Chapter 143
I turn back to Ivy.
“Maybe later p>
Her face drops instantly.
“What p>
“I can’t right now p>
“Why not p>
“I have to talk to the boys first p>
She groans again, this time louder.
“They’ll be there later p>
“I know p>
“So come shopping wirh me p>
“Ivy p>
“Please p>
She clasps her hands together dramatically while giving her best puppy eye face.
“Pretty please p>
I laugh.
“You’re unbelievable p>
“Come on I have missed you p>
“I missed you too p>
“So come with me p>
“I can’t now ivy p>
“Why not p>
“Because I need to talk to Lucas and the others about something really important p>
“How long will that take p>
“I don’t know p>
She narrows her eyes suspiciously.
“You’re being weird p>
“No I’m not p>
“You are p>
“I’m just busy right now p>
“With what p>
“Uhmmm business stuff p>
She tilts her head, studying me carefully like she’s trying to solve a puzzle.
Then she sighs.
“Fine p>
“But later p>
“Later,” I promise.
“Promise promise p>
“Yes p>
“You swear p>
“I swear cross mt heart, hope to die.” I say while chuckling.
She brightens instantly again and throws her arms around me for another hug.
“You better not disappear again,” she mumbles into my shoulder.
“I won’t sweetheart p>
I squeeze her tightly for a second before she pulls back.
“Okay,” she says, clapping her hands once. “I’m going before the mall gets too crowded p>
“Take it easy,” I warn automatically.
“Yes, mom p>
“I mean it ivy p>
“I know p>
She walks backward toward her car, waving at me.
“I’ll call you later p>
“Okay p>
She slides into the passenger seat while her driver closes the door and the car pulls away from the driveway a moment later, heading down the long road toward the gate.
I stand there watching until it disappears past the trees as a quiet breath leaves my chest.
Good. At least Ivy won’t be around for whatever happens next… because the conversation I’m about to have with purs brothers… Probably isn’t going to be pretty.
The front door opens before I even reach it. The house keepwr who has worked in this house longer than I’ve been alive, freezes when she sees me standing there. For a second her eyes widen like she’s just seen a ghost, then her whole face lights up.
“Elain p>
Before I can say anything she’s already pulling me inside.
“Look at you,” she says, grabbing my face between her hands the way she used to when I was fifteen and coming home late. “You look thin p>
“I do not p>
“You do p>
“I really don’t p>
She pulls me into a tight hug anyway, squeezing me like she’s making up for the weeks I’ve been gone.
“I heard you were back in town,” she says when she pulls away. “But no one told me you were coming here p>
“Neither did I,” I say honestly.
She laughs softly.
“Well, your brothers are going to lose their minds when they see you p>
I smile a little
“Where are they p>
“In the living room p>
Of course they are… some things never change.
I walk past the wide hallway toward the main living area. The sound reaches me before I even get there loud music, explosions, and the rapid clicking of controllers.
Definitely video games, I think to myself as I round the corner into the living room.
The giant TV on the wall is flashing bright colors from whatever game they’re playing. Two figures are slouched on the couch in front of it, controllers in their hands.
Noah and Caleb.
Noah is leaning forward, completely focused on the screen.
“Come on, come on p>
Caleb shoves him slightly with his shoulder.
“You’re about to lose p>
“I’m not about to lose p>
“You always lose p>
“That’s because you cheat p>
“I don’t cheat, you just suck at iot p>
I stop just inside the doorway, watching them for a second.
God. I missed this.
Caleb glances up first and the controller drops out of his hands immediately.
Noah turns at the same time and dor a split second neither of them move.
Then chaos.
“Holy p>
Noah launches off the couch like it’s on fire.
“Elaine p>
Caleb isn’t far behind him as both of them reach me at the same time and pull me into a hupg that nearly crushes my ribs.
“Where the hell have you been?” Noah demands into my hair.
“Yeah,” Caleb adds, squeezing tighter. “You disappeared p>
“I missed you guys too,” I laugh breathlessly
They finally let go enough for me to breathe and Caleb grabs my shoulders.
“Look at you p>
Noah steps back, shaking his head.
“You look the same p>
“You say that like it’s disappointing p>
“I just expected more… p>
“There’s been plenty more,” I mutter.
That’s when I notice Lucas.
He’s sitting at the dining table just beyond the living room area, a stack of papers spread in front of him.
He must’ve heard us because he’s looking up now.
“Elaine p>
Something about the way he says my name makes my chest tighten.
Lucas walks over, slower than the others did, then he pulls me into a hug.
A quiet one but tight.
“You should’ve told us you were coming,” he says.
“I know p>
He sighs but lets it go, pulling back to look at me.
“You okay p>
“Yeah. I’m good “
“You sure p>
“Yeah p>
Caleb nudges Noah with his elbow.
“See? She’s alive p>
“Barely,” Noah mutters.
Then he suddenly pauses and his head turns toward the front windows.
When he walks over and peeks through the curtains… i already know what he’s going to see.
Three black SUVs parked outside with armed security standing nearby.
His posture stiffens as he looks back at me slowly.
“Elaine p>
Caleb notices the change immediately.
“What p>
Noah gestures toward the window and Caleb walks over and looks too.
Lucas is already watching me now and Noah turns back fuly
“Why do you have a small army outside our house p>
I exhale slowly.
“It’s not a small army p>
“It’s definitely an army p>
“It’s just security p>
“For what p>
Caleb crosses his arms.
“Yeah, what’s going on p>