Page 82 of Four Times Taken

At the airport, the guys took turns hugging me, and I leaned into their embrace, enjoying the kind of comfort I could only get from my best bros.

“Stay strong, brother.” Ethan patted my back. Though his words and his solid arms brought tears to my eyes.

“Aw, come here. Everything is going to be okay. Let it out,” Ryan encouraged.

I choked back the tears. “I won’t be able to stop if I do.” My words trembled.

Shedding a few tears in the presence of my friends wasn’t something new. I wondered, though, if Lily was getting the ick. Some women don’t like watching a grown man cry. Others don’t mind it.

“Come here, you big baby. Anyone would think you’re never going to see us again. If you need help with anything, make sure to let us know. I’m sure your parents are in good hands.” Matt soothed me, and I lingered in his hug a little longer to sober up and face Lily like a man.

“Sorry about this.” I cleared my throat, gesturing to my streaked face.

“Aw shush. Come here. It’s okay to be vulnerable. If anything, you taught me that.” She caressed my cheek and I smiled at the warmth of her hand. Pulling her arms around my neck, I’m more convinced of my love and gratitude for her.

“Man, I love you.” I reminded her in case she forgot.

She smiled as I caught her lips with mine. Her arms squeezed around my neck, and my arms locked around her waist. The airport dissolved until one of the guys remarked that we should get a room and reminded me. I’d got a plane to catch.

“See you soon.” I pecked her quickly, watching as her eyes lit up as if the whole P.D.A thing didn’t matter. I wondered if she’d still crawl into a hole if I sang my love for her aloud. I’d save that for when we reunited.

Chapter 52

Ryan

Aweek flew by in the blink of an eye, and the day before my departure was upon us. I’m on a jog to clear my head, while the other guys are at the house with Lily and her mother. We’ve all been staying on top of each other at her place, which is great, since we’re able to help Lily out with her mother and her other needs, if you catch my drift.

But I felt bad about saying it’s suffocating in such a small space. It’s been over two weeks since her father’s nightmare appearance, and I’m rest assured he won’t be coming back. I wish she would consider the guys’ offer about moving in with us. Even with Eric out of the house, there isn’t enough room to even stretch our legs.

Anyhow, if that’s what I’m concerned about, I’ll have plenty of time to stretch my legs in Hawaii, and I’m already regretting complaining at all about the small living space. Unlike Eric, however, I’ll be back in a week and in Lily’s arms again. On my way back to the house, I take a moment to catch my breath, my lungs burning. One thing I can’t complain about is being tired from the daily sex gymnastics. It’s as if not having Eric there has made her hungry for more, yearning to fill the hole that he’s left, which is fine by me. Even if I’m exhausted.

There’s a tinge of jealousy, I won’t lie. Especially when I confessed my love to her the other night, and she ignored it. She talks about him any chance she gets and sometimes might scream his name during sex, but she also screams our names, so I don’t know how to feel about it. I just hope she misses me just as much when I’m gone.

Leaning up against someone’s wall, I pulled out my phone. It’s become standard these days to check the security footage that she has linked up to all our phones. I know there’s always more than one of us with her, but still, whenever one of us leaves the house, we make sure to check the footage. Although, I’ll admit, sometimes I check it just to look at her while I’m away. That’s also something I’m not sure how to feel about. It gives off a stalker vibe, but this addiction is the sole reason why I’m letting myself suffer through living in such a small space. I’m a free-spirited kind of guy. We all are.

Bringing up the footage, I expected to see her and the guys going about the daily chores. After all, we just had sex a couple of hours ago, so I’m not expecting to intrude on her having sex with anyone. Lily’s in her bedroom, completely naked. And no, I’m not just perving on her getting dressed after a shower, although I have done that, and she likes the idea. No, this time, she’s naked for other reasons. She’s on her phone and lying on her bed. I gulped and turned around to make sure no one’s come up behind me. My cheeks grew hot as I popped the earphones in my ear.

“Can you see me through the security camera?” she asked. I almost thought she’s talking to me, and my heart turned over in my chest.

“Yes,” I answered her as if she could hear me.

“I miss you too.” Her free hand snaked over her skin, cupping her breasts, and my dick jerked upward in attention. Crap. It’s fucking daylight, and I’m standing here in jogging pants. If I don’t stop watching this, I’ll be flashing people with more than they bargained for. So, I reluctantly popped the phone in my pocket and rushed back home to my... our horny woman.

When I got there, in a sweat, sporting a standing pole in my pants, the other guys looked at me like I’m from outer space.

“Where’s Lily?” I panted. “Have you checked the security footage?”

Their eyes widened and if I had a magnifying glass, I’m sure I’d see all their tiny hairs standing up on their body.

“Why? What’s happened?” Ethan gasped, reaching for his phone.

“She only just left to go to the room to take a call from Eric.” Matt swiped through to the security footage, and his skin flushed. “Oh,” he said, just as Lily gasped the same word, the audio almost pounding through the phone.

He hit the button to turn the screen black and cut off the sound in front of Mrs. Thornbread.

“Has she eaten breakfast yet?” I cleared my throat, whispering and gesturing to Lily’s mother.

“Just got done feeding her,” Ethan grunted.

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