Page 63 of My Boss's Sons

I blew out a big breath. “Can’t. He’s their dad and they love him.”

“Soph? Sophia.” Davis gently shook my shoulder. “Wake up. You’ve got company.”

I yawned and stretched. “Five more minutes.”

“Sophia? What the hell is going on here?” Noah’s voice cut through my foggy brain.

I sat up and gripped my head as it spun. “What’s happening?”

Davis sighed. “She’s drunk. She called me for a ride.”

I groaned. “Everyone be quiet so I can go back to sleep.”

“Move, Noah.” Alex’s voice was gentle and his scent filled my nose as I was picked up. “Let’s get you inside, Soph.”

“You’re welcome.” Davis called out.

“Thank you!” I looked up and smiled when I saw Alex’s face. “Hey, you.”

“I’m a little angry at you right now. Why the hell didn’t you call us? Why’d you call your ex-husband, Sophia?” He put me down in what I realized was my bed and I wondered how he got inside so fast.

“I wanted to call you.” I stretched out and yawned. “I just couldn’t.”

“Why not?” Ethan’s voice joined the rest.

“Cause. I can’t tell y’all everything. Too many secrets.” I hugged my pillow and tried to kick off my shoes. When I felt someone’s hands undoing the straps, I smiled. “Thank you.”

“What secrets, Sophia?” Noah still sounded so cranky.

“You sound like him when you’re mad at me.” I pouted. “I wish I could tell you the things that have been making me sick but you wouldn’t want to hear it. You would choose him.”

“What are you talking about?” Alex stroked my cheek and pried one of my eyes open. “Come on, Soph. Talk to us.”

“I hate him.” I curled into myself. “But I care about y’all. It’s complicated. I already miss y’all.”

If they said anything else, I missed it. I passed out and when I woke up later, they were long gone.

50

***Ethan***

“What does he want?” Alex slammed the truck door shut and scowled at Noah over the hood. “I don’t want to fucking be here.”

Noah scowled back at him. “Grow up, Alex.”

I growled. “Both of you grow up.”

Mom waited at the door for us, her eyes wide and worried. “Hurry up and get in here. The last time your father called a family meeting, we were at war with some random company in New York and he looked less stressed than he does right now.”

We each hugged Mom and then followed the sound of Dad’s pacing to the library. He and Noah were so similar at times in their mannerisms. I wondered too many times if that was why Alex and Noah butted heads so often. Alex hadn’t gotten along with our dad in over a decade and Dad didn’t exactly make it easy for Alex to come back to him. It wasn’t a surprise that Alex also held a grudge against Noah.

“Come in. Sit. Sit.” Dad ran his hands down his face, looking overly stressed. “There’s no coffee or anything, but I could get some water if anyone needs.”

My stomach turned. Dad was never accommodating, which meant whatever we’d been called together for was going to be bad. I sank onto one of the couches and crossed my ankle over my knee. My foot bounced as I waited for the ball to drop. Noah sat beside me and I watched his fingers tap nervously on his thigh. We all knew something big was up.

Mom sat across from us and Alex stood behind me. Dad frowned at Alex before shaking his head and continuing his pacing.

“Honey, you’re stressing us all out. How about you sit down?” Mom crossed her legs and uncrossed them before crossing them again. She was just as restless as the rest of us.