Page 15 of Hers

“You look like a woman who is pregnant with twins.” Sammy couldn’t help but reach over and rub Susie’s stomach.

Sammy waited for a smart-aleck remark from Sandy’s brothers, but they seemed distracted. Now she thought about it they’d been quiet the whole day. She looked at Susie to see she was staring at Phillip and John.

“What’s wrong, guys? You’ve been quiet all day. You upset your sister married two guys?” Sammy was eager to know what was wrong with them. She’d known John and Philip most of her life and they never missed an opportunity to make fun of them. When Sammy had become friends with Sandy, her big brothers’ kind of felt like Sammy’s too. They always treated her like their sister.

Philip shook his head. “No. We couldn’t care less about Sandy marrying two men. If they’re willing to put up with her and keep her safe, I take my hat off to them.”

“Personally, I don’t think two men are enough to control our sister,” John added from beside her.

Sammy smiled because this was more like the brothers she knew, always ready with a smart-aleck response but filled with love for their sister.

“So why are you two so quiet?” Susie asked.

John turned a light shade of pink. “Gwen. Philip and I have this uncontrollable urge to pick her up and take her away and show her that we can share real well.”

Sammy groaned, and Susie joined her. “Gross, way too much information. I don’t need to have those images in my head. You and Philip are like the closest thing I have to brothers.” Sammy made a gagging sound.

Seeing their discomfort, Sammy cut them a break and stopped, nodded to Susie and said, “You two are the reason I’m willing to date again. I know not all guys are arseholes. I was an only child, but thanks to you two, I’ve never felt like I didn’t get the brotherly experience. You two and your father showed me that some men are not simply good they can be amazing. “So, what can I do to help?”

They both smiled at her for a moment, each catching her gaze, and Sammy saw that they appreciated what she’d just said.

“You’ve always been just another annoying sister to us.” John glanced at Philip and nodded. John then made a kissy noise in her direction and Philip joined. Susie giggled and then groaned.

Philip sighed. “Okay, we’ll behave so we don’t have to witness the miracle of childbirth from someone we see as a sister.”

Rolling her eyes, Sammy glanced at Susie to see she was thinking about it because her face turned to horror and she shook her head. “Nope. No way are you two seeing my…my...” She shivered and couldn’t even finish saying vagina. “let’s focus on you two. I can help too.”

“I don’t know what you two can do to help.” John groaned.

“Gwen has a kid and I thought they could only have those with mates, but we know we’re her mates. Her family won’t approve. John and I don’t know how it would work anyway. We’re not shifters.”

Sammy pursed her lips and furrowed her brows, as they both knew that had nothing to do with it.

John held up his hand. “Before either of you open your big mouths, hear us out. Philip and I have talked about it. We don’t know if we could share for the rest of our lives. We have done a night or two with different women here or there, but a relationship is totally different.”

Philip smiled at Suzie and winked at her. “We’re not shifter men, so as much as we know about shifters and that a mating is forever and that love the ultimate love, we don’t know if we can believe that. Today is the fourth time we’ve seen Gwen, and our attraction grows every time. The first time she saw us she was terrified and ran. The second she told us what she was to us and that nothing would be done. The third time, she kissed us, and well John and I haven’t been with a woman since. Seeing her today has put us on edge. We need to do something. We can’t live like this.”

Susie hugged Philip, and Sammy hugged John. “I promise I will help you in whatever way you need.” John’s arms came around her.

“Thanks, Sammy. The same goes for you.”

Photos had been taken, and Sammy watched in wonder at the tension in Philip and John as they stood close or touched Gwen. Sammy could see Gwen’s eyes flash bear anytime one of the men touched her.

They were all now at the reception. Sammy knew Slater and Brock were already unhappy that she’d been partnered with John and hadn’t had a chance to be alone with them. Sammy hadn’t been to their table as they were seated with Brock’s parents and Slater’s. Sammy had avoided meeting Slater’s parents after the disastrous introduction to Adelea.

Sammy could feel eyes on her as she ate dessert. Speeches had just finished, and she’d been grateful Susie was happy to do the speech. Sammy turned to the table Brock’s and Slater’s families sat at to see everyone staring at the bridal table. She noticed a brown-haired man narrow his eyes on Gwen, then look to Philip and John.

Sandy stood and started going from table to table talking to her guests.

“Something’s going on,” John said beside her.

Philip came over to them and pulled her up. “Do you know why we were getting death stares? I also noticed you were getting some nasty ones, too.”

Brock came over and snarled at Philip. “You don’t need to hold her hand now.”

Phillip dropped his hand, and Sammy turned a glare at Brock. “Hello to you, too. There is no need to talk like that.”

Slater came up beside Brock. “Brock’s a bit on edge. His mother is on his case driving him and everyone nuts.”

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