Page 61 of Four Fiances & I

“If you say so,” she sighs before sitting up and looking around. “Is there food?”

“Over there, let's grab some and then we can all have a long chat,” I smile at her.

“Sounds good to me; I’m starving,” Sean announces.

Jasmine stands and looks down at me in my seat.

“I’m glad you are okay, Daddy.”

“I will be Baby girl, and it’s all thanks to you.”

She leans down and kisses me. “I’m here to remind you that you are not alone whenever you need me to.”

“Thank you, Baby,” I smile as I kiss her again and stand up.

I watch as Jasmine and the twins head to the bar where Mrs Brown has laid out the breakfast bits.

“It will be okay; we can come up with a plan together. Just remember you are not alone anymore.”

I nod once and squeeze his shoulder.

“Thank you.”

“Stop thanking me. We have always had each other's backs. That will never change. Now come on, I want to grab some food before they eat it all.”

I laugh as the two of us go to grab some food, which the twins are already squabbling over. I look around at my family and realise Jason’s right. I’ve never truly been alone. I just didn’t realise that until I nearly pushed them all too far.

ChapterTwenty-One

JASMINE

Usually, when the five of us sit together for a meal and catch up, the air is alive with chatter and laughter, but not today. There is still a lot of tension between the brothers, and I don’t miss how they are all watching me, as if they are waiting for me to fall apart or explode angrily. I’m too tired, physically and emotionally, to do either.

When I woke up this morning, I asked Sean and Maximus not to give Christian a hard time, and they agreed that enough had been said and done last night. They promised that no matter what Christian decided today, they would insist on me being present and knowing everything. I knew Christian had been hiding stuff from us all. They think I don’t realise everyone is on edge, but I do. I know my men as well as they know me, and I know Jason and the twins have been worried about their brother.

Seeing Christian sitting in his grey sweatpants and loose t-shirt, I realise how much he needs a break. I can’t wait for the next couple of weeks to get here so we can all get married and disappear for a short while. I think it’s something every one of us needs for one reason or another. I know I’m ready to hide away from the world with my men. I sometimes wish it could be longer and that we would never have to deal with all this crap again.

Since coming downstairs, I haven’t wanted to leave Christian’s side. I’ve sat beside him or curled up against him and listened, as now and again, his heart rate picks up as he stares off into space. Every time I’ve placed my hand over his heart or taken his hand in mine, just to remind him through contact that he’s not as alone as he seems to think.

I look up and watch him for a moment. He’s leaning his head against his right fist, staring at nothing whilst running his left hand up and down my arm. The other three are all talking among themselves, occasionally including Christian or me, but they know he needs space and are giving it to him.

“Daddy?” I whisper, looking up at him, realising he hasn’t looked away from the one spot on the wall. I startle him as he looks down at me as if he’d forgotten I was there.

“Sorry, Sweetheart. I’m useless when I’m hungover,” he sighs, kissing my head. He sighs and looks at his brothers, who have stopped talking and are now watching us.

“Why don’t we get this over with, and then we can all crash for a bit if we need to?” Jason suggests, turning his attention to me and giving me a small smile. “I think you could do with a nap,” he points out with a raised eyebrow. I nod while leaning further into Christian, liking the idea of curling up with him and going to sleep. But as much as I want to curl up and close my eyes, I know I can’t. Christian needs me right now, and I want to be here for him like he has always been for me.

Forcing myself to sit up from his side, I reach for my bottle of water on the coffee table and look around at my four men, who are all looking right back at me.

“I think you will need to start from the beginning. I’m guessing we don’t know everything, and Jasmine will know even less,” Sean starts looking to Christian, who nods before placing a hand on my leg.

“I know you are all going to have questions and will be angry at me for hiding stuff, but I swear I did it out of love and wanting to protect you.” Christian lets out a sigh before running his hand over his head. “That goes for all of you,” he adds, looking at his brothers. “All I’ve ever wanted is for you all to be safe, and Jasmine loved in the way she should have been her whole life. I didn’t want you worrying about the shit that I’ve been dealing with or worrying about me when I’m not here.” Christian looks down at me as he runs his bruised knuckles over my cheek. “I wanted you to be able to focus on your dancing, and for you to do that, I have hidden stuff from not only you but my brothers, too.”

I hear the others curse under their breath and know that things must be worse than I ever dreamt.

“How much stuff?” Jason asks from his seat.

“Enough.”

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