Chapter 36 A House Full of Men
POV Scarlett:
One week earlier...
Every time I’ve tasted happiness, something has always happened to wipe the smile off my face. I don’t know why I thought this time would be different. Remembering the look on Damian’s face twists something inside me, and hearing him say he was going to Chicago brought back that old, familiar feeling of abandonment. He knows I barely know his brothers, and still he didn’t care to look back before leaving, without even saying whether or not I should stay in his house. I might be pregnant with his brother’s child, but damn it—he was the one who brought me here, the one I’d managed to put what little trust I had left in.
My eyes burn again from the feeling of being abandoned once more. I don’t want to feel this way, but it’s impossible not to—to feel, and to think, that I’m disposable to everyone around me. I place a hand on my belly, thinking about what’s best for my baby, and even though all I want is to stay locked in my room avoiding these men, I decide to go downstairs to eat. Since yesterday, after Damian told me he was leaving, I’ve stayed in my room, asking the other Blackwells for privacy, claiming I had a headache.
But I can’t keep hiding, pretending to be fine and untouchable when the truth is I’m not. I’m sad, and I want comfort—I want to rest my head on someone’s shoulder and just cry my pain away in silence. My mother’s death anniversary is approaching, and as if the weight of that weren’t enough, the asshole left for Chicago without even saying goodbye.
I stare at my reflection in the mirror, and it’s impossible not to see the signs that I’ve been crying. Damian’s clothes hang wrinkled on my body, a reminder that I have nothing else to wear, even if I wanted to shower. My father threw me out with nothing but the clothes on my back—my greasy diner uniform. I tie my hair into a messy bun, splash some water on my face, and summon what little courage I have left to face the Blackwell brothers.
...
“I’m not against her beating the crap out of him. To be honest, I’d pop some popcorn and watch it all with a huge smile on my face,” Noah’s unmistakable voice makes me swallow hard. “She must be really pissed at him.”
He’s talking about me hitting Damian? Not a bad idea.
And pissed is an understatement.
“I doubt she’s even thinking about that.” The serious tone leaves no doubt who it belongs to—Mr. Perfect Ass himself. “If I had to bet, I’d say she’s thinking about the baby she’s carrying from our brother. Mr. Supreme Sperm.” He mocks, making Noah laugh.
Mr. Supreme Sperm? No, I still prefer the impaler.
“Or…” I step into the kitchen, drawing both idiots’ eyes to me. “She’s just hungry, and all she’s been thinking about is stuffing her face with food.”
“That too,” Noah says with a wink. “Good morning. How are you feeling?”
“Fine,” I lie, avoiding his assessing gaze.
He raises an eyebrow but says nothing, and I silently thank him for it. I glance at Liam, who’s flipping through a newspaper, not even bothering to greet me. Staying in this house is a mistake—maybe I should talk to Ethan and tell him I’d rather leave. I can’t stay somewhere I’m not wanted.
“Did you take your vitamins?” Liam’s deep voice makes me jump, even though he’s still hidden behind the paper.
How does he know I’m staring at him?
“Not yet,” I say, sitting down. “I read the instructions yesterday—some of them have to be taken after eating.” Honestly, the last thing I’d thought about was my vitamins. I need to focus on what really matters, and my baby is all that matters since I saw that test result. “Still… thank you for reminding me.” I smile sincerely. Liam lowers the paper long enough to nod before returning to his reading.
I stay quiet, head down, unsure what to say to them. Where could Ethan be? I twist my fingers nervously, feeling out of place. Maybe I could go back to Ann Arbor and ask Mrs. Arlete if I still have my job. Renting a small room with what I earn might be enough to start over. I can figure everything else out later. My priority is being somewhere I feel safe—because everywhere I go, I seem to be unwanted. I bite my lip hard, trying to hold back the trembling that comes before tears. I don’t want to cry in front of Liam and Noah. I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself, inhaling and exhaling until the tears fade.
“Here you go.” I look up at Noah’s voice. “Eat it all. Be a good girl,” he says, winking at me again.
I lower my head and stare in shock at the massive plate he sets in front of me. Scrambled eggs, pancakes, strawberries, and a single slice of bacon. A large glass of orange juice appears beside it seconds later. Does he really think I can eat all that?
“It’s too much,” I say, looking from Noah to Liam, who folds his newspaper and fixes his eyes on me.
“You need to eat,” Liam says, crossing his arms over the island counter. “You’re pregnant now, and the baby will need plenty of nutrients to grow strong and healthy.” His words make me blink. I glance sideways to find Noah laughing and shaking his head.
“Damian left, but he put you in charge, didn’t he?” Noah teases, and I look back at Liam.
“He… he…” I stammer, and Liam’s eyes encourage me to finish what I was about to ask. “He asked you to take care of me?” My heart shouldn’t speed up at the thought, but it does.
“Damian didn’t say it in those exact words, but yes, he did.”
I lower my head, unable to stop the smile spreading across my lips. Suddenly, the breakfast I thought I couldn’t finish seems too little for my appetite. I eat everything, with Liam and Noah watching, and as soon as I take the last bite of pancake, Liam hands me the vitamins. When did he even get them? I take them, washing them down with the rest of the juice. A minute later, my stomach churns.
“Oh, no. Shit!” I bolt for the bathroom.
By the time I reach the bedroom, I barely have time to cover my mouth before rushing into the bathroom and vomiting. Bent over the toilet, I empty my entire breakfast. I’m sticky with sweat by the end of it, my forehead damp, the drops sliding down my face. I need a shower. I pull down my sweatpants, then grab the hem of the shirt, but before I can take it off, I notice the doorway—Liam and Noah standing there, staring at me.