Chapter 125
Josh returned a few minutes later carrying a huge box. Loaded with Chinese food. It smelled amazing. And my stomach let out an embarrassingly loud grow turned bright red with embarrassment and slapped my hand over my stomach. Thankfully, none of the guys said anything. Drew just set me up on my feet and we all trooped into the kitchen where Josh was busy setting out all the boxes of Chinese food. When we each had a plate loaded with food. We went back to the Ining room And finished the action movie.It was the perfect way to spend the afternoon.
Once the movie was over, I told the guys they could play one of their games if they wanted. I was gonna go grab my book and read. While the guys were setting up their game.I went And tracked down my book. Returning with it, I cuddled in between Mike and Patrick. I got lost in my reading while the guys battled their way through his zombie apocalypse.
I was about halfway through my book when I began to get drowsy. The last thing I wanted to do was sleep more but my body apparently had other ideas And I was soon dozing With my head on Mike’s lap.And feet stretched across. Patrick’s legs. I don’t know how long I’ve been asleep for when the nightmare started.I found myself back.In the dark basement where my father had been keeping me. The two other kidnappers had been there. But when they came down. To give me more sedative. The one that had started to touch me.Didn’t just stop there. And I startled awake.Screaming
The guys were all watching me Their game.Totally forgotten And concern etched on all of their faces. Patrick was holding my feet in place.So I didn’t accidentally kick him.But when he sar I was fully awake. He let go. And began to rub my legs soothingly.
Mike helped me sit fully up Before gently wrapping Me in a hug Pressing his lips to the side of my head. He whispered quietly. “You’re safe, Em, honey We’re all here And I promise.We will never let anything like this happen again.” I could feel tears stinging the back of my eyes. And I took a moment to try and calm myself.
Thank you.” I said with my voice trembling. “I know this past week will have done nothing to help my PTSD or anxiety, and I know I need to talk about it. But right now I’m not ready to. I want today to just be as normal as possible,” I looked at each of them as I said this My eyes pleading for understanding. They all quickly agreed But the look of concern. Was still on their faces.
“Sweetheart, you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to,” Jake assured me
“Yeah, baby girl.” Josh agreed. “Just be prepared cause we’re probably going to be clingy, overprotective boyfriends for quite some time.”
“I wouldn’t mind that at all.“I assure Josh, and the others chuckled at the disbelieving look he gave me.
“What?I asked, looking at each of them.I am more than happy right now with overprotective and clingy.It makes me feel safe and loved.
“I’m glad you feel that way, baby girl, but don’t think for a moment that I won’t remind you of this when you get mad at us for being overprotective and clingy Josh chuckled. And I gave him a dirty look.
Not wanting to sit still any longer I stood up, gathering the empty plates. And brought them into the kitchen. Muttering as I went. About boyfriends.jerks.I could hear their laughter behind me and I smiled. Once I had rinsed off the plates and loaded them into the dishwasher, Ibegan working on putting away all the leftover food
I had just finished putting away the food when Jake wandered in to see if I needed any help. I thanked him and handed him several sodas to take into the living room for the guys.I took another one for myself and followed Jake. While he was passing out sodas,I took the seat he had vacated. When he turned and saw me sitting there le just picked me up, sat down and placed me in his lap. I grumbled good–naturedly about dingy boyfriends before kissing his cheek and cuddling against him.
I sat with Jake While they played several rounds of their game. But after a while I became bored Watching them destroy zombies.So I wiggled off of his lap.And wandered into my room.Finding a soft, fuzzy blanket.I grabbed it off the bed. And brought it with me back to the living room Picking up my book along the way I sat down in one of the vacant recliners, burrowed into the blanket and spent the rest of the afternoon reading.
When dinner time came, we finished off the Chinese food. Followed by ice cream for dessert. I had a whole pint of mint chocolate chip all to myself since I was the only one that liked that flavor. The rest of the evening Was very low key.We switched between TV shows when we got tired of what we were watchingAnd the guys teased me mercilessly.When it was my turn to choose.Because I always picked the viral Video Shows. “What?I like the cute animal videos. They make me happy I said, defending my choice. Since none of them were going to argue with me.They sat through them without complaint Only laughing. At my overly dramatic reactions When a super cute video was shown.
When it was finally time for bed. They all, of course, wanted to sleep with me.But since I, my bed was not that big.I told them they would have to decide who got tonight since I refused to choose between them.I left them in the living room to figure it out while I went into my bedroom to change into pajamas. And brush my teeth.By the time I got out of the bathroom. The twins were sitting on my bed. Both grinning. And I just had to laugh.
“So what did you guys end up doing to decide?” asked curiously,
“We were going to arm wrestle but decided that wouldn’t be fair since Mike and Drew have been in the military for so long, so we just went with rock
Chapter 125
paper sistors. Jake said with a smile. I laughted as I climbed between them. With the twins curled around me, I relaxed into sleep.