Chapter 44

I spend the better part of that night being absolutely and completely confused by what happened with Steven.

All four brothers made it very clear to me that they were not into me. Like, at all. Now I’ve had weird, pretty flirty interactions with three of them. The forth one has a girlfriend so I’m safe from him but, what the hell?

The whole experience in Archer’s car had me slightly confused. Beau’s words about not breaking my heart had me more confused and now Steven is touching me. I feel like the Gods have decided to fuck with me.

It takes me forever to fall asleep that night. As soon as do, I’m abruptly awakened by my alarm. I sit up so fast, I think I have whiplash. The alarm blares converge with Mia’s shrieks of discomfort and I am two seconds away from losing my mind.

I shut the alarm off and go over to get Mia up and change her diaper. That settles her a little but she’s still itching for her midnight warm bottle. I’m grumbling about wishing someone gave me a bottle when I step into the hall.

The lights are already on and I see none other than Angela. Her hair is not as nicely slicked back into a ponytail as it was at lunch. She’s holding a pair of heels in her hand and is completely frozen when she hears me creek open the door. She slowly turns around and looks at me.

She looks completely disheveled from the front. Her mascara is smeared and her lipstick is half gone. She looks like she just rolled out of bed. Neil’s bed.

I wiggle my fingers at her and begin to saunter over to her. Mia reaches out for Angela. The last time this happened, Angela scooped Mia out of my arms. This time, she just stares at the baby with a look of sheer panic on her face.

“Don’t worry,” I say softly. “Secrets safe with me.”

“What secret?” Angela snaps. It’s more out of panic than anger and it takes me aback.

I jut my head towards Neil’s room. “Late night party in Neil’s room? I won’t tell anyone. If I had a boyfriend I’d probably do the same thing. But it’s just me and my girl.”

I shift Mia on my hip. She’s still trying to get Angela’s attention. Angela looks slowly back and forth between the baby and I. Then, she gently reaches her hands out and accepts Mia into her arms. I let her take Mia and watch as her shoulders sink farther down from her ears. She slowly relaxes.

I immediately panic in thinking that I’ve said something wrong. Angela’s face is furrowed in deep and she looks like she’s glancing off at the ground. I open my mouth and she snaps he gaze to look up at me.

“I didn’t—” I sputter. “I mean I wouldn’t –”

“It’s fine,” Angela says. Her voice cracks slightly. She clears it and as if by magic, she goes completely back to normal like she was at lunch. She bounces Mia in her arms and kisses her gently on the cheek.

“What are you doing up this late little lady!?” she coos at Mia. Mia babbles back at her. I blink a few times then find my voice again.

“She eats twice while everyone else is sleeping,” I say. “Or should be sleeping.”

Angela laughs and it’s so loud and normal that it genuinely shocks me. She bounces Mia again and looks back at me.

“You’re funny, Chloe,” she says. I can’t help but think there’s some sort of thinly veiled threat. She hands Mia back to me and puts her hands one her hips. She smiles brightly at me. “Well I should be off. Got a class in the early morn! Have a good night, Chloe and Mia.”

She turns and marches off towards the door without another word. Her heels are still in her hands. The door slams shut behind her and I look at Mia. Even she looks confused.

I get her fed and get us both back in bed. However, sleep doesn’t come easy. I can’t stop thinking of Angela and her odd behavior. I can’t help but feel like something else is going on.

The next morning, Mia and I are up again at our normal time. We get ourselves all together and make our way to the kitchen for breakfast. I make a few pleasant conversations with the chefs and then start about making Mia’s breakfast.

The doors to the kitchen open just as I’m sitting down with her daily applesauce. I turn my head towards the door to see Archer walking in. He glances at me out of the corner of his eyes before barreling into the kitchen and setting about barking at someone for a protein smoothie.

My stomach does a weird sort of churning in my stomach. I remember the way he was talking to that girl in his room. A few silent moments later and the door hinges ring in my ears. I look up just to see Archer’s foot disappear behind the door.

I am immediately relieved but a part of me wishes he’d said something to me. I shake the madness out of my brain as the next breakfast-goes comes in.

Neil’s hair is swept into a messy bun. There’s purple rings under his eyes, a sign of a poor night of sleep. His hair is a bit frizzy, much in the same way that Angela’s was the night prior. I immediately feel my lips stretch into a smirk. Neil notices this and furrows his eyebrows in confusion.

“What’s up with you this morning?” he asks.

“Have a good night?” I tease.

Neil bristles slightly. “I did but what’s it to you.”

“I ran into Angela last night,” I say toying with the applesauce packet. I wiggle my eyebrows. Neil gives me another very odd look.

“What are you talking about?” he says.

“I saw Angela,” I say, slowly. “Last night. She’d just come from your room.”

“You couldn’t have,” Neil says, just as slowly. “Because she was at her parent’s charity ball.”

I stare at him. My mouth slowly opens in confusion. “No but—”

“Why would she be here without me?” Neil says, eyebrow raised. “Unless you two were having some girlish sleepover.”

“No,” I shake my head. “She was in the hallway. I assumed she was leaving your room.”

Neil chuckles. He pats me on the shoulder. I can help but feel as if it’s a bit condescending. “Maybe lay off the late night snacks, Chloe,” he says. “They may be making you think things.”

He brushes past Mia and I without so much as a second glance. We’re left alone. I look at Mia then back into the space where he was in shock. There is absolutely something weird going on here.