Page 80 of They Will Fall

My insides quiver with excitement. It’s been so long since I’ve been alone with all three of my guys. Aside from tonight when I’m sure Temper will be there and Maddox will be here, we have the rest of break together. Netflix and chill, with a whole lot of spice.

“You all go,” Temper says as she scrubs a dish in the sink. “I don’t know this lady from Eve, but I suppose I can stick around and help her clean up.”

Maddox takes a step back as he gestures to the wine cabinet. “Crack open a bottle of wine and you two will be best friends by the end of the night. My mom loves to talk.”

“Oh joy,” Temper says, her voice laced with sarcasm, but she heads to the wine cabinet anyway.

“It’s settled then.” Ridge pumps his fist in the air. “Best fucking sister ever.” Then he scoops me in his arms like a baby. “Take my car and I’ll text you directions to the apartment. Give us an hour.”

“Two,” Lev says, then scans the rest of us. “Maybe even three.”

Three hours?All my holes are begging for that to be a joke. “Wait a minute, you guys. We can’t just leave her here alone.”

Temper sweeps her hand through the air, holding up a bottle of red and a bottle of white. “It’s not a big deal. Besides, I owe you.”

“Good point,” I tell her, taking advantage of her kindness because I have an odd feeling it won’t last forever. “Ridge, take me out of here.”

He squeezes my ass with his hand that’s cradling it and I wince as he carries me out of the kitchen, through the massive house, and to the front door. Maddox pulls the door open, then hollers, “I’ll be back in a couple hours, Mom.”

Maddox decided it was best if he sleeps at home tonight. He’s been worried about his mom being alone, but fortunately, his grandma is arriving in town tomorrow, so she’ll have company for a while.

Mrs. Crane comes rushing into the living room and I try my best to hold my skirt down so I’m not flashing her while Ridge holds me. “Y’all are leaving already?”

“Riley isn’t feeling well,” Ridge lies. “We’ve gotta get her to bed.”

“Oh no,” Mrs. Crane grasps her chest. “Was it something you ate?”

“Cramps,” Lev spits out and I wanna slap his face off.

“Yeah, Mom. Riley’s bloated and has cramps. So…we gotta go. Love ya.” He goes to step out the door, but I reach out and grab the sleeve of his hoodie.

My cheeks flush with heat in complete embarrassment for not only what they’re saying, but also the way they’re behaving like a bunch of horny teenagers—which they are. “I’m so sorry to rush out, Mrs. Crane. Thank you so much for being so generous. The food was amazing and I look forward to seeing you again before we head back to BCU.”

“Anytime, honey. And if that son of mine gives you any trouble, you let me know.”

I smirk at Maddox as I say, “I sure will.”

The guys thank Mrs. Crane, then Ridge carries me out the door, and the minute it closes, I tear into them all. “Cramps!? Bloated!? You’re assholes.”

Lev shrugs. “No one else was saying anything, so I went with the first thing that came to mind.”

I roll my eyes while trying not to laugh because it is pretty funny. “You didn’t give anyone else a chance to say anything,” I point out.

Ridge finally sets me down and we all pile into Lev’s car. It’s a short five-minute drive to the apartment they lease and my nerves are on edge the entire time.

When I walk inside the small space, I’m actually pretty surprised at how clean it is. I take that to be Maddox’s doing because Ridge and Lev sure as hell don’t know how to pick up after themselves. It smells like a mixture of all three of them—sandalwood, sea salt, and spiced pine.

As my eyes are skating around the space, taking it all in, Maddox takes my hand and leads me down a short hallway and into a room. Almost immediately, I know it’s Ridge’s room. Not because of the king-size bed, but because of the gothic decor and slew of clothes scattered on the floor. Also, because there’s a picture of him and a woman, who I take to be his mom, sitting on a dresser.

As Maddox is leading me over to the bed, Ridge and Lev come through the door and Ridge closes it, then clicks the lock. Maddox steps behind me with his back to the bed. He sweeps my hair to one side and trails kisses down the nape of my neck.

“Expecting company?” I ask Ridge with raised eyebrows.

“You just never know in this town,” Ridge says. “Crazy psychos everywhere.”

Lev peels his shirt over his head and drops it to the floor. “That’s rich coming from you.”

Ridge ignores the jab and strolls toward me with a grin on his face. “I got the girl, didn’t I?”

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