I’m preparing dinner when West sneaks up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist. “Hey, princess. Something smells good.”
My hands are covered in sauce, so I rub my cheek against his. “I’m making lasagna.”
“No, not that.” He runs his nose along my jawline. “Pretty sure it’s you.”
Zeke strides into the kitchen and rolls his eyes. “Oh, let her the fuck go, West.”
“Yeah, I’m starving. Let Lily make dinner, and then we can fuck her after,” Xander adds with a cheeky laugh.
West slaps my ass and takes a seat with the others at the island.
“You do anything interesting today, buttercup?”
I freeze for a second, but then I remember that they always ask me about my day when they get home. Guilt sits on my chest like a lead weight every time I lie to them, and it’s making me paranoid. “Just work. It was all kind of boring really. Tell me about your day.”
Xander starts telling a funny story about a cold call he got from a guy offering to help him grow his business, but once he figured out who he was speaking to, the guy asked for a job. I only half listen, my mind wandering to Nico and Doc and all the secrets I’m keeping from the men I love most. I wish more than anything that I could just tell everyone the truth. It feels like the burden of carrying so many secrets by myself will crush me if I don’t. But how do I confide in them without putting them and other people I care about at risk?
I swallow down the confession that’s forever perched on the tip of my tongue and join their conversation instead.
