CHAPTER TWELVE
Ellie
I looked around the kitchen, checking every surface. I wanted to make sure it was clean, and I jumped as arms wrapped around my waist.
“Hey, baby. Calm down. The house looks great.” Chris murmured before kissing my cheek.
Bree was on her way. I marinated chicken in soy sauce and lemon juice all day for them to grill and cut a bunch of vegetables. I made a salad to go with it and the fridge was stocked with wine and beer. I asked her to bring our favorite cake from the bakery in Aurora. I was excited to see her and draw her into my life but scared. I hoped that she would see what I had in Chris and Miller and not think that I was just shacking up with them and fucking them.
It was so much more.
I turned to look at Chris, dressed in worn jeans and a blue Henley. It was cold outside, but they were going to grill the food as fast as they could. Miller walked into the room dressed in a similar gray shirt and jeans and I looked him over.
“You guys both look amazing. I don’t think I want to share you.” I smiled as Miller walked over to kiss my hair. We’d spent most of the day in bed together and finally showered at the last minute. I dressed in some comfortable jeans and a sweater, smacking their hands from me several times in the process.
How could this be so perfect?
We were still laughing when the doorbell rang. I widened my eyes and finished the glass of wine that I’d poured for liquid courage before walking to the door to greet Bree. Her chocolate brown hair was tucked under a gray beanie for the day that matched her jacket and I hugged her tightly. It was clear out today but chilly and I ushered her in where it was warm. I could see how impressed Bree was with the house as she looked around. I didn’t have anything to compare it to since I never saw hers so maybe it was better. She walked through the living room, looking around as Chris and Miller stepped from the kitchen. Bree stilled and took them both in for a few minutes as I stared into their faces.
“I see that appeal, El,” she called back to me as she went to meet them. They shook hands, and the guys were polite and friendly to her. They were chatting about having a place in the area and how great it was when I took her coat and hat. Bree was wearing jeans and a soft pink sweater that hung over one shoulder, making me remember how beautiful she was. Bree exuded sex and had the list of partners to prove that. I had to stop my thoughts and remind myself that Chris and Miller were mine. All mine.
I asked her if she wanted some wine and when Bree nodded in the middle of a sentence, I poured her some and got beers out for the guys. They had a lot in common with my friend, it seemed. They were discussing their favorite places to go nearby and where they had enjoyed their winter sports over the years. I never did any of that. My parents kept me close to home, choosing my friends and places I went. Church was a big one on their list, leading us all to meeting Brent. The memory made me frown, and I sipped my fresh glass of wine.
I felt movement and Chris grabbed his beer as he told me that he was heading outside to start the grill for dinner. Bree came in and set the bag down from the bakery as she grinned. She made sure they were both outside before smiling wider.
“Holy shit. They’re gorgeous, El. I think I’m jealous of you right now.” Her eyes gleamed as she stared. “I want to ask so many questions but you won’t answer.” I shook my head with a small smile on my face. “I’ll just assume that it’s been a learning experience for you with them.” She walked in to get her wine as I pulled the cake from the box.
“Chocolate raspberry. Thank you, Bree.” It was my absolute favorite, and I wasn’t a good enough baker to copy it here.
“I miss going there for long talks,” she admitted as I gave her a sad smile. “Do you think you’ll ever come back to the city?”
“Probably. We can all work from here for now so why not enjoy that?” It kept me away from the reality of my parents as well. If I didn’t answer my phone, I didn’t have to deal with them.
“I miss you. It’s beautiful here but a long drive for both of us. I don’t even come to my own cabin all that much.” I looked at Bree curiously, wondering if she was trying to be critical or just caring. She must have seen the darkness in my eyes because she set her glass down and reached out for my hand. “I’m sorry. I sound like a bitch right now. I really do want you happy and this seems to be doing the trick.”
I put the cake by the sink and took a deep breath. I didn’t want to feel attacked, so I pushed that aside and invited her to sit down in the living room so we could catch up. The mood lightened as we talked about mutual friends in Aurora and places we used to go. Bree looked sad at points but I could see her trying to look happy. I needed that.
The guys popped in and out of the house, getting the chicken and vegetables as they chatted. Their friendship was clear in their voices and it made me smile to know that I was included in this. Bree looked at me every time we heard them and shook her head.
“I never thought this would be your thing but I’m happy for you. Do they happen to have any brothers?”
I giggled. They both had two each, but they were all married with kids.
“Yes, but they’re married. Very happily, from what I’m told.” I replied as she raised a dark brow at me.
“Have you met any of them?” She asked, and I shook my head.
“It’s not the ideal situation for that. Their families are all friends and spend a lot of time together, hence their closeness. Sharing one woman isn’t the norm and they’re worried about the reaction to it.” I sighed. “I’ve suggested pretending that I’m the girlfriend of only one of them and that we’re all friends. They’re considering that but they want to be honest. How am I supposed to pick one?” I shrugged and sipped my wine again. “I’m sorry. I’m being a downer.”
“This is real life. You need to worry about you and if this makes you happy, so be it. You don’t need anyone’s approval.” She smiled and glanced around the room.
“What does your cabin look like?” I asked her as Bree smiled.
“I don’t believe you never made it there.” She giggled. “It’s a bit smaller and less modern. Cozy. The views are pretty much the same from what I could see.” Bree looked at me. “We should stay there together sometime. It would be fun.”
“I’d like that,” I replied with a genuine smile. I felt free now that I was away from my parents and Brent. I had little time to myself in those days.
The back door opened, and voices floated into the room before the smell of food. Bree inhaled deeply and sighed.
“They nearly froze to death to cook that for us,” she reminded me as I nodded. We stood and headed into the kitchen to help the guys. We plated everything, and I grabbed the salad from the fridge before we sat down at the table in front of the back windows. I freshened our wine and sat down between the guys and across from Bree as she looked outside.
“This is a little better than my view. You have that lake that you can see.” She told them as Miller chuckled.
“It’s frozen most of winter. A bit far to get to unless we want to spend a long day. Lake North is closer and just as pretty. Have you been?” He asked as he cut his chicken into bite-size pieces.
“I’ve been going since I was a kid. My dad bought a boat for that lake. It’s so pretty.” She glanced down at her plate and stabbed a piece of asparagus that I’d marinated in the fridge for a while. She chewed and swallowed and grinned. “That’s good. Who cooks here?”
“We all do. We each have our specialties, I suppose. It works for us,” Chris told her as he smiled at me.
We chatted about light topics through dinner and headed to the living room to sit by the fire after we set the dishes in the sink. We each had a fresh glass of wine and the guys held beers as they asked Bree about her job at the attorney’s office where she just celebrated five years. They asked if she was my age and Bree said that she was three years older than I was. She graduated from college where I just dabbled at the local junior college until my parents probably pushed Brent to propose to me. We were together, but it wasn’t the kind of relationship that I read about in books.
I considered going back if I ever returned to town. I could even do it online from here. I loved writing and could see a future in that, but maybe I could be more.
We ended up playing some board games that the guys had stored in a chest of drawers and I could tell that Bree was feeling the wine as she laughed at something Miller did. I nibbled at my lip and wondered if she should just stay in one of the guest rooms. Mine had been cleaned since I began sleeping in the guy’s rooms with them. I looked at them for a moment, wondering what are sleeping arrangements would be if she did. I’d never been with anyone else in their presence before.
Several hours later after some games and a movie, I led Bree to her room and gave her a hug. Once it was suggested for her to stay, we opened another bottle of wine and she was now drunk. I watched her close her door and returned to the living room where they were cleaning up for the night.