man's body at rest. They ask me questions; silly things like my favorite color and flavor of ice-cream. They tell me it's their birthday next week and all about the silly traditions my dad had to celebrate. And I find myself relaxing in their presence and relishing everything about these two amazing brothers.
And for the first time, a glimmer of hope that this could really work blooms inside me.
15
“Maggie, your phone is ringing.”
I open my left eye and find Harley’s face right in front of mine. He’s smiling broadly, and I close my eyes again, squealing inside. Oh my God. It really happened. I reach my hand behind me, and it meets something very hard and very long. Hunter’s there, and he’s got morning wood. I’ve never woken up in someone’s bed before, and now I’m here with two guys. Two!
“Where’s the phone?” Hunter says gruffly, planting a warm kiss on my bare shoulder.
“My purse.” My voice is so husky, and then I remember why. We were up talking until the small hours. Talking and laughing, and other stuff that makes me blush like a tomato.
Hunter rolls out of bed and strolls to my purse; the ringing is still emanating from it. I turn, catching the sight of him from behind. Powerful thighs and an ass that could have been hewn from granite. When he turns, he’s looking at the screen, but I’m looking at the cock that rocked my world last night. I think about that cute little emoji face with the exploding brain because that is what I feel like right now. Mind obliterated.
“It’s your mom,” he says. When our eyes meet, I see a little flicker of embarrassment. Holding my phone when my mom is calling while he’s naked seems like a small step too far for Hunter. Considering what he did to me last night, it’s hilarious.
“I better take it,” I say. “I haven’t spoken to her since I got here, and she must have had enough of waiting around for me to make proper contact… Mom.”
“Maggie. Are you okay? I’ve been worried about you.”
“I’m okay, Mom.”
“That’s good. So did your dad really leave you a house in his will?” My heart drops a little in my chest. She hasn’t even pretended to make this call about me. It’s all about the money.
“Yeah.”
“That’s amazing.” I hear a long exhale of breath that reveals just how worried she’s been about the financial implications of me being pregnant. “So, are you going to list it with a realtor?”
I sit up, realizing that the room is quiet enough for Harley and Hunter to hear every word. “No, Mom. Look, I’ve just woken up. Can I call you back later?”
“I’m starting my shift now. That’s why I called you,” she says impatiently.
“I’ll call you when your shift is done, okay?”
“Okay.”
We say our goodbyes, and I drop the phone into my lap and rub my hands over my face. I feel so tired and nauseous.
“I need to use the bathroom.” In the harsh light of morning, I am very self-conscious. Grabbing the blanket that’s covering us all, I shuffle to the edge of the bed and wrap it around myself. As I stand, the wave of morning sickness hits me full force. Shit. I need to get to the bathroom. There’s no time to dress in something more appropriate. I rush from the room and across the hall, just missing Trey, who is rubbing his half-closed eyes, and dressed only in bed shorts.
“Sorry,” I hiss through gritted teeth.
I make it to the bathroom, trying to slam the door, but the blanket gets caught, and I’m swearing, and, in the end, I have to drop the blanket. I almost don’t make it.
There’s mumbling in the hall while I blink back tears and wash my mouth out in the sink. It doesn’t matter how many times this happens; I still feel like shit afterward. There’s a gentle tap on the door, and I reach out for a towel from the shelf, wrapping it around myself as fast as I can. “Maggie, are you okay?”
It’s Harley. I think I can tell the difference between their voices now, which is a cool realization in among the hideous fog of nausea. It’s not so much about tone, more about expression. Tugging on the handle, I find Harley standing in the hallway flanked by Trey and Hunter. I don’t think even my own mom has ever looked as concerned for me as these boys do right now.