When Rivals Lose (Bayshore Rivals 2)
They must have had this planned because both the fridge and pantry are stocked with food. Sullivan heats up some ready to eat grocery store meals, and we all sit at the small dining table. The guys shovel food into their mouths at an alarming rate, while I take small bites, trying to decide if I’m hungry or not.
Looking between the three of them, I start to talk. “It was just Caroline and me at the table. So, if someone rigged the burner, it happened before we came into class. The only other person who came to our table was… Tiffany.” I really tried to say her name in a normal voice, but the dislike for her clearly reflects in my tone. “She told me you guys had a thing…”
Banks chuckles, “Of course she did. You don’t have any reason to be jealous of her though. We used her to make you jealous, nothing more than that.”
“Did you sleep with her?” I don’t know what compels me to ask, but I have to know.
“No, none of us slept with her or any of her friends,” Sullivan cuts in. Through all of this, I know I should be more apprehensive, should be concerned about what’s happening, but I’m not. The brothers are the only people who have been honest with me. They’re the only people that have made an effort to tell me about my past, our past.
“Well, I guess that makes me feel a little better,” I say the words out loud, though, I didn’t mean to.
“We missed you, so much, and we did kick Sullivan’s ass for you. After what he did, he’s lucky we didn’t disown him,” Oliver states, before laughing and the sound slices through me. It’s so deep, and warm, and I just want to tell him to keep talking, and laughing, but that would be weird, right? Dropping my gaze down to my food, I shove the pieces around with my fork.
It hits me all at once why I’m here then, all the pieces stacking up inside my head, leading me to this very moment. My father had said I was in danger, and now the brothers were saying I was in danger. But who was I in danger from?
“Who would want to hurt me?”
“Honestly, we don’t know. First, it was the…” Banks’ words cut off when a soft knocking sounds against the door. All three brothers exchange a look as if they’re talking with nothing more than their eyes. Oliver pushes away from the table and goes to the door, letting in whoever is on the other side. Immediately, I start to feel nervous, dropping my fork onto my plate.
“How is everything? Is she okay?”
Caroline? I shove from my chair, nearly sending the thing to the floor. She’s stood in the doorway, her face scrunched together, guilt flickering in her eyes.
“Harlow, I’m sorry,” she says, as soon as she crosses the threshold. Deep down, I know I should be angry with her for leading me here, but I’m not. I can’t be. It seems the Bishop brothers and Caroline are the only people telling me the truth, or really anything right now.
“Don’t be. It’s okay.” I assure her with a soft smile. She nods as if accepting my word, and Oliver closes the door, sealing us all inside.
“What’s the lowdown, Cuz?” Banks implores.
Cuz? I stare, thinking maybe I’ve misheard him. Sullivan catches my bewildered facial expression and interrupts before Caroline can start talking.
“Caroline is our cousin,” he announces, and I stare at him blankly. I have half a mind to say no way, really, but I feel like sarcasm really isn’t needed at this point.
“You didn’t tell her yet?” Caroline whispers, elbowing Oliver in the side.
“When would you have liked me to tell her? Trying to keep her in this cabin has been enough work.” Oliver quips before giving me a dashing smile, the effects of said smile send a ripple of heat all the way down to my toes.
Caroline shrugs, “I guess, it doesn’t matter though. It’s a good thing you got her out of there. I don’t know what the hell is going on. There was no evidence of anything, no foul play, they’re claiming it was the burner that malfunctioned, but we all know that would just be too much of a coincidence.”
The way she says it, with so much conviction, it scares me a little.
“We’ll figure it out. Don’t worry, Harlow,” Sullivan says.
“Want something to eat, Cuz?” Banks offers and Caroline nods furiously.
“I’m starving… let me get some of this,” Caroline points at the meatloaf. I realize that there are only four chairs, and all of them are taken, so I get up to sit on the couch.
“I’m done eating, you can have my chair,” I say, but when I try to walk past Banks, he reaches out and grabs me by the hip, pulling me into his lap.