Page 117 of Saving the Halfback

Turning around, I found four practically naked guys watching me. Their feet were filthy with mud, and flecks of mud speckled their face and arms. I shook my head. “There’s a shower down here if you guys want to quickly wash the mud off.”

It wasn’t long before we were all showered. I put on a comfortable pair of sweats, while the guys just put their boxers back on.

I was in the kitchen, making hot chocolate, when Chase walked in, still only wearing his boxers. “Need help?”

“Not much to do. Just waiting for water to boil.”

“I forgot what the farm looked like—crazy, isn’t it? Is that barn over there new?” he asked, pointing out the window.

“It is. We built it this summer. When Dad bought the property across the creek, we needed to expand the equipment, and the horses needed a more suitable barn.”

Chase looked more closely out the window, his eyes searching for something in the yard. “Where’s Marley?”

Fuck. I closed my eyes. I could still see her struggling inhisarms. She was just trying to protect me. Those whimpers, those cries. “She…was hit by a car.” When? When could I move on from the lies? Marley deserved so much more, so much better than me.

Lachlan came in, clearing his throat. “I switched the clothes over to the dryer, should be less than an hour.” He eyed Chase for a moment just as the kettle clicked.

I poured the hot water into the cups with the mix, but my hands were shaking. Lachlan reached over, laying his hand over mine. “Hey, let me.” He took over pouring the hot water.

“Leave room for milk,” I said in a shaky voice.

“Will you tell me what’s on your mind?” He looked between Chase and me briefly, and Chase shrugged.

“Nothing.” But…it wasn’t nothing. Lachlan and Chase had given me so much of themselves. “Just difficult truths. Sometimes they pop up without reason.”

“Hey.” Lachlan concentrated on pouring the hot liquid. “That happens. Sometimes, I still get flashbacks. It’s proof you’re still working through some things. When you’re ready to talk, we’re ready to listen.”

I nodded. “Okay.”

Lachlan and Chase helped me mix up the drinks, and then we made our way to the living room, where Nolan and Ethan joined us.

“You are a goddess,” Nolan said when I handed him a cup of hot chocolate. “You all used all the hot water. I had nothing but freezing cold water.”

“Oops.” Turning on the TV, I put on a random Marvel movie just as the front door opened.

I could hear Dad and Mom talking, but they both fell silent when they walked around the corner. Mom opened her mouth, shocked for a moment as she took in the sight of four guys wearing nothing but boxers.

I winced. “Uh, their clothes are drying. We weren’t doing anything. I mean, there was a mud pit, and we, well, fell in…”

“You four were in the pitts again?” Mom chastised. “I thought the last time I hosed you down with the garden hose was enough to make you stay out of there.” The guys chuckled as they remembered. Dad had a huge grin on his face. “They roped you into it as well, Nolan?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Nolan said sheepishly.

Dad laughed. “She brings one stray home, and suddenly, they all come.” He turned and walked off into the kitchen.

“Well, then. I see you all have drinks,” Mom said. “Are you hungry? I was just going to order pizza for dinner.”

In unison, they all said “yes,” and I couldn’t hold back my happiness, my face splitting into a smile.

Luckily, the clothes were dried before the pizza showed up. I helped refill everyone’s drinks, and Ethan helped Mom lay out the pizzas. The dining room table wasn’t as quiet as it usually was. While Ethan and Nolan were going over the Saturday night football plays on Nolan’s phone and Mom was deep in conversation with Lachlan, I listened in on Chase and Dad. Every now and then, someone would join another conversation or interrupt with an excited shout. The chatter and energy in the room did something to me. Something I wasn’t used to. It mademe feel warm and fuzzy; it made the house feel like a home. I wished this could happen every night.

As dinner finished and the guys helped clean up, it was time to say goodbye. I thought Mom had fun having them around, too, because she made them promise to come back again.

“You sure no one needs a ride?” I asked them.

“Nah, I got them,” Chase said.

I waved goodbye to Ethan, Nolan, and Lachlan, but it was Chase who hung back.

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