Kyle: Hey baby. How was the morning? Have you eaten? X
Kade: Everything still good there? Make sure you eat something pls xx
“Still freaking out?” Matt asked as I looked up with a giggle at the similarity in their messages.
“Not as bad. They’re mainly checking that I ate.” I replied. At that moment Cole returned looking none too pleased. He flopped down into the chair he had vacated to my right and handed me over an apple and two different granola bars.
“I’m so sorry, Babygirl. I never realised how bad the food here sucks. Matt and I just eat it regardless, but they have nothing you can eat apart from that crappy soup. That was the best I could get.” He sighed defeatedly.
“I could run to the store?” Matt offered, but when he checked the time on his cell he sighed. “Or not.” There wasn’t time.
“Guys it’s fine. This will keep me going until we get home.” I assured them. “Thanks Cole.” I kissed his cheek and then took a bite of the apple, knowing I needed to eat something to reassure them both, and so I could text Kyla and Kade that I had eaten.
“From now on I’ll pack her lunch the night before.” Matt added, relaxing Cole further from his sulking.
I ate the apple and typed my reply to the guys.
Olivia: Everything’s still good. Kinda noisy, but I’m handling it ok. I’m eating lunch now, but the food sucks. Love you xxx
I sent the same reply to both of them, feeling better for having spoken to them, even if it was only short. I missed them. It was the longest I had spent away from both of them since TTK had taken me almost two months before. Since then one of them had always been with me, along with Cole and Matt. If Kade had to work, Kyle was there and vice versa. They had made sure not to leave me without one of them for longer than a couple of hours, and while I had told them it was unnecessary, I had also enjoyed it, having them close.
“Kyle and Kade texting you again?” Cole asked with a laugh.
“You know it.” I rolled my eyes as I looked up to him, a smile on my face. It wasn't like I minded the texts really. Four amazing guys cared about me being safe. How could anyone mind that? “I replied. Should placate them for about another hour.” I switched out my apple core for one of the granola bars and tucked in. I wasn’t exactly a fan of the things, but it would keep me awake through the afternoon.
“They’ll settle down once we get into the routine of it all. They both find it hard to let go. When I started here, after I came to live with them, they checked on me constantly, despite Cole being with me in every class. They used to meet us outside our classes between periods and walk us to the next, even though they were six years older than us, and it was so not cool. They ate lunch with us for weeks until we found our own group of friends. They looked out for me a lot, until I learnt to look out for myself. Even now, I know they still worry about me and Cole. It’s just the way they are.” Matt explained. I found it so hard to think of Matt not being brave enough to stand up for himself. He was all strength and muscle before me, the first to jump in and stand up for me if he needed to. Thinking of him as the scared little boy who escaped his hellish childhood physically hurt me. Thank God he came to Keira and Grant. Thank God for his brothers. They helped him become the rock he was for me that day, and I was so thankful for him, for all of them.
“They’re good men, you all are.” I said vehemently. It was a fact, proven with every word they said, every single action they made.
I looked across to Matt and Cole with a smile, needing them to understand that I meant what I said. I know they agreed their big brothers were good, kind men, but they didn't seem to get that they were just the same. They loved their family with a protectiveness that touched my heart. They would go out of their way to help anyone who needed them, and they did it with a smile and humility.
“Well, well, look what we have here.” That voice broke up the moment we were sharing, and Cole was instantly on his feet, turning to meet Steve, who stood right next to the table we all sat at. Steve, the asshole who grabbed me at the party before Christmas, and tried to have Cole and Matt beaten up so he could get his hands on me.
He should have been in jail. We had all pressed charges against him for assault, and we had photos of some nasty injuries to prove it. Grant had pushed the case hard, but when it came to trial I was missing, so it was forgotten in the chaos. With us not attending the trial, and the fancy attorney Steve’s Dad had hired, he had the whole thing thrown out, and Steve got off free and clear. Grant had tried to take it up with school once I was safe and things had settled, trying to at least have the asshole suspended or expelled so I didn’t have to deal with him, but Steve’s parents were super rich, and major contributors to the school, so basically, unless Steve commited murder, on camera, on school grounds, he had a free pass.
“You were warned to stay the fuck away Steve. I’d listen to that warning if I were you.” Cole said, his voice quiet and calm, almost creepily so.
I had a feeling Kade and Kyle had
