Page 35 of Secrets in Salem: Part One

"You're welcome, Low," he replies. I've never heard anyone but those I'm close with call me Low, but I find I don't mind one bit. A funny little tingle appears in my belly with the nickname, a knowing feeling I’m starting to get used to, and I hug the clothes to my chest.

I don't respond, waiting for him to leave again so I can dress and find some normality after this entire day. Bishop gently raps his knuckles on the door before leaving me alone once more, so I move away and hurriedly dress, The shirt hangs on me, the right side slipping off my shoulder every time I pull it back, so I leave it as it is and tighten the strings of the sweatpants to make sure they don't drop off my hips.

With the smaller towel, I rub my dark hair, drying it to the best of my ability before throwing it all up in a messy bun atop my head. I fold the towels and hang them back on the rack before steeling my resolve and walking out of the bathroom.

I can hear male voices talking quietly, so I follow the sound, finding all three men in the living room. Two are sitting on separate couches, Bishop and Aleric leaning forward with their elbows braced on their knees. Micah is leaning against the arm of the couch Aleric occupies, and his eyes meet mine the moment I walk into the room as though he'd been waiting for me.

He pushes away from the couch and walks toward me, holding his hand out. Just like before, he reaches me, and I don't even hesitate to accept it, sliding my smaller one into his.

Leading me into the room, Micah guides me to the couch where Aleric sits. He gently presses on my shoulders, sitting me down on the soft cushion before heading to the kitchen. I stay as silent as the room has become, feeling like I'm being thoroughly inspected by the two remaining men.

Micah returns moments later, a notepad and pen in one hand and a cup of hot cocoa in the other. He hands the mug to me and holds up the notepad.

Careful. It's hot.

I give him a timid smile, accepting the drink from him with a cautious grip. The heat seeps into my hands, warming away the icy chill. As soon as I've accepted the beverage, Micah scribbles on the notepad and holds it up once more, his cursive scrawl looking pretty on the paper.

Are you hungry? I can make you something to eat.

My stomach is feeling a little unsettled now that the shock is wearing off, so I tell him honestly, "I'm not feeling very hungry. I might actually throw up if I try eating right now, but thanks."

Micah nods, the concern seeping back into his eyes as he looks at me. His gaze is intense, the worry almost palpable, so I sink back into the couch and slowly sip on my drink. The warmth of the cocoa warms me from the inside, comforting me in a way only a nice hot drink can do. I sigh and close my eyes briefly, feeling my first hint of contentment since falling asleep tonight. When my eyes open, I find Micah smiling at me.

"Thank you," I tell him in a near whisper, hugging the mug to my chest a little tighter and feeling the heat through the large shirt.

Micah nods and moves to sit down on the couch next to Bishop. It's then I remember the not so coincidental coincidence. I met all three guys in one day, and they just so happen to know one another. Theylivetogether. So who are they, and why are they in Salem?

"So, you all know each other, huh?" I ask as I lift the mug to my mouth, taking a deeper sip despite the liquid being hot enough to burn my taste buds. My gaze trails over all three of them, eyeing the men over the rim of the mug.

Aleric answers, "Yeah. For all intents and purposes, we're brothers."

My eyebrows draw down in confusion. Is he saying they aren't really brothers? What does that mean?

"You've confused her," Bishop points out. "What he means is, we aren't blood-related, but we consider ourselves to be brothers."

Oh, okay then.

I blink. And blink again before slowly nodding. I move the mug away and face Micah. "Are these the brothers that needed you this morning?"

With a dimpled smile, he nods. Since his eyes are on me, he doesn't see the confused and shocked looks on his brothers’ faces.

"Wait, this morning?" Bishop asks, eyeing Micah like he doesn't even know who he is. "You guys have already met?"

Why does he sound so bewildered? I mean, I was blindsided by the fact that three of the most handsome men I've met are all 'related,' but why is it so shocking that one of them met me before the others? With the almost familiar way Micah has been interacting with me since coming to my rescue, surely they would have pieced that together already, right? What do I know, though?

Micah's eyes widen a fraction before he bites his bottom lip and scribbles on the paper.

Yeah. Willow ran into me this morning, quite literally, and spilled my coffee over my shirt. She offered to buy a replacement, so we had coffee together.

"And cake. Don't forget the cake," I mumble after reading the paper, the words flowing from my lips like my mouth and brain are possessed.

Micah hides his smile and writes on the paper. When he lifts it again, we all see that he's added more to the end of his sentence.

And cake. I can't forget the cake.

Bishop rolls his eyes, a small smile playing on his lips. Aleric, however, looks as though he's sucked on a sour lemon, eyeing the paper like it's offended him deeply.

"Convenient that you failed to mention that little bit of information," Aleric mutters, narrowing his eyes on Micah.

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