Page 42 of Four Stepbrothers for Christmas

She nodded enthusiastically. "And you’ll need a maid of honor dress as well."

I couldn't help but laugh. The absurdity of it all—the shocking announcements, the unexpected connections—yet there we were, planning a wedding. The world worked in mysterious ways.

Leaning in, I hugged her tightly. "Sounds like a plan, Mom."

She squeezed my hand, her eyes shimmering with tears of happiness. "Thank you, Beck. For everything."

As she wandered out of my room, I shook my head in disbelief. Life was full of surprises, and while some were more challenging than others, moments like these, with love, laughter, and the promise of new beginnings, made it all worth it.

Chapter 27

Becca

Mom's happiness was almost tangible, but beneath the surface, my emotions were chaotic. Marrying Sal, for her, meant a new chapter, a new beginning. For me, it opened a can of complicated, messy worms with Isaac and the Gallo brothers. I felt like I was standing on the edge of a precipice, the ground rapidly eroding beneath me.

Suddenly, I felt exhausted, as if all the wind had been knocked out of my sails. “I know we have guests and all but would you mind if I stayed in my room for a bit? I’m awfully tired all of a sudden.”

My mom regarded me with concern, reaching out to feel my forehead. “You don’t feel warm.”

“No, I don’t think I’m sick, I just think work and the holidays and everything is just catching up to me.”

“Do I need to have a discussion with those men downstairs about riding you too hard?” she asked, pretending to be stern.

I nearly choked.If she only knew.

“No, Mom, you don’t need to give them a talking too. I push myself harder than anyone else ever could, you know that.”

“Okay, well, you just settle back in, and if you need anything you let me know, alright?”

"Thanks, Mom," I murmured, appreciating her efforts. "Maybe some rest will sort me out."

She took a step toward the door but hesitated. "How about some soup?" Her voice was soft, layered with maternal concern.

I managed a smile. "Maybe later. I think I just want to close my eyes for a bit now."

She nodded, moving to the door. "Alright, love. Shout if you need anything." She blew me a kiss and left the room, her soft footsteps echoing down the hallway.

The room was dim, sunlight filtering through the curtains casting a muted glow. I adjusted my pillow, sinking deeper into the plush mattress, welcoming it’s comforting embrace. As I closed my eyes, my mind began to wander.

My thoughts, as always, veered to the four of them: Isaac, Luke, Archer, and Vinnie. Each of them was a world unto themselves, yet they had become entwined with mine in a way I'd never anticipated. It wasn’t just about passion, though there was plenty of that. It was the small moments, the quiet conversations, the shared laughter, and yes, even the complications that connected me to them.

And now, with this unforeseen twist – Sal and Mom, seriously? – everything seemed even more complex. Dating one's stepbrothers was definitely not something I'd ever expected to consider.

Could we navigate this new challenge without losing what we'd built? Or was this an insurmountable obstacle?

The weight of my eyelids became too much, and I felt myself slipping into the embrace of sleep. As I drifted off, I clung to one hopeful thought: if our bond was genuine, if what we felt was real, then we'd find a way. No matter how twisted the path became, fate would guide us through.

* * *

The quiet knock startled me from the Netflix-induced stupor I'd fallen into after my nap. I shuffled to the door and opened it. There they stood. All four of them, in all their glorious, concerned masculinity.

Isaac cleared his throat. "Everyone's out. Your mom, Sal, even Mikey," he explained, pausing briefly. "So, we thought we'd check on you."

As the guys walked into my room, the warmth and familiarity of our shared connections wrapped around me. I couldn’t believe how much my life had changed in just a few weeks. These men, whom I'd known professionally for so long, were now... what? Boyfriends? Complicated stepbrother figures? I didn't have the answer, and from the looks of it, neither did they.

We settled onto the bed, and I noticed Vinnie giving me a concerned look. "You're glowing," he commented, his voice teasing, yet there was a hint of curiosity underneath.

"Yeah," I shot back with a mock roll of my eyes, "it's called sweat. A new beauty regime I'm trying. You should give it a shot."

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