Though Tristin had posed the question, I looked at Leo and Hayle in front of me to answer it. “All except one thing.”
“What’s that?” Hayle asked.
“You all should have warned me that I would feel like I’d biked the Tour de France afterward.”
Leo let out a hearty laugh. “So sorry, milady. Shall I run you a bubble bath?”
“That, and I’ll take a protein bar and a couple bottles of water.”
I felt rather than heard Tristin’s own chuckle from behind me. “Anything else?”
“Hmmm.” I tapped my forefinger against my mouth. “Some of Hayle’s Teddy Grahams would really hit the spot.”
Hayle’s eyes widened, and his jaw dropped open. “I can’t believe you. You promised to keep my Teddy Grahams fetish a secret.”
“I thought you told them,” I replied innocently.
Leo lifted his hand, grinning. “I didn’t know. But I’m exceedingly happy I do now.”
Hayle shook his head before surging forward, aiming for me. When his fingers brushed my sides, I realized his intentions too late, and there was nowhere to hide. He tickled me ruthlessly while I writhed against Tristin, and Leo watched on, amusement shining out of every pore.
“Stop,” I beseeched when I could scarcely draw breath.
Hayle paused, and it was clear that it was taking a lot of effort to hide his grin. “Then, tell me something true.”
“Teddy Grahams are for kids?”
That time, I felt Tristin’s laugh all the way to my toes. Hayle immediately started in again, so I covered his hands with mine. “Okay, okay. Just kidding.”
He stopped, though he rested his hands along my ribs. “You know what to do. Something true.”
There were a million sweet things I could have said in that moment. But, like I’d told Hayle, sweet wasn’t my thing.
“The Sharpe brothers do it better.”
As soon as the words left my lips, we all burst out laughing. And we didn’t stop laughing and talking and loving until long after the sun rose.
Chapter Forty-Two
Thea
“Wake up, sweetheart.”
My eyes immediately snapped open, scanning the room for Hayle’s. “What’s wrong?”
He brushed a lock of hair off my forehead before pressing a kiss to my temple. “Nothing is wrong.”
My breath whooshed out of me. “Oh.”
Hayle perched on the edge of the bed and took my hands to lift me into a sitting position. “I love how you worry about me. It makes me feel special.” Linking our fingers together, he added, “But it’s been over a month, and you don’t need to worry about me like that anymore. I’m okay.”
I studied his face, searching for signs of guilt or depression or anger or anything else that would tell me he wasn’t, in fact, okay. But all I found was warmth. He didn’t even appear annoyed at my overprotectiveness.
There was no doubt that I’d been hovering in the six weeks since his mother’s death. I’d attempted to anticipate his every need and want and mood swing. Any time I wasn’t at school or work or sleeping, I sought him out. I’d even been doing my homework by his side, constantly keeping an eye on him. And he hadn’t once complained or tried to push me away.
A sheepish smile played at my lips. “Are you saying you’re tired of me?”
“Never, and I do mean never.” He rested his forehead against mine, the tips of our noses brushing. “I just don’t want you to fret over my well-being. I’m better, and the next time I have a bad day, you’ll be the first one I come to.”
“Okay.” I pressed my mouth to his. “I love you, but why the heck did you wake me on a Saturday morning to tell me you didn’t need me?”
He laughed softly against my lips. “We have a surprise for you.”
I drew back. “Don’t tell me we’re taking another impromptu trip to Colorado. Because we have classes on Monday, and I need to study for my Civ exam.”
“Nothing like that. But we do need to leave in about thirty minutes.”
“And you’re not going to tell me where we’re going?”
Hayle kissed me again before standing from the bed. “Surprise, remember? Can’t ruin it by telling you.”
I sighed, feigning exasperation. “Will you at least tell me what I need to wear?”
“Anything you want. It’ll just be the four of us.”
“Okay.” I stood and pushed him toward the door. “I’ll be down in twenty, and I expect breakfast to be waiting for me.”
“Your wish is my command.”
By the time we piled into the Range Rover, I couldn’t help but notice that the brothers were unusually