Bend - Bromberg K.. Страница 109

"And don't forget," Eli spoke up, once he had fastened the clasp and dropped my hair back down, "We're taking you out for dinner this evening, so don't dawdle getting home from the base, got it?"

"Yes sirs," I said, smiling up at them. They both leaned in, planting soft kisses on my cheeks.

"I love you guys," I said softly.

Work was the usual. I did think it odd that Darin made it a point to come by my station and wish me a Happy Birthday. I doubted very much if he would've even remembered when my birthday was had it not been for the February calendar on the bulletin board that marked birthdays for the staff in our department.

"Big plans for the birthday girl?" he asked, giving me a sexy wink.

"Naw," I said, not looking away from my computer screen. "Dinner out with the roomies. They insisted."

"Did they now?" he asked, quirking a brow, and getting a bit of a devilish grin going.

Really dude?

What's up with that look?

"Is there something you want to say, Darin?" I asked, giving him a slight glare.

"Just wanted to wish you the best on this special day," he said, walking away. "You've been looking great, by the way."

I contemplated his curious behavior. I mean, I was so over all of the bullshit that I'd encountered with him, having chalked it up to "That's life" and gone on my way, hardly giving it much thought anymore. I certainly didn't confide in him—or anyone for that matter—about my relationship with Cain and Eli. I wasn't the chatty type about my personal life; I never had been.

It dawned on me that Darin, with his "you’re looking great" compliment just might be trying to rekindle something with me, and if that were the case, he was definitely barking up the wrong tree.

These past couple of months with my guys had been an experience for me, and not one that I'd likely ever want to part with.

I mean sure, there had been feelings within me that were confusing at times; little pangs of jealousy on the nights that I had opted to sleep in my own room (mainly to get a good night's rest due to Eli's snoring) when I'd hear the familiar headboard banging against the wall.

I had realized that they were going on without me, and yes, I had felt a bit jealous and insecure about that, I'll admit.

But then I had thought it through, and had realized that if I'd gotten up and went into their room, they would've immediately welcomed me into their bed, and made love to me so hard that it would've taken my breath away, as always. So, I had reminded myself that it had been my choice, and not theirs, to sit this one out.

The only other aspect of it that still bothered me a bit was the fact that I knew I was head over heels in love with Cain. You see, I lay awake one night and totally dissected the dynamics of my relationship with these men.

And here's what it boiled down to: we were all in love with one another and the depth of each person's love couldn't possibly be measured. I might've been a bit more in love with Cain; Eli might've been a bit more in love with Cain, but I was fairly certain that Cain was in love equally. And maybe that's exactly what was needed to make this all work out.

But what about long term? How could this possibly work out long term if it continued being kind of lopsided like that, I had wondered?

And even if it did work out well, what then? I had to think about my future, and I guess on one's birthday, there was a tendency to do just that.

I mean, somewhere in my future I knew that I wanted children. Marriage wasn't mandatory for that to happen, so at least that wasn't an issue.

I felt my eyes roll with my thoughts. Here I was, presuming things that I had no right to presume only two months into this…relationship.

My thoughts and reflections were interrupted when my cell vibrated on my desk. It was Trace.

"Hey," I greeted him.

"Happy Birthday, lil' sis," he replied, very cheerfully.

"Thanks," I replied, smiling into the phone.

This was the first we'd spoken since New Year's Day when I had groveled. I had called him back that evening and told him to never mind, that I was staying put for now. Blessedly, he hadn't asked for any detail. He'd probably just been relieved that I wasn't moving in. Things were still a bit uncomfortable. I had decided that the next move would have to be my brother's, and I was glad that he'd made the move.

"So, do you have plans for dinner tonight? Lindsey and I would love to take you out if you haven't made other plans. I probably should have called sooner, I know."

I was silent for a moment, not quite sure how I should respond. "Well, Eli and Cain planned on taking me out to dinner tonight for my birthday."

"Hmm," he responded, "How about if Lindsey and I join the three of you?"

Shit.

"I'm not sure what restaurant they had in mind," I replied slowly, "But I guess I could find out and give you a call back?"

It came out as a question which is so not how I wanted it to sound. Like I didn't want anyone else invading my inner sanctum with these men.

Luckily, Trace hadn't noticed. "Great—call either me or Lindsey with the time and place. We have a gift for you, and well, it's been a while since we've seen you, you know? I think we need to mend fences, Paige. I know that I want to and I hope that you do as well."

"I do, Trace," I replied. "I just felt like maybe you guys wanted to put me out of your lives…forever."

"You're family," he sighed. "You're stuck with us, and we're stuck with you because that's what being a family means, got it?"

I nodded and squeaked out a "yes."

It was easier to reach Eli than Cain during working hours, especially around lunch time. I finished my now-cold cup of hot chocolate that I'd bought from the vending machine earlier. That was going to me my lunch after that huge breakfast I'd inhaled.

Eli's office phone rang several times before he picked up.

"Chambers," he answered, using his brusque workplace voice.

"It's me," I said, looking around to see how much privacy I had in my cubicle. Eli had an office, so there were no worries there.

"Hey babe," he greeted, his voice softening. "How's your birthday going?"

"Good so far," I sighed, feeling my belly tingle like it did whenever either one of them used some form of endearment when speaking to me. "But I did get a phone call from Trace."

I explained the conversation to him. Eli had no issue whatsoever with Trace and Lindsey joining us, in fact, he offered to phone Darcy to see if she and Easton wanted to join us as well.

"You don't have to go to all that trouble," I argued. "I don't want everyone making a big deal of my birthday and feeling, well…obligated or anything."

"Hey, no trouble at all, babe," he laughed. "Besides that, with Easton there, we're pretty much guaranteed that he'll pick up the tab."

"Eli, you're so bad," I giggled, swiveling my chair around so that I could toss my empty paper cup into the trash can.

"I know, babe, but you wouldn't have it any other way, would you?"

I felt my cheeks flush as I recalled the delicious, "bad" things he'd done to me last night in our 'family' bed as we had started calling it.

"Would you?" he pressed softly.

"No, Eli. I wouldn't have it any other way," I confirmed.