Chapter 39: Sofia

Back at the house, I take the little girl’s drawing upstairs and place it carefully on my dresser. It’s not the best artwork—two stick figures holding hands with what I’m guessing are supposed to be flowers around them—but it’s precious to me. I smile softly as I look at it, the memory of her shy smile making my heart warm.

After a moment, I head back downstairs, following the delicious smell coming from the kitchen. I find Nate there, already at work, chopping vegetables and stirring a large pot of broth. “What are you making?” I ask, leaning against the doorway.

“Homemade pho,” he says with a slight smile, giving the pot a stir. “Wanna help?”

I nod and join him, standing beside him at the counter as he hands me some cilantro to chop. It feels natural, easy. Nate isn’t one for small talk, but he gives me tastes of the broth here and there, asking for my opinion with just a raise of his eyebrow. I grin every time, loving the rich, savory flavors.

Just as I’m about to add some more herbs to the pot, the rest of the guys stroll into the kitchen. Riley wastes no time, coming up behind me and lifting me effortlessly onto the kitchen counter. I gasp in surprise, swatting at him playfully, but he just smirks. Now all four of them are standing around me, their eyes fixed on me while Nate keeps half an eye on the broth, stirring it occasionally.

“So, we were talking,” Riley starts, leaning against the counter with his arms crossed. “We want to take you to our cabin this weekend.”

I blink, surprised. “Your cabin? For the weekend?”

“Yeah,” Leo adds, leaning forward a bit. “It’s up north. Quiet, isolated. Perfect for unwinding.”

I narrow my eyes slightly, curious. “Is something wrong?”

Nate shakes his head, still stirring the pot. “No. We just want to show you how beautiful it is up there. Spend some time alone with you.”

His words settle over me, and I feel a flutter in my chest. The idea of getting away with them, just the five of us in a secluded cabin, sounds perfect. I grin and hop off the counter, throwing my arms around them, one by one. “I’d love that!”

They laugh, each of them hugging me back. I can feel their excitement in the way they hold me, a warmth spreading between us. It’s not just about getting away—it’s about being together.

“We’ll leave in the morning,” Nate says, turning back to his pot.

Danny steps forward, grabbing my hand with a playful grin. “I’ll help you pack while these guys finish making dinner.”

I giggle as he pulls me toward the stairs, his hand warm in mine. The others call out after us, telling us to be quick because they don’t want the soup to get cold, but I can’t help the excitement bubbling up inside me. A weekend at a cabin with them…

Once we’re in the room, Danny immediately starts looking around, his eyes darting toward my dresser. “Mind if I go through some of your drawers to help you pack?” he asks with a grin, but there’s a softness in his tone, almost as if he’s making sure I’m okay with it.

“Yeah, go ahead,” I reply, feeling surprisingly comfortable with the idea. It’s Danny, after all. He’s always so gentle, even with his playful side.

He pulls open one of the drawers and starts pulling out sweaters, thick socks, and a few pairs of jeans. “It’s gonna be cold up there,” he says over his shoulder, glancing back at me. “Might even be snowing this time of year.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Snow? Seriously?”

He nods, folding a sweater and placing it on the bed. “Yup. It’s pretty up there, though. You’ll love it.”

I watch him move around the room, gathering my things with an ease that makes me smile. After a minute, he leaves the room, saying something about finding a suitcase. He’s back in no time, wheeling a small suitcase behind him. He sets it on the bed and starts folding my clothes neatly, placing them inside with care.

“You don’t have to do all of this, you know,” I say, though I can’t help but appreciate the way he’s taking over the task.

“I want to,” he replies, not looking up as he continues folding. There’s a calmness about him, the way he moves so deliberately, and it puts me at ease.

It doesn’t take long for the suitcase to be packed with everything I’ll need for the weekend, and before I know it, Danny is zipping it up with a satisfied nod.

Danny sits down on the bed next to me after zipping up the suitcase, his eyes lingering on my face for a moment before his hand reaches out. His finger brushes gently against my bottom lip, sending a soft shiver through me. I can barely breathe when he leans in, his lips pressing gently against mine.

The kiss is soft at first, tender and slow, but before I know it, I’m leaning back, and Danny is following, propping himself up on his elbows so his weight doesn’t hurt me. The warmth of his body hovers just above mine, and my heart is racing, but not out of fear—something else entirely.

After a few minutes, he pulls back just enough to look down at me. His breath is warm against my lips, his eyes soft and searching. I feel flustered, my cheeks burning under his gaze, and I find myself asking what’s been on my mind for days.

“How come you guys don’t mind that… I’ve kissed all of you?” I ask, my voice quiet. “I feel bad… I don’t want you to think I’m playing with you.”

Danny shakes his head lightly, still above me, his thumb brushing gently across my cheek. “Sof, we’ve talked about this. From the moment we saw you, even when our intentions weren’t the best… we felt something. All of us.”

I swallow, my heart pounding in my chest as he continues.

“We’ve been through everything together,” he says softly. “And we’ve always shared everything too. When we realized we all had feelings for you… we had a conversation about it. Our feelings are too strong to ignore, and we couldn’t imagine not having you in our lives. So, yeah, we’re fine with sharing… if you’re okay with it.”

His words hang in the air between us, and I feel my head spin a little at the weight of it all. It’s overwhelming, but at the same time, it makes sense. These guys—each one of them has shown me in their own way how much they care. And now, knowing that they’ve talked about this, about me, makes my heart flutter.

I bite my lip, looking up at Danny, unsure of what to say. But he doesn’t push for a response. Instead, he leans down and kisses me again, gently, reassuringly, as if telling me everything’s going to be okay.