When we got out there Keira, Grant, Simon and my other guys were all just standing before the garages with smiles on their faces, and I was so confused.
“Erm, what’s happened?” I asked, sure something must have gone wrong for them all to be out there.
“Nothing’s happened Honey. We just wanted to give you our gift.” Keira said from where she was tucked tight against Grant’s side.
“Ok.” I said, still very confused. They already gave me a ton of art supplies which I loved.
“In this family, for your eighteenth birthday, we always give our kids the same gift, except for Matt who refused to give up his beat up truck.” Grant chuckled and shook his head at Matt, who just shrugged. “You are our daughter Olivia. You were family as soon as you came to us, but now you and the guys are together, you truly are our daughter. There will be none of this ‘in-law’ stuff. You belong with us and we love you.” I was tearing up again, touched by the heart warming words.
“Happy birthday, sweet girl.” Keira said, and the garage door started to open. I held my breath, completely shocked by what was happening. Then I stood open mouthed before a beautiful, brand new black jeep, adorned with a huge red bow across the hood.
“Oh my God!” I gasped as I slammed my hand over my mouth. “Th….that’s a car! You can’t buy me a whole car!”
“Don’t think half a car would be much use to you, Brains.” Cole laughed as my guys all came to surround me.
“Very funny!” I hit out at him playfully, then turned to Keira and Grant. “This is too much. You’ve already done so much for me. You’ve given me everything.” I told them emotionally.
“You’re family, and you get a car on your eighteenth. No arguments. We want you to be safe and independent when all of this drama is over, and for that you will need your own wheels.” Keira explained firmly.
“But, I...I can’t drive.” I stuttered, completely overwhelmed by their huge gesture. They were just too kind.
“The guys are going to teach you, and we’ve booked you onto a driver’s ed course next month. Hopefully by then all of the danger will be over and you will be safe to be out alone.” Grant explained. I looked around at the guys, who all nodded, then back to Grant.
“Thank you. So much. This is…..it’s amazing. Thank you.” I couldn’t express what I wanted to clearly, so instead I hurried over and just hugged them both, hoping each hold showed how extremely grateful I was, not just for the gift, but for the both of them and every single thing they had done since the day I met them, to help me through everything, and for making me a part of their amazing family.
I just hoped they were right, and that a month from then The Shadow would be caught, and little Hailey would be safe at home with her family. I hoped it could all be over for good, so I could continue moving forward with the help of the amazing people who surrounded me at that moment.
CHAPTER 22
“Guys! I have to go. The bell’s gonna ring any minute and then we’ll all be late.” I laughed as Cole and Matt clutched me between them three days later in the parking lot outside school. They had asked me to walk a little with them after we ate lunch, and I had agreed, eager to get away from May’s glare across the cafeteria.
Little did I know they had an ulterior motive, leading me to the deserted parking lot to make out with them both, not that I was complaining. I was squeezed between the heat of their bodies, Cole at my back and Matt in front of me. We had kept it pretty tame, knowing we could easily be seen by other students, just hugging and a few brief, but intense kisses, but it had been enough to have me burning hot and feeling needy for some more of that ‘some more’ Cole and I had shared weeks ago.
I had gotten a little handsy and touchy with Kade and Matt too since that night, but it had always remained above clothes and stopped before it really started. In a way it was what I needed, to be eased into it all very very gently, but there was a part of me that seemed to be becoming increasingly needy everytime my guys touched me and I knew I was getting braver when it came to intimacy. I was ready to try and move things along, just a little, and see how it went.
The main thing was I trusted them all to go at my pace, and take care of me if I freaked out, so that was a huge step. I just needed to initiate it, since I knew none of them would, and I really had no idea how to do that. It was all becoming very frustrating, and exciting all at once.
“I hate you being in a class where we can’t take care of you. Can’t you switch to physics with me?” Cole whined.
“Or Business with me?” Matt agreed.
“Guys, we talked about this. I’m not interested in either of those classes, plus it would mean a ton more studying for me at home, to catch up. Art is easy, and I like it.” I sighed as we all separated from our snuggly hold, and started walking to the art block.
“I know, I just worry when you’re not with us.” Cole continued.
“I’m fine. You drop me off at the class, then pick me up from it at the end. Not to mention Charlie is in the class with me. You both need to stop stressing so much. You’re going to end up with stomach ulcers.” I laughed.
“We will always worry about you, Cariña. That’s why it would be better if you were just by our side every minute
