Firestorm - Ellie Masters Page 0,64
her lesson has been received and acknowledged.
Somehow, being dressed down by Asher’s mom, rather than making me feel more distant, makes me feel closer to her than before. It’s as if we’ve crossed a line together.
As for the food, I consider myself to be athletic, although I do feel like I’ve lost weight. Under her admonishment, I finish off the eggs and force down the bacon. I should have a pancake with some of that amazing syrup they keep passing around, but my phone flashes with an incoming text.
I look up, apologetic. “I’m sorry, but that’s my lawyer.”
“Your lawyer?” Asher asks.
“Yes Prescott.” Didn’t I explain this to Asher? “He says they just turned down the lane.” I look between Asher’s brothers sitting opposite me, not entirely sure which one is Brody. I pick the one on the left and hope for the best. “Um, thanks for making breakfast. It was really good.”
Cage points to Brody. “You mean him.”
Shit. Wrong triplet. God, they’re nearly indistinguishable.
Brody chuckles. Abbie covers her mouth. And Asher’s body stiffens.
“Um, sorry. It’s pretty incredible how much the three of you look alike.” I turn to their mother. “Did you ever mix them up when they were little?”
I imagine a stressed and scatterbrained mother trying to keep track of three identical triplets. Put them all on a changing table, shuffle them around. How improbable is it to think she got them mixed up?
I would’ve confused them multiple times. How she kept them straight is beyond me.
Her laughter is soft, like the fluttering of butterfly wings. “Oh, so many times. I’m almost certain I got them sorted out though.” She lowers her voice and whispers. “I think. It’s all in how they’re circumcised.” She winks at me. “You know, one is clipped too short, one a little generous on the left, the other one….”
“Mom!” Brody rolls his eyes.
Cage gives a shake of his head. “Don’t listen to Mom. She never mixed us up. Especially me, since I’m her favorite.”
Asher and Brody exchange exaggerated moans.
“You’re not her favorite.” Brody punches Cage in the arm. “She just lets you think that because you’re too dumb to know the truth.”
“Right,” Asher jumps in. “I’m her favorite. That’s why I came out first. She wanted alone time with me before the two of you crashed our party.”
“What?” I look between the three of them. A smile fills Abbie’s face as she looks at her boys.
Asher explains. “I’m the eldest.”
“Like a minute or two really matters,” I say.
“More like two weeks.” Asher is quick to correct me.
“Is that even possible?” I’ve never heard of such a thing.
“Yeah, I was born two weeks before those two slackers. Like I’ve always said, Mom wanted time alone with her favorite son before the lesser sons arrived.” Asher puffs out his chest.
“Bullshit. She was eager to get rid of you and pop your ass out. She loves us more.” Brody is quick to engage. “That’s why she hung onto us.”
My phone flashes and I hop to my feet. “Sorry. Prescott is pulling up outside.” I turn to Brody, who I hope is the correct triplet. “Again, thank you very much for breakfast. It was wonderful.”
“No problem.” Brody inclines his head, accepting my compliment.
“Here, I’ll go with you.” Asher rises to his feet.
I never told Asher about Prescott. After the whole triplet fiasco, the last thing I want is for Asher to discover my little secret.
Not that it’s a secret. I simply prefer not to open old wounds. I want my past to stay in the past. Asher and I are too new to go ruining things with bad memories. I don’t want him to feel sorry for me. As a result, we haven’t had those heart-to-heart talks couples usually have.
The secrets I hold are big enough to blow us apart.
Asher walks with me to the front of the house. Behind us, his mother tells the boys to clean up. I love their tight familial bond. My hand flies to my chest. The knot which suddenly forms, all the pain and agony, it’s too much. I pull to a stop and Asher nearly runs me down.
“You okay?” He grips my arm. His warm eyes simmer with concern.
“Yeah, it’s just, I wanted to explain Prescott to you before you meet.”
“Okay.” He releases my arm and shoves his hands in his pockets. “I’m all ears.” Asher looks suddenly vulnerable.
“It’s a long story, and this isn’t the best time, but Prescott is special to me.”
“As in how special?” He shifts foot to