Page 33 of Risky Taste
That’s not really my problem—finding out that we’re not as close as I thought. It’s the fact that it probably factors into how Kurt feels about me. My parents had to have taken him in at some point and then we never mentioned my aunt and uncle again. They rarely came up in stories and when they did, it was always regarding their death. Never about their life, never about what they used to do or memories of our parents together.
Sebastian leans back in his chair, his expression taut as he meets my gaze. “Caught Kurt and Heath together at the pub we all used to go to. I thought I’d be seeing him with some of our guys but not him being so blatant about his connections. I did find out that Heath is the one who essentially presses the button even if Kurt sets everything up.”
I know what he’s getting at. “Why the fuck does Heath want to mess with me? He’s been trying to get back together for two years. This doesn’t make any sense.”
“No, it doesn’t,” Sebastian answers. “The problem is that they both equally don’t care what happens to the four of us as long as it saves their own skin. My job is to make sure that my brothers and the man I’m in love with don’t befall some horrific fate at their hands. Now, how are youreallydoing, babe? None of the bullshit.”
My cheeks heat at Sebastian’s admission but I’m not ready to say those words back. I can’t. Not yet. Soon, though. “I’m good.” I don’t sound convincing but it’s the truth. Mostly. “Keep checking in with me but I’m okay right now. Just tired. Angry. Confused? All of it.” I don’t really know what to feel. My life isfalling apart right in front of me and there isn’t anything I can do. Sebastian makes his way around the table and presses a kiss to my temple.
“And it’s okay to feel all of those things, Noah. Just keep talking to us, alright?” he says.
I heave a sigh and grab the coffee, sipping at it and then frowning when the rich taste hits my tongue. “This isn’t my coffee and it’s not that shitty stuff from the café.” I stare into the mud, confused.
Declan clears his throat, drawing my attention. “I thought I’d make something a little more palatable. Don’t thank me too much, though. It’s from Kurt’s stash and I thought it’d be better used on you, than him. Tasty stuff, though, yeah?”
“Yeah,” I take another few sips before glancing at the clock just above the oven. “Do you mind if I stay at the hotel? I really don’t want to be here alone when Kurt waltzes in here drunk. God forbid Heath is with him.”
Those words are all it takes to have my men shoving themselves into shoes and coats, dragging me right along with them. I chug the rest of my coffee, trying to hide my smile at their insistence. Logan locks the door behind us as he walks me to the car. “You don’t even have to ask, Bunny. We weren’t going to let you stay there alone, not for the time being any way.”
Declan slides into the front, Sebastian heading to his car. “However, mentioning Heath was a surefire way to speed up the process. If it’s not too much, why do you think Kurt never told you?”
I shrug, shifting into the backseat, Logan in the front passenger’s seat. “I would say I’m not sure he knew but from all the stories my parents told, I wasn’t that young when they died. I would have remembered Kurt moving in but it’s like he’s always been there. What happens tomorrow?” I ask, changing the subject.
Logan meets my gaze in the rearview mirror as Declan peels down the road. “We’ve got an assignment to report to, to make sure we’re out of the crosshairs of whatever the fuck Kurt is doing. Sebastian and Declan are gonna work on getting you out of your assignment but I’d advise you to lay low, stay around the hotel, don’t answer your brother’s or Heath’s calls.”
I can do that much and it’s been a while since I’ve truly relaxed. Sure, it’s going to be from the inside of Sebastian’s room but it’s a much needed break from the last week. I’ll call Ginny and Sarah to see how they’re doing, maybe check in with a few other guys I haven’t spoken to in a while. My curiosity wants me to message my buddy from my deployment to see if he has any information but we haven’t spoken since we got back.
I also really don’t want to tangle myself up in all of this bullshit more than I already am.
The rest of the ride is silent, all three of my men dropping chaste kisses to my lips and cheeks and forehead as we wait for pizza. It’s a comfortable warmth between the three of them, all of their attention firmly on me and yet, I’m still waiting for the moments we can spend together that aren’t overshadowed by my brother.
One day.
Hopefully sooner rather than later.
***
Last night ended in cheesy bliss, my sorry ass passing out not even an hour later. I had been tempted to start something but the mood was wrong so I settled for curling around Sebastian until they had to leave at six this morning. There were mumbled goodbyes and something about how lunch would be delivered before I passed out.
And now, nearly six hours later, I’m waking up to someone pounding on the door. I sit up slowly, phone vibrating on the nightstand, drawing my attention. Several texts from my men in a new group chat, checking in on me, span the length of my screen. Deciding to put them out of their misery, I begin scrolling through them, laughing at their concern.
Logan: how are you feeling, Bunny
Declan: he’s probably still sleeping.
Those texts came in around 8 am. Around 11 a.m., they texted again, a little more frantic.
Bast: Noah, are you alright? Logan ordered lunch for you and it should be there for you in an hour.
Logan: Hey Bunny, I’m a little worried.
Declan: I can get there in half an hour.
There are three missed calls and then a few more texts that came through in the last ten minutes.
Logan: Noah if you don’t answer, one of us will be there in a half hour.
Bast: Noah?
