Page 119 of The Very Naughty List

After Pippa is gone, I look back at the men and startle with surprise when I realize that Reid’s eyes are open. He’s awake, his gaze locked on me.

My chest squeezes, a knot growing in my stomach.Did he overhear my entire conversation with my sister?

Just like I did with Lucas yesterday, I told Pippa that it was basically just sex and downplayed all of my feelings for the Cooper triplets. If Reid heard that, then it’s the second time in less than twenty-four hours that I’ve flat-out lied about how much all of this means to me—how muchtheymean to me.

Everything feels wrong. Everything is spiraling out of control faster than I can figure out how to rein it back in.

I want to say something to him to explain myself, but I hesitate, because I don’t even know what Icansay to make this all better.

Before I can get my sluggish tongue to work, Sebastian and Nick wake up too. Nick makes a noise in his chest as he stretches his muscled limbs, and he and Sebastian both turn their focus to me as if their gazes are drawn by a magnetic force.

“Good news, Hailey.” The doctor who was overseeing my care yesterday walks into the room, breaking the tension. “I’ll be signing your discharge paperwork shortly. You’ll be released within a couple of hours.”

Sebastian and Nick stand up from the floor as the doctor asks me how I’m feeling, checks my vitals, and tells me to monitor my symptoms. He signs a few papers, tells me to have a nice day and be mindful of that black ice on the roads, and then leaves.

Within the hour, the nurses have unhooked me from all of the invasive monitors and the IV, and I’m climbing out of the hospital bed, watched closely by the Cooper brothers.

None of us have spoken much since I woke up, but all of theunspoken words between us are like a cacophony in my brain.

That feeling ofwrongnesspervades everything as they help me gather my things. Their movements and postures seem stiff and awkward, but they’re all still as attentive and protective as always. None of them say more than a few words to me, but I can see them watching to make sure that I’m okay.

Nick gives the room a once-over to make sure I have everything before we leave and folds up a copy of the discharge papers and doctor’s orders to stuff in his pocket.

Sebastian asks me if I want to ride a wheelchair out, and I’m tempted to laugh at what I think is a joke—but then I notice his serious, worried expression, so I just quietly shake my head.

“No, I’ll be okay. I can walk.”

All three of the brothers surround me as they escort me out of the hospital. It’s strange to feel as if there’s a rift between us, as if the conversation that usually flows so freely amongst all four of us has been stunted somehow. But it’s also reassuring to realize that even when things are so messed up between the four of us, their devoutly protective nature stays the same.

I blink in the bright light as we step out of the small regional hospital, heading toward the parking lot. But we don’t get far before a voice I don’t recognize calls out my name.

“Hailey Bennet?” A man strides up to us. “Hi, I’m Leonard Shaw, a reporter for theFrontline Journal, an online paper. I’m interested in covering your story as a special interest piece. Since your story went viral, it’s sparked a lot of conversations about non-traditional relationships and polyamory, and I’d love to get a quote or two from you.”

Leonard holds up his press badge to show me. He’s middle-aged, with a friendly smile, and although his demeanor isn’t confrontational or judgmental at all, I flush with embarrassment all over again.

As if my sex life hasn’t already been made public enough? Now an online newspaper wants to ask me questions about it? When is this going to end?

I open my mouth to tell him I’m not interested, but before I can get a word out, all three Cooper brothers step up in front of me.

“You need to back the fuck off,” Sebastian growls at the reporter as he sweeps his hair from his eyes, looming over the shorter man. “It’s fucking stupid to judge people for their consensual choices in this day and age.”

“Hailey Bennett has a lot more important things to be known for than this,” Nick chimes in. “She’s an incredible singer, anda devoted daughter who’s trying to help her family’s diner stay afloat.”

“Yeah. She’s funny and smart and ten times the woman that all those Diva princesses who’ve been talking shit on social media are,” Reid chimes in. “If you were a decent reporter, then you’d be reporting on all of that, instead of looking for fifty shades of gossip to use as clickbait.”

All three men are standing shoulder to shoulder in front of me, clearly trying to make it impossible for the reporter to snap a photo of me leaving the hospital. As I stand behind the protective wall they’ve made, I blink away the tears that well in my eyes.

Even after what I said to Pippa this morning, and what I told Lucas yesterday, they’re all still defending me. I don’t feel like I deserve it, but I tuck their sweet words away in my mind, wanting to remember them forever.

Surprisingly, Leonard doesn’t try to push harder. From a small gap between Reid and Nick’s arms, I see his eyebrows shoot up. He actually seems intrigued by the way the guys all defended me, and he holds up his hands, nodding to all of them.

“Okay. I understand. If she changes her mind, she can call theFrontline Journaloffices and ask to speak to me. Take care,” he adds, lifting his voice a little to address me. “I was sorry to hear about your accident. I’m glad you’re all right.”

The moment the reporter turns to leave, the men relax slightly. Keeping a wary eye out, they escort me straight to Nick’s car.

“I’m glad to be heading home,” I murmur with a sigh of relief once I’m settled in the front passenger seat.

But none of them say anything to me, and I can feel tension building in the car as the silence grows heavier. Despite all the nice things that they just said about me to that reporter, it’s clear that the mess between us still hasn’t been resolved.

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