Page 31 of Four Stepbrothers for Christmas

Chapter 20

Vinnie

It was as if time slowed when Becca turned toward the exit. An unseen weight pressed on my chest, making it hard to breathe, and a myriad of emotions coursed through me. Regret, longing, fear. It took a few moments for my legs to respond to my brain's scream to move.

She can't just leave like that. The thought gnawed at me.

Propelled by the realization, I stepped forward. "Becca!" I blurted out, cutting through the tension in the room, drawing the attention of everyone. Not waiting for a response or validation from the others, I dashed after her.

"Becca!" My voice echoed as I raced to the door.

Reaching Becca, I took her hand, forcing her to meet my gaze. "Look, I don't know where the others stand, but for me, this week...it was beyond magical. I don't want this to be just a memory, a fleeting moment in time. I wantus,Becca. I want more."

She looked surprised, her breath hitching, her expressive eyes wide. Before she could respond, Luke and Archer came to a halt behind me, flanking her on either side.

Luke cleared his throat, his deep voice filled with sincerity. "Becca, this isn't just a vacation fling for me either. There's something here, between all of us, and I'm not ready to let it go."

Archer stepped closer to her, his eyes intense and unwavering. "You've brought a light into our lives that we didn't even realize was missing. I can't imagine going back to how things were before. I want to be with you, in whatever form that takes."

Becca's gaze shifted to Isaac, who remained silent farther behind the group, his face a mask of contemplation. Though he didn't utter a word, I knew him well enough to see the storm of emotions raging within. The hesitancy, the fear of commitment, but also the undeniable longing.

"I can't speak for Isaac," I said, my voice soft but determined, "But I hope you see that the rest of us want this. Whatever this is or will be. We don't want it to end here."

Each one of us held our breath as Becca's eyes flitted between us, sizing up the weight of our words, gauging the depth of our intent. Then, as if a spell broke, the corners of her lips curved upward, revealing a smile so dazzling it threatened to eclipse the sun.

"I have so many questions," she began, her voice trembling just a tad, revealing a vulnerability that made me want to wrap her in my arms. "This...us," she gestured vaguely, encapsulating the five of us in her words, "is uncharted territory. But if you all are willing to try, to find our way through this unconventional path, then so am I."

A collective sigh that mirrored relief and gratitude coursed through the group. One by one, each of the guys stepped forward, holding her in an embrace that seemed to signify a promise, a commitment to the journey.

With all the intensity and raw emotion that had built up inside of me, I pulled her close. Her warmth radiated against my chest, her softness melting into me. "We'll navigate this together," I whispered into her ear, feeling the tickle of her hair against my cheek.

* * *

It had been a glorious three weeks since returning from the cabin with Becca. We saw each other more often than not, still managing to keep whatever it was we were doing together under wraps. It was difficult at the office, but we were nothing if not consummate professionals.

As Christmas approached and we made plans to see our father, I sensed something was up with Becca. Sitting in Isaac’s living room, she looked fidgety, and the guys all seemed to notice.

“What’s up beautiful?” Luke asked.

She shook her head, looking unsure how to bring up the subject of what was bothering her.

“Something’s obviously on your mind,” I chimed in. “Lay it on us.”

Becca huffed a sigh. “Look guys, I’m really happy with how things have been going.”

“Uh oh, I’m sensing a ‘but’ here,” Archer put in.

“I don’t know, I guess I was just wondering how you were all feeling about this?”

Isaac chuckled. “I would have thought it was rather obvious that we’ve been enjoying ourselves.”

“No, I know that, but…” she trailed off.

"Once we're back from Dad’s, we'll figure it all out, every step of the way."

Pulling back, she met my gaze with a curious twinkle in her eyes. "You’re going to visit your father?"

Luke stepped in with an easy grin. "We're spending a few days with him for Christmas. We'll be back a couple days after."

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