Page 23 of You're ours now

Storm scoffs and leaves the room, and though I’d normally ask what his problem is, I don’t have the energy to deal with him right now. I’m probably making him feel useless. He would want to find those men and get justice, but that isn’t how life works.

“We can’t do that for you, but how about we organize a Valentine’s Day you’ll never forget?” Zayne suggests. I go to veto the idea, but he cuts me off. “Before you say no, hear me out. We have been your best friends for almost two decades. If anyone can plan the best Valentine’s ever, it’s us. Please let us do this for you.”

I sniffle. “But don’t you have your own plans? I would hate to mess them up.”

Zayne laughs. “You know I clear my schedule every year for you. There is no one else besides Julez who I would rather spend V-Day with.”

Storm strides back in. “If I’m forced to do all the hearts and flowers crap, you bet your sexy little ass I’m doing it with you.”

My mouth falls open. Storm said I have a sexy ass?! In what universe am I living right now?

“So it’s settled. We’re going to give you a Valentine’s Day to remember,” Julius says, leaning down and pressing a kiss on my forehead before moving from the bed. “I’m going to plan it out now. Storm, you can come and help.”

“Why me?” he complains. “I’m good with my hands, not with making love day plans.”

Julius chuckles, the sound drifting away as they leave the room.

“So what movie are we starting with?” Zayne asks, picking up my remote.

“The Notebook,” I reply, but of course he already has it up on the screen and I gently whack him with my arm.

“Do I know my girl or what? Now get settled in. I think we can smash at least two of these out before you fall asleep and drool on me.”

“I do not drool, thank you very much,” I huff out.

“Shh, the movie’s starting,” he jokes, even though he knows the movie so well he could speak it word for word, which he does as soon as it starts. Julius comes in with my ice cream, some popcorn for Zayne, a bottle of water, and fresh tissues.

We all know damn well Zayne will need them more than me—this movie gets him every time.

Chapter Thirteen

Storm

Once Mellie fell asleep last night, Zayne joined us to finish our planning. We all agreed that giving her a Valentine’s Day to remember is the priority, but equally important is telling her it was us. We could have done it last night, but with how upset and betrayed she was feeling, it was best to let her cool down a little.

I woke up feeling terrified today. This could very well end our friendship, and that’s something I can’t imagine living without. My every memory involves her.

She is the only girl I have told I would marry. Even if it was in the first grade, I meant every word. When I learned to ride a bike, she was right there cheering me on with her little pigtails and toothless grin. When I went through my awkward stage, she told me I was the handsomest boy she had ever met.Then when my voice cracked, she never laughed, only said my body was changing and I was becoming a man. She was there for everything, and I’ll be damned if she is not by my side for the rest of my life.

I want to see her face as she walks down the aisle when I’m standing at the altar. I want her to be the mother of my babies. And I want to see her grow old.

Julius is already in the kitchen cooking us breakfast. We have the entire day planned out, starting with breakfast in bed, then we’re going to take her for a mini hike, because let’s face it, walking far isn’t her idea of fun. Julius managed to get some disposable cameras for us to take photos, and we’ll have a picnic lunch overlooking the entire town. After that Julius has booked us into a painting class, and then Zayne has hired out an entire movie theater for us to watch the movieValentine’s Day.Once we are done, we will come back home where he has organized a company to set up roses, wine, chocolates, and the works. Then we plan to tell her everything.

I only hope she forgives us.

Even if she’s pissed, I will spend the rest of my life making her see we did it because we care and wanted her to have her fantasy made reality. Sure, we should have come clean and given her the choice, but we know her and she wouldn’t have agreed. Not because she didn’t want to, but because Mellie puts us first, before herself. Now we need her to see what is right in front of her: three men so perfectly suited to her she never needed to go looking elsewhere at all.

Once her breakfast is ready, I gather her gifts, and Julius brings the food on a tray. Opening the door to her room, I snort at the sight. Zayne and Mellie are wrapped in each other’s arms, Zayne’s leg is thrown over the top of her, and her head is burrowed against his chest.

“Wake up sleeping beauties,” Julius chirps, and both Zayne and Mellie untangle themselves.

Mellie smiles, and it’s the best feeling after how down she was last night.

“Do you want to do gifts or breakfast first?” Zayne asks, wrapping his arms around her again once she sits up.

“Gifts,” she says, beaming.

I nod and hold out the three gifts to her.

---