Kaiden grins at the idea. “Yeah, you’re a pretty sore loser,” he laughs, mussing up my hair as I bat his hand away. I swear they constantly do it just because they know it bugs me.
I hop up onto the counter, swinging my feet and letting them thump against the cabinets beneath me, knowing it drives Kaiden nuts and I’m petty. “Yeah, I’m not even going to argue that,” I laugh. “Can you imagine the dude’s face if he won and just expected me to swoon at his feet instead of kicking him in the shin?”
Elias weasels his way through to hop up beside me on the counter. No matter how he tries to act like the triplets, he and I will always be closer. Not only due to age, but since our mom and dads died when he was a toddler, I practically raised him while our brothers worked.
“You think I wouldn’t be standing ten feet from the finish line with a tripwire before I let that happen?” he asks, bumping his shoulder into mine.
I nod sagely. “I would expect nothing short of dirty rotten tricks from you four, you cheaters. I’m pretty sure you’d rather I die an old spinster rather than take any mates.”
“Damn straight,” four voices echo in eerie synchronization and I smile.
Rolling my eyes, I lean my head on Elias’ shoulder. “You know I would stay in town, it’s not like I’d move away.
The room gets quieter as everyone gets lost in their own thoughts before Kinsley snaps everyone out of it. With a harsh clap of his hands, he starts making his way out of the kitchen.
“Nope, not happening. Why don’t you go shopping, Ms. Moneybags?” he delegates, snatching his keys off of the end table.
I slide to my feet. “We could pay off the rest of the year’s mortgage payments and you guys could pull lighter days at the shop if we play our cards right. I just need another couple of wins and we could make it work.”
Kaiden growls, always the quick temper. “You don’t need to worry about that shit. We have it handled. If you insist on pitching in, use it to stock up the place with food, alright?” He storms out of the house first, Kinsley following after him.
Kahl turns to me with a soft smile. “You run those races for you, not the money, okay? You know we’ll always figure something out.”
I hug him goodbye. “I just hate that you guys are always at work. We never see you. But you’re right; the money is a bonus, but I honestly love competing.”
He hugs me tight enough to crack my ribs. “Good. We’ll train together this weekend then, alright?”
I nod with a sad smile. It’s the only actual time I get with the three of them anymore, but I look forward to any chance I can get.
He leaves and the three of them head back to work, leaving Elias and I alone. “Come on, I’ll drop you at school on my way to the store. I can’t believe you actually left in the first place.”
We lock up and climb into my black SUV, heading into town.
“You have to admit, Ez, it was weird,” Elias answers quietly, not needing to posture when we aren’t around the triplets. “You might have deflected attention away from it with Kahl, but don’t think I didn’t notice what you were doing. You never look twice at anyone, and you were more focused on talking with those newbloods than you were your victory walk. Youlovethe victory walk.”
“Why, little brother, I do believe you’re accusing me of being an attention whore,” I joke, and he flicks my cheek.
“Ow! Dick,” I snap, rubbing the side of my face.
I can practically hear his eyes rolling in his head. “Don’t change the subject, Ezra, you know exactly what I meant. You like them?”
I proceed cautiously. “I don’t even know them. They just intrigued me.”
He nods as I pull to a stop outside of the entrance to his school. “I’ll look into them.”
I look at him in surprise as he opens and shuts his door. “Why?”
Elias leans an arm on the open window of the passenger door, leaning in so I can see the sincerity in his bright, green eyes. “Because one day you’re going to leave me and I’d rather it be for mates that are going to treat you right instead of some assholes. Drive safe.” He smacks the car door once and turns, heading into school without once looking back.
I fight off the watery eyes because I amnota crier, but the thought of leaving Elias alone in an empty house tugs at my heartstrings. Our brothers are always working, so it’s always been the two of us, but he would willingly sacrifice that if he thought it’d make me happy.
Fuck, I’m going to have to be a spinster after all. Might as well splurge on some new toys for the box under my bed while I’m out to prepare.
