Jake.

“It’s high school all over again,” Jake says, staring out at the lake as I come to stand next to him.

“But we’re not kids anymore.”

Jake shifts on his feet and sighs. “I know.”

“And I’m not stealing your friends from you. They’re not going to let me. Those guys love you, Jake.” I take a step closer to him and bump my shoulder on his arm. “I love you.”

He sighs deeply and finally turns to look at me. “I love you, too.” He puts his arm around me, pulling me against his side.

“Be honest, though,” I say after a few seconds, staring out at the lake and the sun shimmering on the gentle waves the wind stirs. “You knew this could happen when you sent them up here. You knew I’d be here and didn’t warn them.”

Jake snorts. “No. I fucking forgot you’d told me you’d be here.”

“Oh.” My body heats with embarrassment.

“I’m not going to get mad that it happened or stand in the way of whatever you all have planned, but I sure as hell did not intend to hook my sister up on a gang bang with my best friends this weekend.”

We both laugh at that and he holds me a little tighter, rubbing a comforting hand up and down my bicep.

When the laughter subsides and the air grows a little thicker between us again, Jake finally says what I’ve been waiting to hear, “If they hurt you…”

“I’ve had my heart broken before. I can take care of myself, Jake.”

“By one guy at a time. You’ve never had it broken into pieces. If they break your heart… Mel, I…”

I wrap my arms around his waist and hug him as tightly as I can. “I know. But I really believe you don’t have to worry about it. What the four of us have? It’s… It’s different. It feels stronger.”

Several minutes pass in silence as we stand in the yard, holding each other like we always have after a fight.

“Go on,” he says, at last, letting me go. “Go inside. Don’t call me in until you all have cleaned up and put some proper clothes on.” He smiles and shakes his head.

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