I shook my head. “No, your ex-wife and your publicist will figure it out.”
He didn’t say anything for a second and before he could, my phone rang. I looked down and saw that it was Rosie. He gestured for me to answer it as he grabbed a pair of shorts from his dresser. He tossed a pair to Price and Cole, too. I hadn’t even realized they’d been naked the entire time they were talking to Samantha. Just how comfortable around her were they?
“Rosie?”
“I came home and there are a thousand people in front of our house, Sonnie. They’re all shouting and taking pictures and I didn’t know what to do. I needed to check on Monster so I just tried to walk through but they started grabbing at me and asking me questions. I ran inside and I’m hiding in my room with Monster, Sonnie. Please, come home. I don’t know what to do.”
“I’ll be right there, Ro. I’m so sorry. It’ll be okay.” I looked around the room and started grabbing my clothes from the night before. “Just make sure the door’s locked and stay in your room. Turn your music on if you need to.”
“Just hurry, Sonnie.”
“Of course. I love you.”
“Love you, too.”
I looked up and found the guys already dressed and pulling on their shoes. Tears filled my eyes but I blinked them away as quickly as I could. I didn’t have time to break down. “I need to go home. People surrounded the house and they grabbed at Rosie. She’s terrified.”
“We’ll take you.” Price had his keys in his hand already.
I shook my head. “No. This is already a mess because we were seen together. If I show up with y’all, it’s just going to get worse. I… I didn’t think it would be like this. There are pictures of my house online. There are pictures leading up to what we did last night. Those articles… I don’t know if I can do this.”
Cole frowned. “We can’t let you go alone. None of this was supposed to happen, but we won’t let you drown. We’ll take care of you, Sonnie. You and Rosie.”
I was shaking and I knew his words were meant well, but he was throwing rocks at a crumbling wall. “No one has ever taken care of me. As much as I would love to believe you and as much as I’d love to think this whole thing is going to end well for me, I just don’t believe it. You don’t even know me. You’ve barely known me for twenty-four hours.”
Drake cupped my face in his big hands and pressed his mouth over mine. It stopped my frantic speaking and slowed my mind. I felt Price and Cole press into me from either side and I managed to take a few deep breaths.
“I told you I’m decisive, Cupcake. I told you the guys are, too. We’re going to take care of you. You don’t have to believe it right now. You can just watch it happen.” Drake smoothed my hair away from my face and stroked his thumbs over my cheeks. “We’re going to go to your house and get Rosie and the asshole cat. It’s not safe to stay there with everyone wanting a piece of you right now. We’ll take you to Price’s. It’s out in the country and if we’re lucky, a mountain lion will eat Monster.”
I let out a watery laugh and slapped his chest. “That’s not funny.”
He gently kissed me again. “The publicist wanted attention for the brand to show we aren’t gay and he’s getting it. Instead of just letting Samantha and him figure it out, after we get you to Price’s, we’ll meet with them and help work out a plan. You’re right. It’s shitty of me to let my ex-wife figure out what’s going to happen with your reputation.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You didn’t have to.” He sighed. “Let’s go save Rosie. I’m not exactly sure this is going to make her like us, but maybe we’ll grow on her.”
Cole grunted. “Speak for yourself. She’ll like me. I’m great.”
“You thought the same thing about the cat.” Price nodded to Cole’s bandaged hand. “I wouldn’t suggest putting your hand near her.”
I pulled away and stepped into my pants from the night before. Tying the t-shirt in a knot at my waist, I yanked my hair into a mess at the top of my head and rubbed my eyes after looking around. “I’m ready. I feel sick. I don’t think nerves and sperm mix well.”
Drake made a face. “Don’t talk about sperm right now, Cupcake. We’re in an emergency situation and I have a feeling you’d slap me if I tried to bend you over my bed right now. It’s best if you don’t say any words that could be perceived as sexual in any way.”
I rolled my eyes and moved towards the door. “You’re not helping me feel like I’m making the sane decision.”
“Who’s trying to convince you you’re making the sane decision?” Cole patted my ass and took my bag for me. “You’re going to love Price’s house. There’s a lake. And a pool.”
“Price hasn’t even said he wants us there.” I looked back at him. “And you don’t have to.”
“We’re sure as hell not staying here, where Samantha can come in and see my naked dick whenever she feels like it.” Price shuddered and cast a glare at Drake. “We should’ve gone to my house last night. Your ex is a mood killer.”
CHAPTER 23
Cole
The number of reporters outside Sonnie’s house pissed me off. We hadn’t counted on anyone taking those pictures of us with her and we were idiots for not considering the possibility. We were supposed to be going out with the purpose of being seen with women, so how it didn’t cross our minds people might see us with Sonnie the night before, was beyond me. We’d fucked up and hadn’t protected her. She probably should’ve run from us. She and her little sister were being dragged into a mess because of us and we weren’t selfless enough to let her go.