Page 18 of The Secret's Out

“What?” I whispered.

“Precious, your parents are worried about you. Call them,” he said, sliding his phone over the table. I stared down at it. When I didn’t reach for it, Caden picked it back up and pressed some buttons. He placed it back on the table and it started ringing.

“Hello?” my mum’s voice said.

“Nance, Pick here with Eli and Josie.”

“Darling?” Mum’s uttered, her voice catching.

“Hi, Mum. I’m so sorry for worrying you. I promise I won’t do it again.”

“Oh, Lordy, my son-in-law is a miracle worker and sending two handsome men. Amazing. Sweetie, how are you?”

“I’m good now, Mum.” I smiled at the phone.

In the background we heard boomed, “Is that Josie? Give me the phone, woman.” There was a shuffle and then Dad’s voice was on the line. “Baby girl, is this actually our daughter who we haven’t heard from in a long time?”

Giggling, I said, “Yes, Dad. Caden and Eli are here also.”

“Who?” he snapped.

Rolling my eyes, I said, “Pick and Billy.”

“Yo, Rich.” Caden said.

“S’up, Rich.” Eli smiled.

“You boys there to take care of our baby girl?”

“Course,” Caden said.

“You boys gonna keep your hands to yourself?” Dad demanded as we heard in the background from Mum, “I hope they don’t.” Dad covered the phone and said something to Mum and then into the phone, “Well?”

“We’ll try, Rich.” Eli smirked and winked at me while my cheeks heated.

Silence on the other end.

And then, “Well, shit, at least you’re being honest. You know what will happen if you screw her over.”

“Dad, I’m still here.”

“Quiet, Josie. The big guys are talkin’.”

“Mum,” I called loudly.

“Richard, give me the phone,” Mum snapped.

“No, I’m talking to the guys. They need to know they’ll be effed up if they cause our daughter any harm, even of to the heart.”

“Don’t be stupid. They’ve been in love with her since she was seventeen.”

Goodness me.

Was that true?

Looking to the guys to see their reactions, they’d both adverted their gazes from mine and kept blank expression so I couldn’t tell.

Still, the phone call was just getting strange. It was time to end it. “Mum, Dad, we have to go. Um, I love you both and I promise to talk soon.”

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