Page 103 of Racking Up Penalties
“Only the best for you, Matthews.” I stand back, admiring our handiwork with a satisfied nod, before diving into another box.
The rhythm between us is effortless, like the ebb and flow of a tide we’re both attuned to. We move around the room, unpacking and organizing, each motion synchronized. Every so often, Ethan reaches out to tuck a stray lock of my red hair behind my ear, his fingertips grazing my skin. Each touch is a spark, igniting a warmth that spreads through my chest.
Tristan and Liam can’t keep their hands off me either.
The boxes dwindle as we work, conversation flowing freely. With each folded flap and neatly arranged item, the space around us becomes more like a home.
“Race you to see who can hang up the most clothes?” Liam teases, and just like that, the room is filled with movement and laughter.
Tristan picks me up, stopping me from getting to the last of the clothes and letting Liam win.
“Thank you,” I whisper between one such stolen kiss, our foreheads resting together. “For making this fun.”
“Thank you for being here,” Ethan, his brown eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that makes my heart race. “With you all, everything’s better.”
The last of Ethan’s shirts slides onto a hanger, the sleeves dangling like outstretched arms ready to embrace. I step back, surveying the closet meticulously organized by color and season.
“Only you would organize the closet like this,” Tristan says, his voice warm with appreciation as he places the final book on the shelf.
“Yup,” I reply, unable to suppress a proud smile.
“Come on, group hug.” Liam’s suggestion pulls us together, and suddenly we’re a tangle of limbs and laughter.
As they release me, I step back once more, taking in the scene before me. The gratitude filling my chest is a balloon swelling to the point of bursting.
“Looks amazing, doesn’t it?” Ethan’s voice pulls me from my reverie.
“It does,” I confirm, my voice a soft echo of my awe. “It really does.”
Tristan and Liam run out to get some takeout for all of us to have for dinner, giving me a moment alone with Ethan.
“Today…” I start, pausing as emotions clog my throat. “Today was special, Ethan.”
“Because of the room?” His voice is teasing, but his eyes hold a seriousness that tells me he knows there’s more.
“You’re moving in with your half-brother, getting away from your father, and embracing this relationship,” I clarify, lifting my gaze to meet his.
His smile softens, and he tilts my chin up, pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead. “It means a lot to me too. Liam has really stepped up. As far as us, we are just getting started.”
The promise in his words wraps around me like a vow.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
Liam and Ethan come back with Chinese takeout and the three of us spend the night hanging out in Ethan’s new space and just enjoying being around each other.
Chapter 45
Sunlight pierces the edges of the curtains, casting a warm glow across the room as consciousness gently nudges me awake. I’m cocooned in a tangle of limbs and soft sheets, the steady rhythm of two hearts beating in sync with my own. My eyelids flutter open, and I’m met with the sight of Ethan’s chest rising and falling beneath my cheek, his arm draped protectively around me. To my other side, Tristan’s breaths are quiet and even, his presence a comforting weight against my back.
The air is still, thick with the anticipation of the day, and for a moment, I linger in the blissful haze between sleep and wakefulness. The warmth of their bodies envelops me like a promise.
“Game day, everyone!” The exuberance in Liam’s voice slices through the tranquility of the room, a stark contrast to the peaceful morning quietude.
He went and slept in his own bed last night after we moved Ethan in. We are going to have to come up with a way to all spend the night together.
I peel my gaze away from Ethan’s slumbering form, squinting against the intrusion of light as Liam bounds into the room. His blond hair is tousled from sleep or perhaps from the rush of adrenaline already coursing through him. The excitement radiating off him is palpable, his gray eyes sparkling with that familiar competitive glint I’ve come to know so well.
“Today’s the day we crush Rivertown,” Liam continues, the smile on his face stretching from ear to ear, revealing the boyish charm that often disarms me.
