Chapter Eight

I wrap my arms around my waist trying to cover my very naked body. I went to change in Rory’s bathroom and ripped the damn tags from the bikini, or should I say the two pieces of barely enough fabric to even be called a bikini. Maximus gasps as his mouth falls open, rapidly blinking behind his glasses.

I inhale, gather my courage, and drop my arms. I don’t need to be self-conscious around him, but it’s hard as his eyes take in my body.

The white suit barely covers half my breasts. At least my vag is covered but my ass on the other hand is confused. It doesn’t know if the material wants to cover what's back there or slip up and wedge itself between my cheeks. I have no doubt Rory picked this one on purpose, little does he know it may send Mercer over the edge.

“Ready?” I ask him and he visibly swallows before nodding. “You know I wouldn’t mind seeing what you have under there.” I point to his shirt. His eyes instantly bulge and I see terror wash over him. I race quickly to his side, wrapping my arms around him. “I’m sorry, I didn’t even think about why you would want to be covered, but no matter what I would never judge you, okay. To me you are perfect in every way. I love the way you are.”

His rapid breathing starts to even out as he pulls me tighter to his chest.

“I will tell you one day.” He whispers into my ear. I'm less shocked when he speaks to me now but my legs still go weak at the sound of his voice.

“I’m all ears when you’re ready.” He nods, that’s all the words I will get from him and that is okay with me. “I love you Maximus and would wait forever if that is how long it takes you to open up. I’m so sorry I left you, I thought it would be easier if I found out what happened to me by myself. You all have so much going on, I didn’t want to burden you with my problems also.” I totally forgot why I came in here with him in the first place, it was to run my idea past him, but I will have to just lay it on the guys and see how they react. They won’t like what I have to say but I hope they can accept it for what it is.

Maximus intertwines our fingers and leads us from the room. I don’t bother trying to talk to him because it mainly involves all the others.

Everyone must be out by the pool already, the closer we get, the louder the music becomes. Rocky must have control of the stereo. “No Diggity” by Black Street, one of his favourites, is playing.

A girly shriek fills the air when we round the corner to the pool, just in time to see Mac throw Chloe in. Mac jumps in after her. I laugh so hard, tears leak from my eyes. It’s good to see her forget about her dick of a stepbrother.

My thoughts are invaded by the overwhelming feeling of someone watching me. I gaze towards the other side of the pool and four sets of eyes are on mine, three full of lust and that excites me, and one almost murderous. I knew Mercer would find this a bit too revealing. I’m sure the others are currently thinking with their dicks, when their actual brains catch up to where Mercer is at, they’ll feel the same as he does.

I don’t give him a chance to say anything as I make my way to the side of the pool. Mac smiles mischievously, I know he is going to have a field day with the guys. He is a shit stirrer by nature.

Diving into the deep end of the pool, the refreshing water soothes my soul. It's the perfect temperature, not too cold. As I surface I see Mercer coming my way, with a hard glint in his eyes. He didn’t dive in, he used the stairs and is walking slowly through the water. The others start to jump in, but my attention is on Merce.

The butterflies in my tummy do summersaults. His intensity is one of the main things I love about him. “Are you trying to get your friend killed?” He asks, gripping my waist tightly, not enough to hurt, but it has a possessive edge to it.

“You will not hurt him.” He looks at me as if to say yeah right, he is as good as dead . “Plus you’re forgetting it was Rory who picked out this suit.” His head whips to Rory who shrugs.

I playfully splash Merce, slipping out of his arms and swimming away from him before he can catch me. My suit is quickly forgotten as he chases after me.

We all spend the next few hours swimming, until my pruned wrinkly hands send me out to dry off. Mercer tried to dunk Rory when he realized white bikinis when wet do not leave much to the imagination.

Chloe joins me on the sun chairs beside the pool, her watchful eyes follow Mac’s every move. I know she has questions and we really haven’t had any time alone to talk since we’ve been here. I’m nervous to hear what she really thinks. I know I haven’t known her long or well JD hasn’t but I feel like she’s the only real friend I have from my Bristol life. Even though I used to be a huge bitch to her, she hasn’t held it against me.

Clarissa is cool but friendships are based on what someone can do for you, not if you actually like them. Carissa likes to party, apparently I used to as well, and she seems to be honest but she also may be holding her cards close to her chest. Or maybe I’m just thinking too much into it.

“So Mac, huh.” I say, turning towards her, wiggling my eyebrows. “Pretty hot right.” She nods and smiles as her cheeks flush a rosy pink.

“He’s perfect. He was so sweet last night. He held my hair while I puked my guts up. Pity we live so far apart. He told me about wanting to be part of the Olympics. He said his training is about to get intense, but at least he’s honest about not wanting anything serious.”

“He could at least be a nice distraction until the end of the year. Block testing is coming up soon and after that I know he plans to stick around for a bit. Rocky’s dad is his coach and nothing is set in stone as of right now. He may even stick around if he had the right motivation.” She rotates and lays flat on her stomach and I follow her lead. The sun is beautiful and hot, but not melt your skin like you’re in the fiery depths of hell.

“What about you?” She’s clearly changing the subject. “Five guys, I mean no judgement but five guys, I don’t know how that would even work.”

“Johnny works with five hammers, I’m presuming.” Her eyes go wide, as realisation of that song really hits her. Then she laughs, tears streaming down her face as she flips onto her back. The giggles continue and I can’t help but laugh with her.

“I can never unimagine that now. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to look at you with a straight face again.”

* Ding dong * even the doorbell sounds so formal, another thing we need to change when I move in.

“I’ll get it.” I say to the guys and jump from my chair. I hear Mercer mumble something about over his dead body. I quicken my step and hurry through the house. We don’t need Mercer murdering anyone today. I make it to the door with him hot on my heels. The doorbell dongs again as I pull the massive door open.

I stare at my brother standing before me. A wave of panic washes over me, but I keep my expression neutral so he doesn’t see how much his presence unnerves me. How the hell did he find me? If he can find me, so could my father and mother.

His eyes rake over me, his lip curls up and he wrinkles his nose. Mercer steps up beside me, his arms crossed and a thunderous expression mares his face. He knows Carter is my brother. They met the night of that stupid silent action when he cornered us and dragged us out of the ballroom.

“Who the fuck is this guy?” I startle at the tone in Levi’s voice as he appears to my right. I feel the presence of the others behind me. Carter’s eyes bulge, I know he knows who they are but seeing pictures of them and seeing them in person are two vastly different things.

“Carter, Bristol's brother. Now, is anyone going to invite me in or am I going to stand here until Kujo there,” he says pointing at Levi, “jumps out and beats me?” I take a deep breath, centering myself and let my inner Bristol come out. A fake smile spreads across my face and a higher pitch distorts my voice.

“Of course, come in. I was just surprised to see you.” He laughs and follows me inside. He takes in the house, the smell of bleach is overpowering the first time you step inside. He doesn’t say anything, he’s well trained in making sure to be polite. Just another one of those things our mother must have beat into us.

“Nice house you have here Rory, I believe it all becomes yours when you turn eighteen, impressive. Though Bristol here has a trust fund that could buy a million of these small houses.” Small houses? Is he insane? Wait… did he say a trust fund? It never crossed my mind that I would even have one. I open my mouth to speak but Rory beats me to it.

“How do you know the house is mine?” Carter laughs as if Rory is crazy for asking.

“Anything you need to know is available for the right price. I forget you’re not part of our world. The one where money talks.” I yank on Carter's arm and pull him to a dead stop.

“Don’t come in here and offend my boyfriend, it’s beneath you. I thought you were the one ally I had in our family.” I really don’t but I figure if I pull the sister card he’ll stop.

“My apologies.” Carter shakes off of my arm and walks into the living room. The guys have moved all the furniture back to where it belongs, not a single item out of place. I move into the room, annoyed that he has barged in on my time here. I narrow my eyes at him, everyone outside of my guys is a suspect at this point.

“How did you find me?” He smiles, but it’s not a nice one. I see the guys move in, keeping their distance but still close enough in case anything happens. They don’t trust him and neither do I yet.

“Did you really think you could hide from me?” The pit of my stomach drops.

The sound of a voice outside startles me . Rory couldn’t be back yet, he barely just left. I pull the old worn woollen curtain back, one so old the fibres mix with the air and float around the dimmed room, but there is no one there. I’m just imagining things. I’m almost free, all I need is a few months to hide out and when I get back surely they will hear me out, they have too, right? It’s his word against mine. It was my gun.

“Did you really think you could hide from us Bristol; you know there are eyes everywhere.” A scream escapes me and I let the curtain fall back into place. Looking around the room, I have nothing here to protect me, nowhere to hide. I find my phone, which I had turned off so it couldn’t be traced and I power it on with trembling hands as someone starts banging on the door. As the screen finally powers on, I call the one person I know will help me, but his help comes with a price, one we had been trying to avoid. The door is kicked in before the call even connects. A scream tears its way through my throat.

“JD.” I blink a few times and see the guys all crowded around me. I nod, taking them all in. Chloe and Mac have now joined us in the room.

“Sorry, panic attack.” I lie, my brothers’ eyes on me assessing everything. “Ever since I lost my memory, I get random panic attacks and you being here has me freaked out. Our father will know I lied to him and all I wanted to do was see my friends. They are the only people I feel like I know.” I pile on the water works. I don’t know whose voice was in that memory, when I get them they’re always muffled, like I’m hearing it from underwater.

I’m made to sit on the lounge next to Carter. I tense as he places a hand on my knee. “B, you’re my sister, it was us against the world growing up. I would never do anything to hurt you. I would never tell our mother or father you were here, your secret is safe with me.” I want to believe that’s the truth. Chloe coughs and it seems way too convenient, she’s trying to change the subject and I could hug her for it. “Oh, hey Chloe, I didn’t realise my father was serious when he told me Bristol was hanging out with you. My, how far you’ve come up in the world.” I watch with wide eyes as Mac launches his whole body towards my brother. It happens in slow motion. I’m pulled from the couch just a split second before Mac lands on Carter and starts throwing his fists into his face. Mercer moves in fast, as does Levi, and pulls Mac from my brother. His face is scrunched, his eyes feral.

“I think it’s time you left.” I state. Carter is holding a hand over his face. It looks like he’ll have a nice black eye tomorrow.

“You think our dad is going to be okay with all this, especially after one of your boy toys attacked me. You can only be daddy's little princess for so long.” I shrug, not really caring what else he has to say. Rory stands beside Carter and holds out an arm, gesturing for him to leave. Carter doesn’t say anymore as he storms out of the house.

That was fun, my brother’s jealousy rearing its ugly head and showing his true colours. Although it still doesn’t rule out that we weren’t close. I was as bad as him when I had my memories. I’ve watched the videos and been told some of the stories. I was a bitch, there’s no doubt about that. I hate to ruin the good time we were having but I need to go and speak with my father. It’s time to stop pussy footing around and just lay it straight. I want to see the guys and Carter let it slip that I was daddy's princess. I can hopefully use that. I can’t tell the guys; they would want to come with me and my dad doesn’t seem like the type that would like sneak attacks.

The guys aren’t happy I have to leave. I explain that if Carter does go straight back to my dad and tells him what happened that I need to be there to make sure he tells the story right. I promise we will see each other next weekend. I’ll find a way to sneak out if I have to. Chloe agrees to help, I knew she would, her and Mac have hit it off and it’s nice to see Mac happy. It may keep the guys off his back for at least a little while.