Avenger(31)
“Tomorrow morning.”
Crap. Crap. Crap.
“Yeah, um, I don’t think this is going to work out. Sorry, Evan, honestly.”
“We’re already on our way,” Evan said. “It’s not like it takes her five hours to shower.”
“But we had plans,” I lied.
“And now you have new ones,” Evan sounded smug. “See you soon.”
The call disconnected and I put the phone down before I crushed it in my palm.
Nolan snickered in the doorway. “Shouldn’t have answered it, Cay-berry.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” I braced my hands on my hips. “Now help me figure this out.”
“Me? You’re the one that lied,” Nolan chuckled. “You are so on your own for this.”
“Nolan!” I was tempted to punch him in the face. “I don’t know what to do!”
I think that was the first time I’d admitted that aloud to anyone but Sophie. I knew my words were only about dealing with Evan and the other guys, but they extended beyond that. I had no idea what I was doing when it came to everything.
Nolan crossed his arms over his chest and laughed heartily. “Oh, I love this. Caeden Williams doesn’t know what to do.”
“They’re going to be here any minute!” I was getting frantic now, which wasn’t like me at all. But I couldn’t have them finding Sophie passed out cold like this. They’d assume the worst. “They can’t see her like this!”
Nolan tapped his chin thoughtfully. “Tell them she got out of her shower and is taking a nap. She’s tired,” he shrugged.
“Do you think that’ll work?” It seemed too simple.
“I don’t know why not.”
I took a deep breath and nodded. “I’ll try that.”
The buzzer sounded that indicated someone at the gate wanting inside.
I headed downstairs to check the video feed and when I was sure it was Evan and the rest of the guys, I pushed the button that allowed them access. I waited by the front door and greeted them warmly.
“It’s nice to see all of you. It’s been too long.”
“Where’s the she-wolf?” Brody asked, pushing his black hair out of his eyes.
“I’m sorry guys but I didn’t catch her in time. She’s not feeling well so she got in the bed after her shower and she’s passed out asleep.”
“Oh,” Evan sighed. “Well…”
I felt bad that they’d all come this far to see Sophie only to be disappointed. “You guys can wait as long as you want. She’s been taking really long naps so if you’re ready to leave and she’s still not up, feel free to just leave.”
Evan looked around at the rest of the guys. “Sounds good to us, as long as we aren’t imposing.”
“Not at all,” I closed the door behind them. “Can I get you anything to drink?”
They all barked out different things at the same time. “Uh…I’ll be back with that in a minute. Make yourself comfortable,” I pointed into the family room.
Nolan cornered me in the kitchen where I was placing all the drinks on a tray. “Dude, they were going to leave! Why’d you ask them to stay?”
“It was the nice thing to do,” I shrugged. “My mom and dad didn’t raise me to be rude to people,” I grumbled under my breath.
“It’s not being rude, it’s called being logical,” Nolan groaned at my stupidity. “You know,” he continued, “that’s your problem. You need to toughen up.”
“Huh?”
Nolan’s fist cocked back and straight into my face. He packed enough force and I was caught off guard, so I fell to the ground.
“Did you really just punch me in the face?!” I yelled.
“I did. Punch me back, Cay-berry,” he raised both his fists and danced on the balls of his feet.
“No way.” I wasn’t giving Nolan the reaction that he wanted from me. I was smarter than that.
“Come on, Cay-berry. Fight back. Prove to me that you’re not the pansy you act like.”
My nostrils flared at that.
“Prove that you’re a man, Caeden. Fight me.”
When I still didn’t do anything, he drew his foot back and kicked my side. I had anticipated that, so the blow wasn’t as hard as it could have been. He was really beginning to make me mad now, which was what he wanted.
“Get up, and fight me,” he tilted his head, grinning manically.
I hopped to my feet in one lithe move and punched him in the nose. Blood trickled down to his chin. “That’s more like it,” he laughed. “There’s the fire I want to see.”