Page 37 of Theirs

Chapter 12

I don’t borrow any of Colin’s fancy cars to get into the city for my pet clients. I do let Gwen drive me to the train station, and then I handle things on my own. I don’t want to be any more of an inconvenience than I already am, even though the guys assure me that I’m not. People always want something in return; nothing is free, especially love. I learned that from my parents.

I finish up with my jobs and head back home—er, to Colin and Ben’s home. Tonight we’re having Alex and Mac over for dinner and I asked Gwen if I could help cook. I really want to learn how to cook things that don’t come in plastic trays that take five minutes to heat in a microwave. Living in my small apartment, never gave me much room to experiment in the kitchen.

Gwen picks me up in the shiny black Tesla that Colin gifted her as a Christmas bonus last year to replace her old Ford Explorer. She’s got the back seat filled with groceries.

“We’re going to teach you how to make homemade pasta tonight,” Gwen tells me as we head back to the house. “I picked up a fresh baguette and some basil flavored extra virgin olive oil locally from Old Town for it. This is Mr. Gatsby’s favorite meal I cook.”

“That sounds amazing, Gwen,” I say as my stomach rolls in hunger. I’ve gotta stop trying to live off of iced coffee. I need to eat a snack when we get back, just in case Mac tries to ‘punish’ me for not eating three nutritious meals today.

Gwen and I quickly eat a late lunch, and get started on prepping what we’ll need for dinner. I’ve given her the evening off, with permission from Colin, so I can at least do the actual cooking for the guys. I want so badly to impress them all, especially after what they’ve done for me this week. Once the noodles are made, and the pasta sauce has been mixed, Gwen says goodbye and heads home for the night. I’m taken aback for a moment when she wraps me in a hug and wishes me luck. I probably hold onto her for a moment too long, but I don’t care. She hugs the way I wish my mother had hugged me growing up.

I check my phone for the time, looks like I’ve got an hour before Colin or Ben get home. Enough time to get the flour off my face, shave, and put on something nicer than leggings and a t-shirt that I just noticed has a huge hole in the armpit. Maybe since I’m not paying rent any longer, I can use that money to buy some less distressed clothes.

Speaking of clothes, after my shower, I go to the closet and see the dress that Mac sent over to wear to the wedding we’re going to this weekend. He picked out a gorgeous floor-length black dress that has a completely open back. I’m wondering what the fancy wedding guests will think about all my arm tattoos showing in this dress. Will they be shocked to see me on the arm of Mr. MacKenna? I try not to wonder why he chose to take me as a wedding date for his night with me.

I move deeper in the closet and find a dinner party style dress, that way I’ll fit in better with the guys when they get here. They’re all coming straight from work; my stomach heats thinking about seeing all my boyfriends in the suits they wear to work. I envy all of the women employees that get to see them dressed up all day in their fancy suits.

I pull on the skin tight party dress, and grab a pair of black hand-me-down heels to match from the floor of the closet, carrying them in my hand as I head back to the kitchen to get dinner started. I toss on an apron so I don’t get my dress dirty, and get to work, following the handwritten directions Gwen left for me.

The door opens, and I hear Ben and Colin come in at the same time, laughing and joking. I stand in front of the stove, smiling, waiting for them to spot me in the kitchen, still barefoot. Staring intently at the boiling pasta, like it’s the most interesting thing in the world.

Two arms sneak around my waist and wrap around me, Ben places a kiss on the right side of my neck. But then I feel a hand on my chin, pulling me to the left, where I meet Colin’s lips.

“Hey, baby,” Colin whispers.

“It’s dangerous to play in the kitchen,” I chide as Ben licks along my neck.

Colin leans in and places another soft kiss on my lips. “Maybe we like a little danger.”

I pull back, rolling my eyes, grabbing the kitchen towel and swatting them away. “Dinner’s almost done, and Gwen’s gone for the night. Will Alex and Mac be arriving soon?”

Just then the doorbell rings. “That should be one of them,” Ben says, heading over to the door. “What do you need us to do?”

“Can someone set the table?” I ask, realizing just how homey this feels. Me making dinner, and my boyfriend— boyfriends— helping set the table and telling me about their days at the office. I thought I would hate something like this. Society tells women that they have to be strong and independent now, no one should want to be a housewife for a man. Things are supposed to be fifty-fifty, and a man should also help around the house. But with only a couple days of living in Colin’s house, I’m the happiest I’ve ever been. I could get used to this.

“You’re so beautiful, Teagan,” Colin says, reaching into one of the cabinets to get some plates. “I like having you here, I like coming home to you.”

I smile over at him. “I like it here with you too.”

Ben and Alex walk into the kitchen and I hand Ben the silverware to put on the table. Alex surprises me by handing me a huge bouquet of white roses.

“I wasn’t sure what kind of flowers you like,” he says. “But I thought that I couldn’t go wrong with roses. And I noticed the rose tattoo on your torso last weekend, figured if you liked them enough to put them on your body...”

I take them and hold them to my chest, breathing them in. They’re already in a beautiful vase that probably cost just as much as the flowers. I can’t wait to sit them on my nightstand. For now, I place them on the dining room table as a centerpiece.

“Thank you, Alex,” I say, coming back over to him and giving him a hug. I don’t think he expected that kind of thanks, because for a moment, he doesn’t reciprocate. “That was really nice of you.”

He relaxes and hugs me back. “Of course, darling.”

The doorbell rings again, and I bolt off to the door to answer it, excited because I know it’s Mac. He smirks down at me when I open the door and let him in.

“Kitten,” he says, looking me up and down. “You look amazing.”

“Thank you,” I say, as he bends down and places a kiss on my forehead. “Go grab a drink, dinner’s almost ready to be served.”

I trot off to the kitchen, and drain the pasta, pouring the noodles into a bowl and tossing the warmed sauce on top. I plate the sliced bread, and grab the bottle of olive oil and a few plates for dipping. Colin, and Ben come in to grab the food off the island for me, and I step into my heels and remove my apron.

---