Page 11 of The Cabin-A Reverse Harem Romance
I’d never know what it felt like to hold her in the afterglow of making love, and the only memory that even comes close is one I ruined with my own fears, doubts, and insecurities.
I wasn’t a particularly emotional or sentimental man by nature, not by a longshot – but, fuck, that hurt.
3
Elise
Tears welled in my eyes, and there was a stabbing pain in my heart, as I stared at the vaulted ceiling of the guest room. My relationship was falling apart before my very eyes, but that wasn’t the reason my emotions were so scattered and all over the place right now. My head was spinning, and I felt like I was on the verge of hyperventilating. As if dealing with the fallout of Brad wasn’t horrible enough, now I had to deal with the heavy emotions that came with having my brother’s best friends here.
My friends too, I guessed. Though, if I were being honest with myself, I’d admit that they were more than that to me. They were almost like brothers, but they weren’t exactly that either. I loved them. I loved them all so much. After Aaron died, they were my everything. They were my world. They took care of my family and me, and there they were again – there for me when Aaron couldn’t be.
None of them asked why I chose to sleep in the second guest room. Though, it was probably clear, huh? It didn’t take a genius to see that Brad and I were not together anymore. I’d ended things right before they’d arrived. In fact, it had been only moments before they’d knocked on the door. I wasn’t sure if it had even registered with Brad before the boys arrived. The look on his face didn’t give much away. Then, his face was always a blank mask of indifference, and he hid his emotions well.
I was exhausted. Spent. I wanted to sleep, but every time I closed my eyes, I pictured the fight that had erupted between us. During the fight, he grabbed me by the shoulders and shook me, asking why I’d called my parents. Screaming it, actually. He was irrational, asking me why I’d made him break my phone. It was all my fault, or so he said. Bullshit. I knew better. I wasn’t one of his trophy girlfriends, who cowered before him, or bent to his will. I had a brain, and a spine, and I didn’t appreciate his bullshit. I grew up with a big brother who made damn sure I didn’t take shit from anyone, that I knew my worth as a woman. Maybe his exes weren’t so lucky, or maybe they didn’t care because of his money. But, I wasn’t one of those girls.
That wasn’t me. Never was, and never would be. The moment he broke my phone, all hell broke loose. When he put his hands on me, it was over. I knew there was no way of getting out of there tonight, not with the storm bearing down on us, or I would have left in the blink of an eye. The guys showing up helped a lot. I felt safer with the four of them there. Brad wouldn’t mess with me as long as they were here. He was an asshole, but he wasn’t that stupid.
I rolled over in bed, my face wet with tears. If I felt safe now, why was I crying? Unfortunately, I was pretty sure I knew the answer to that. It was still too early to be sure, but my period was a few days late. It had been late before, so I wasn’t too worried. Still, in the pit of my stomach, I already feared the worst.
What if I was pregnant with Brad’s child? I was on the pill, but sometimes I forgot to take it. Three weeks ago, I didn’t get a chance to refill my prescription in time. I thought I’d be fine. I had no plans to see Brad for a while, but then he stopped by, and then…
Well, it was too late now. My head was spinning, and I cursed myself for my stupidity. I always wanted to be a mother, but not like this. Not with him. Especially now.
Still, I’d told him it was over, and I meant it. If I was pregnant with his child, we’d figure it out. I’d raise the child alone; my family would help me. I had a good job, a stable career. I could do it. It wouldn’t be easy, but I knew I could do it. I just didn’t want to have to deal with Brad for the rest of my life. I wanted to be free and clear of him forever.
Though my mind was firmly fixed on the past, a sound pulled me into the here and now. A groan from the next room. Then another. My cheeks flushed with heat the moment I realized what I was hearing. Trevor was in the room next to mine and I knew that he was in there masturbating. I’d seen the way he looked at me. Was he thinking of me while he jerked himself off? Was he thinking of that night we almost hooked up?
