Stronger with You (With You Trilogy) (4 page)

The discussion may have sounded insane to an outsider, but these were Ian’s biscuits they were talking about. Ian generally had a good grip on his temper, at least in comparison to Karl, but this grip was formed by a steady supply of caffeine and whatever biscuit was his flavour of the month.

The twins pulled up the trolley by a till with an attractive blonde girl who couldn’t have been much older than me. I started loading things from the very full trolley onto the conveyer belt whilst she shot them both furtive glances, ignoring the old man she was currently serving. Rick and Danny weren’t oblivious and I caught them grinning at each other. I barely resisted rolling my eyes at them, remembering that they were currently
not
in a good mood with me.

“Are you two identical twins?” The cashier asked as she started scanning our food.

“What gave us away?” Danny grinned.

They must have had this conversation a million times but they still seemed to love it. The cashier was unable to reply because she was giggling like a schoolgirl. I was pretty sure she slid a few items past without them scanning properly because her eyes were too busy checking out my brothers.

“If you’re going to make something perfect, you might as well do it twice,” Rick winked, earning more giggles from the cashier.

“You’ve got that right,” she blushed.

I was hoping their relentless flirting would put them in a better mood, but as they left the till – with the cashier’s phone number – they returned to their sulky postures. I kept as close to them as I could, making sure I neither fell behind them nor put myself in their direct field of vision.

I was so busy maintaining that tricky balance that I didn’t see a pothole in the carpark tarmac and stumbled over, landing hard on my left elbow. I cried out as the pain shot through my arm.

“For fuck’s sake, Jelly,” Danny cursed, pulling me up from the ground.

“I’m sorry,” I mumbled, biting back the tears as I cradled my elbow in one hand.

He kept his grip on my upper arm and dragged me the rest of the way back to the car. I tried not to cry but the pain radiating from my elbow was pretty severe and I was worried I’d broken it.

“Stop making a scene, Jelly,” Danny scowled as we reached the car.

I mumbled an apology but I couldn’t force myself to stop crying. I sniffed furiously and tried to wipe the tears away with the back of my right hand. I was trembling and wasn’t sure if it was from the cold or the pain.

“Come on, Jelly,” Danny sighed, opening the door and urging me into the back of the car.

Rick finished loading the car, returned the trolley and hopped into the driver’s seat. To my surprise, Danny got into the back with me and tossed Rick the keys. He looked right at me and I could see the fury in his eyes. I averted my gaze quickly, clasping my injured arm close to me.

“What the fuck is wrong with you, Jelly?” He growled.

Rick still hadn’t started the car and turned round in his seat to join his twin in glaring at me.

“I’m sorry,” I mumbled, my voice shaking. “I didn’t see the pothole and I tripped.” I swallowed and closed my eyes tightly, forcing my tears back.

“Not that,” he shook his head dismissively. “We’re used to you being clumsy.”

I looked up at him, not understanding. He continued staring and I could see the muscle in his jaw tensing as his mouth set in a hard line.

“What are you doing stripping off in front of Jason like that?” Rick snarled from the front seat.

I opened my mouth to reply but then closed it again.
That’s why they’re being like this?
I didn’t know how to reply.

“Ian was pretty clear about keeping your clothes on, Jelly,” Danny added.

“I…I…” I stumbled over my words, trying to figure out a way out of this without lying. “I was just about to get dressed when you came in.”

“So?” Danny growled. “Send him out the room.”

“But, he’s my boyfriend,” I said quietly, regretting it as soon as the words were out of my mouth. I should have kept quiet.

“I don’t give a shit, Jelly,” Danny snarled.

“That shit can wait till after marriage,” Rick added.

I felt the anger bubbling up in my stomach. That was so unfair. I’d been with Jason for months and it was a damn sight more serious than any relationship they’d been in. The pain radiating through my arm was already fraying my temper. I found myself unable to bite my tongue. I was sick of the arm flicks, the glares, and being dragged around like a puppy.

“That’s not fair,” I snapped.

“Excuse me?” Danny spat.

“How many times have the two of you been naked with some girl whose name you don’t even know?” I scowled, shrinking back into the corner of the seat but keeping my head held high.

Danny opened his mouth to reply but closed it again.

“That’s not the same,” Rick frowned.

“Why not?” I challenged.

They both remained ominously silent. I took the opportunity to lecture them a little further seeing as they were already pissed off with me and I doubted I could make it any worse.

“You two must have slept with half the girls in the city,” I fumed. “But for some reason it’s okay for you guys to ban me from being naked around the man I love?”

Realising I was holding my injured arm a little too tightly, I relaxed my grip somewhat, wincing as the pain spiked. I waited nervously for the twins to say something, but they still didn’t reply. Rick started the car and began the drive home. Clearly, I’d pissed them off so much that I was in for something horrible when we got home.

The journey went slowly thanks to the deadly silence, but still not slowly enough. I was not looking forward to getting back and hearing what the twins had to say or do. Clearly whatever it was, they wanted to do it behind closed doors. They pulled up onto the drive and they both hopped out wordlessly. I was reluctant to get out and unbelted myself as slowly as possible.

Rick opened the door and I recoiled, worried he was going to pull me out with my sore arm, but he waited patiently for me to stumble out of the car. I was still freezing; the car hadn’t really had chance to warm up.

He surprised me by pulling his ‘Derbyshire Fire & Rescue’ hoodie off and forcing it over my head. It drowned me and was more like a dress than a jumper. I kept my arms inside the main section, not bothering to put them in the arms of the jumper, because I wasn’t keen on the idea of unbending my elbow.

Rick sighed deeply and kissed the top of my head gently. “Go and ask your brothers for help bringing the shopping in,” he sighed, the sting from his voice diminished somewhat.

Not wanting to question his sudden shift in behaviour, I scuttled into the house and went into the kitchen. I found Craig and Jason there and asked them for a hand. Jason eyed me suspiciously but followed Craig out to the driveway to help the twins.

I sat on the stool at the island waiting for them. I knew I’d have to help put the shopping away and I was trying to figure out if I’d be able to do it one-handed. I closed my eyes and uncurled the fingers on my left hand. I could move them,
does that mean it’s not broken?
The guys came back in and Jason made a beeline for me, putting the bags he was carrying on the island behind me.

“You okay, baby?” He asked softly, his face wrinkled with concern. He cupped my face with his hand and searched my eyes with his.

“I hurt my elbow,” I said quietly, still waiting to find out how the twins were going to react to the outburst that I was now seriously regretting.

“How?” Jason asked.

I saw a look of anger cross his face briefly before he returned to looking concerned. I knew he was worried the twins had hurt me.

“I fell over,” I reassured him.

He held my gaze a second longer before backing off a little and helping to lift the hoodie over my head. He was so cautious, making sure not to brush up against my injured arm and moving so slowly and carefully.

“Leave it to the pros,” Craig grinned and shoved Jason out of the way once the hoodie was removed.

Jason frowned but moved to my side, watching Craig as he carefully inspected my arm. He was gentle as well. Just like Ian and Karl, Craig was like two people squished into one. Whereas my eldest two brothers switched back and forth between playful big brothers and military hardasses, Craig was a mishmash of the strong, disciplined, and powerful fighter who could knock a guy out with one punch, and the caring doctor who would go to any length for his patients. I preferred Craig’s combination.

“Can you feel this?” He asked, squeezing my fingertips gently.

I nodded, grateful for Jason’s hand holding mine.

“You can move your fingers?”

I nodded again, flexing them and uncurling them to demonstrate.

“Okay,” Craig nodded. “Straighten your arm out.”

I shook my head in a panic.
That would hurt way too much
.

“Now, Jelly,” he said firmly, his mouth setting in a hard line.

I shook my head again and felt Jason’s grip tighten infinitesimally on my shoulder.

“Either you do it yourself,” he explained calmly. “Or I do it for you, and I promise it’ll hurt a hell of a lot more if I do it.”

I felt my bottom lip quivering as he continued staring at me.

“Trust me, Jelly,” he urged, his voice softer now.

I did trust him. I knew he wouldn’t be telling me to do it if there wasn’t a reason. That didn’t make it any easier though. I closed my eyes and clenched my teeth as I forced my elbow to unbend. I’d not straightened it since I fell over and my arm felt strange and tingly. The movement was agonizing, but I pushed through.

Craig nodded approvingly. “There you go. Move it around a bit.”

I did as he asked, surprised to feel that a lot of the pain had disappeared.

“See, just a nasty bruise,” he said, taking my arm in his hands and pressing gently along the joints and grooves.

“Thank you,” I smiled appreciatively.

“You’re welcome,” he nodded. “You too old for me to do this?” He raised my elbow up and blew on it gently just like my brothers used to do when I was little.

“Never,” I grinned. “Feels better already.”

He chuckled and let my arm go, ruffling my hair and helping the twins with the last of the shopping.

Jason wrapped his arms round me and kissed the top of my head. “I was worried when you disappeared,” he said, rubbing the back of my neck gently.

“Sorry, I had to go shopping with the twins. I didn’t get chance to tell you or grab my phone,” I pouted, hoping he wouldn’t be too mad.

“It’s okay,” he smiled. “Craig said you’d gone with the them.” He lowered his mouth to my ear and whispered. “And that they were being grumpy bastards.”

“He said that?” I grinned, surprised that Craig had said something like that. He must have been out of earshot of Ian.

Jason nodded and lifted me down from the stool. He poured me a cup of tea and went to grab a packet of biscuits from the cupboard.

“No!” The twins and Craig all screamed as Jason went to open the packet.

Jason was holding one of the packets of biscuits we’d bought for Ian.

“What are you shouting about?” Ian asked, coming in through the back door. He was wearing shorts and a running t-shirt and was a little sweaty. It looked like he’d just gotten back from a run.

“Jason was after your biscuits,” Rick said unapologetically.

“Those aren’t my biscuits,” Ian shrugged.

The twins exchanged identical worried glances.

“My bad, we got a few different types,” Rick said sheepishly.

“You better not have forgotten mine,” Ian warned, stalking over to the cupboard and rooting through it. He grinned as he found the other packet and immediately opened it and shoved one in his mouth.

The twins visibly relaxed as Ian left the room and made for the bathroom.

“Told you it was those ones,” Danny said smugly to his twin.

“Those were the ones I picked, moron,” Rick retorted.

They started scuffling and I moved away from them, sheltering my cup of tea and heading for the lounge.

“Ben’s going to pick us up just after lunch,” Jason said, sitting next to me on the sofa.

“Okay,” I beamed at him, settling into his side. “You looking forward to getting back to Leeds?”

“Yes and no,” he shrugged.

Craig sat on my other side and grinned over at Jason. “Family getting too much for you?” He teased.

“Pfft,” Jason scoffed. “Not likely.” He shook his head and shot Craig a wicked grin. “So far your homicide attempts have failed miserably.”

“Give us time,” Craig laughed.

“That’s not funny,” I pouted.

“No, it’s not,” Ian scowled, joining us in the lounge. He’d clearly showered and was wearing just his jogging bottoms and scratching his bare chest idly.

Craig looked suitably guilty but Jason just smiled. To his credit, he hadn’t been giving Ian or the others any hassle for hospitalising him. He seemed pretty unaffected. I asked him about it but he shrugged it off. I hated that he shut me out, after everything we’d been through together and shared, I thought he trusted me. Realistically, I knew he just needed time but it still hurt, especially since I’d divulged my deepest secrets to him.

“Jelly,” Rick stuck his head into the lounge. “Come here.” There was a serious edge to his voice and I wasn’t the only one that noticed it. Ian raised his eyebrow at Rick but said nothing.

I got up and followed him down the stairs to the den where Danny was waiting. They motioned for me to sit down on the sofa and I nervously obliged. Neither of them said anything.

“I’m sorry,” I blurted, scared they were still mad at me. “I shouldn’t have said that stuff, please don’t-”

“Quiet, Jelly,” Danny shook his head. He sat down on my left and Rick sat down on my right, sandwiching me between them.

“We’re sorry,” Rick sighed, putting his arm around my shoulders.

I gaped at them, taken by surprise by his apology.

“Yeah, we shouldn’t have reacted like that,” Danny nodded.

I looked back and forth between the two of them. I wasn’t sure what I’d been expecting but I was definitely thinking more along the lines of a punishment than an apology.