Chapter 27: Danny

As the afternoon drifts on, I find myself watching Sofia as she sleeps on the couch, curled up with one of the books we got her. She looks so peaceful, her breathing soft and steady. It’s strange to think how much has changed in just a few days. We brought her here as a bargaining chip, a means to an end, and now... well, things are different.

I realize I’ve been staring at her for too long when Nate passes by and gives me a look. He doesn’t say anything, just nods toward his room, silently telling me to follow him. I glance once more at Sofia, making sure she’s still asleep, then head down the hallway to Nate’s room. Riley and Leo are already there, stretched out on the bed and chairs, scrolling through their phones like it’s any other day. But there’s an undercurrent of tension in the air.

Riley’s the first to speak up as I close the door behind me.

He doesn’t waste any time. “Alright, enough of this shit. Let’s get it out in the open. You two wanna explain what the hell is going on with Sofia?”

Leo narrows his eyes, leaning against the wall. “What exactly are you accusing me of, Riley?”

Riley sighs, throwing a hard look between Leo and Nate. “The way you two are acting, it’s obvious you’re both into her. I’m tired of watching you two play this little game.”

Nate, ever the cool one, raises an eyebrow. “I’m not playing any game. If she’s comfortable with me, I’m going to be there for her. If that bothers anyone, that’s not my problem.”

Leo scoffs, stepping forward. “Cut the bullshit, Nate. You’re always hovering around her, acting like you’re the only one who can protect her. What makes you think you’re any different from the rest of us?”

Nate remains composed, his voice calm but firm. “I don’t think I’m different. I just don’t need to put on a show, Leo. If she wants to be close to me, I’m not going to stop her.”

I jump in before it escalates. “Look, we’re all here for the same reason. We’ve all caught feelings. It’s not just you two—it’s all of us. I know I’m just as into her as you guys are.”

Riley nods, looking around the room. “Yeah, same here. So what the fuck are we gonna do about it? Because I’m not about to start some competition with you idiots over her.”

Leo rubs a hand over his face, shaking his head. “Damn. So we’re all in deep, huh?”

Nate shrugs. “It’s obvious she’s gotten to us. But we’re not gonna make this harder on her. If she wants one of us, she gets one of us. And if she wants all of us, well… I think we can work with that.”

I smirk, the possessiveness rising in my chest. “Exactly. If she’s interested in all of us, then that’s the best outcome. She deserves to have everything she wants. And if she wants all four of us, we make it work.”

Leo lets out a harsh laugh, looking almost relieved. “Fine. But let’s be crystal clear about this—if she wants all of us, then no one else gets to touch her. We’re the only ones.”

Riley’s gaze hardens. “Hell yeah. I’m selfish as fuck, but I don’t care. If she’s ours, then she’s only ours. No one else comes near her.”

Nate nods, his eyes narrowing. “Agreed. We let her decide, but once she’s with us, that’s it. I don’t give a damn what anyone else thinks. We protect what’s ours.”

There’s a moment of silence as we all come to terms with it, the possessiveness we feel cementing into a solid pact. If she wants one of us, fine. If she wants all of us, even better. But no matter what, we’re not letting anyone else touch her. She’s ours to protect, ours to take care of, and ours to hold.

Leo grins, shaking his head with a chuckle. “This is fucking crazy, but I’m in. We’re all in this together, and no outsiders are getting a piece of her.”

Riley relaxes a bit, nodding. “Damn right. Whatever she chooses, she’s staying with us. And if she wants all of us, well, we’re more than fine with that.”

After a moment, we all start laughing, the tension draining from the room. It’s a weird feeling, knowing we’re all in love with the same girl, but somehow, it works. We’re a team, and if she ends up with all of us, then that’s just fine by me.

We head back to the living room to wait for her to wake up, sitting around the room, chatting about nothing in particular. When she finally stirs, she stretches, looking around with sleepy eyes, and it’s like the sun just came up. She looks at the clock and jumps up, saying she needs to start dinner.

We follow her into the kitchen, ready to help however we can. She’s decided to make pasta carbonara with garlic bread and a simple salad. She directs us with little tasks, like chopping onions and garlic or grating cheese, and we all fall into line, eager to help. Nate is in charge of the bacon, and the whole kitchen fills with the mouth-watering smell of it sizzling.

When everything’s done, we set the table, and Sofia brings out the dishes, looking a little shy but pleased as we dig in. The pasta is creamy and perfectly cooked, with just the right amount of smoky bacon and cheese. The garlic bread is crisp and golden, and the salad adds a nice freshness to the meal.

“Damn, this is amazing,” Riley says, reaching for a second helping. “Where’d you learn to cook like this?”

She shrugs, a small smile playing on her lips. “I had to learn somehow. I guess I just picked it up over the years.”

Nate leans over and presses a kiss to the top of her head, his hand lingering on her shoulder. “You’ve outdone yourself, Sofia. This is incredible.”

Leo brushes a hand over her back, murmuring, “Thank you. You didn’t have to go to all this trouble for us.”

She blushes, looking down at her plate. “I just wanted to do something nice. I’m glad you all like it.”

After dinner, we insist she relax while we clean up. She tries to argue, but we wave her off, each of us eager to show our appreciation. She settles back on the couch, watching us with a contented smile as we wash dishes and wipe down counters, working together in comfortable silence.

When everything is put away, we join her in the living room, lounging around as the evening fades. It feels different now, lighter somehow, as if the unspoken tension has lifted. I can tell we’re all thinking about what comes next, but for now, just being here with her, with each other, is enough.

We sit around, sharing stories and laughing, and I realize this is the happiest I’ve been in a long time. It’s not the life I expected, but with her here, it feels right. As the night wears on, I feel a sense of hope that I haven’t felt in years. Whatever the future holds, I know we’ll face it together.