Page 57 of Four Times Taken

"You know that's a faux pas, talking about a woman's age like that," Ethan huffed, sweat already beading off his skin. "Bro, let's get out of this heat."

We spotted a building and moved toward it, relieved to find that it's air-conditioned. Lily made this look easy, but pushing around a wheelchair in the dehydrating heat wasn't easy. Ethan sighed and reached into the bag for some water. He took a sip and offered me some before popping open another water bottle and offering it to Mrs. Thornbread.

"What?" he said. "If we're sweating, she's bound to be dehydrated as well."

We both sighed again when she accepted the water without resistance. She must have been affected by the ebullience as well. Inside this building might be more her speed, in her current condition, with expos showcasing North Carolina's wonders and crop competitions. It's quieter and cooler, and the crowd is older, and it's less hectic for someone who can't express themselves. Then again, I might have been wrong, and she could have been bored out of her mind. From what I knew of her, she didn't strike me as the 'quiet and peace-seeking type,' and she's still her, even with this disease. But I couldn't imagine the events taking place in her mind. Even the wildest of us need peace and quiet at some point.

As I passed by a display of roses, I picked one up for Lily. I caught Ethan eyeing me and dropping his eyes in a sort of dejectedness. We hadn't spoken about Lily since we'd had that little chat after I caught them drooling over her. But we had that sense of awareness now.

When Lily and I took a break from each other, all four of us guys had an understanding with each other. None of us had a shot with her. But now that we're hanging out again, I could tell it's eating him up, watching me and her. It's eating me up too, if I'm being honest, not being sure of her feelings for any of them and not knowing how to bring it up in conversation with her.

So, I've sent her off with Matt and Ryan on her own. I could tell she likes them; she knows they like her, but she won't tell me. And it's awkward as hell pretending that I can't see what's going on when we're all together, or the way her eyes fill with longing when she sees Ryan or admiration when Matt does something that colors her cheeks. I'm tired of not knowing.

They might not act on their feelings without my permission, out of respect. But she doesn't need my permission. I don't own her. And we haven't spoken about monogamy per se. Yes, I wished she could trust me with her feelings, and I wouldn't have to devise a scheme to get the truth, but she doesn't, not yet anyway. I'm hoping time spent together and giving them space so they don't feel like I'm breathing down their necks will provide the perfect breeding ground for honesty. The 'expression of truth,' if you understand what I mean. I couldn't believe I'm thinking this, but I hoped they hit it off. In truth, I hadn't been able to shake the fantasy of watching her indulge in pleasure as she's being showered with the desire pouring off all of us, grateful for the chance to sample all that she has to offer.

Clearing my throat and leaving the haze of my thoughts, I turned to Ethan. "You should get her one too, if you want."

"What?" He turned around, his eyes wide open and jaw slackened.

I grinned at the way he reacted as if spooked by the question. "Lily. It's who you're thinking about, right?"

"What? No." He pulled his brows in and fixed the bags on his shoulders.

"It's all right. We spoke about this," I reassured him.

His skin grew ruddy as he studied the roses in contemplation. "Nah." He shook his head. "What's it going to look like coming from me? She expects it from you."

Still, his finger hovered between a white and orange rose.

"But I'm sure you wouldn't mind one, would you, Mrs. Thornbread? My mother loves white roses. Hmm. I heard somewhere that orange roses reflect good health, so this one is for you." He pulled it and offered it to her. When he tried to fit it between her fingers, it fell. He frowned.

"Well, I guess I'll keep it then." He shrugged, sticking it into one of the bags.

Gospel music invited us outdoors. At first, we didn't recognize the music as that, until we walked outside to find a church. Wait... what? It's so strange to find a church at a fair that we stopped and stared. None of the guys are churchgoers; neither is Lily. I doubted her mother was. But there were other people seated in wheelchairs there, and there's an outside performance. It's good music. I figured it'd help her mother feel like less of an odd duck if she saw that she's not the only one needing assistance, and it's peaceful.

"What are you doing?" Ethan asked from the folding chair next to her and looking up from his phone as I walked back toward them with a little cup of ice cream for Mrs. Thornbread and an ice cream cone for me.

Swallowing the bite of cold sweetness, I handed him the tiny cup. He looked at it and back at me. "No, it's not for you. And before you start, I know Lily packed up some puree for you, Mrs. Thornbread." I turned my attention to her. "But it's gotta get boring eating the same thing day in and day out, right? A little bite of ice cream won't hurt. She can join in on the festivities." I redirected my attention to him.

"So, you couldn't even get me a cone too?" Ethan remarked.

"Who's going to feed her if we're both eating ice cream?" I raised my brows at him, smirking as I ingested another mouthful.

His mouth rounded before he swore. "You bastard. Gimme that." He reached for my cone.

"Oh! Too slow!" I grinned.

"I'll get you back, just you wait." He smiled, before coaxing Mrs. Thornbread with some ice cream. Again, she didn't refuse it. Twice in an hour? It must be a miracle. We're about to celebrate when a tear rolled down her cheek. I did hope it's a tear of joy.

"Aw, Mrs. Thornbread." I sighed, taking her hand. Together, we sat, hand in hand, swaying to the music. Well, two of us swayed to the music, anyway.

Chapter 37

Lily

Well, these two men were quite the attention grabbers. I knew they were lookers, but I didn't know just how much since we'd always been together in sparse environments. But in this environment? Heads turned so frequently, I wondered whether or not I looked good enough to walk with them.

"You'd think some of these people have never seen good-looking men with good skin a day before in their life," I remarked when yet another bunch of people almost tripped over the flat ground before them.

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