Four or Dead by G O A

Four or Dead Chapter 23

Emina....Three Weeks Later...

Things grew quiet the last few weeks with news going around that Andrea was taking time off of school for a mental healing retreat. Her friends kept to themselves during her absence, only offering me the occasional look of disgust but not much else. I hadn't heard from my father either and that was what had me the most worried. My father was by no means a patient man, so the fact he hadn't come storming in a dragging me out had been a bit of a surprise. Things with the boys had gotten a lot better though, and I was starting to become more comfortable with the idea of being a real part of their group. I was still nervous about pursuing more of a romantic relationship with them as a group because my mind couldn't wrap around the thought that they all wanted me. There was no way that was the case, and I wasn't sure how that could work. (")

Asher and Jayden especially confused me in this regard because they didn't really show much emotion at all, to begin with. They made it clear they wanted me here but as what I wasn't sure. Leo and Logan were the total opposite. They were very obvious about their feelings after that night together, but they have been patient with me about taking our time.

I liked the way Logan and Leo wrapped me in their arms, it was something I had needed for a long time. I had been starved for any form Chapter 23

of kindness and especially of physical interactions that didn't include pain. Logan liked to take me by surprise and steal a kiss at least a few times a day, but Leo was a bit more reserved and went for cheek kisses instead. Asher and Jayden spoke to me some but kept any physical contact to a minimum and far between, which I accepted.

The last couple of weeks I had made it up in my mind to find a way to pay them all back in some way, so I started watching every tutorial I could find on cooking. The boys were sweet enough to buy me a nicer phone and it allowed me to watch YouTube. They told me I didn't have to worry about cooking and cleaning for them but I figured it was the least I could do. So I buckled down and got to work on learning everything I could.

A morning finally came when I was sure I could make something. I woke up and shimmied out of my Logan and Leo sandwich to sneak into the kitchen and make breakfast. I hadn't been expecting Jayden to be sitting at the kitchen table wher I arrived though and seeing him made me jump and a small squeak of surprise escaped my mouth. (*

My hand came up over my heart as if that action alone was keeping it

from leaping from my chest. "God, you scared me."\")

He looked at me and his mouth quirked up at the corner just a little bit. "What are you doing up so early?"

I smile and take a seat beside him. "I wanted to take a shot at making breakfast." Chapter 23

He lifted a brow at me, "Really? Can you cook?"

"[ have been watching some videos on some simple recipes and I think I can do it if we have all the ingredients," I assured him.

'What will you make?" He asked me. Omelettes!" I replied with an excited smile..')

thing you need we can get them later so we have them for next time. Just give me a

we have for now." "Very well." He replied before turning

eggs which were just enough for a simple omelet. I took everything

focused to notice Jayden had moved until his hand brushed back the small section of hair that had fallen

in my chest. We were so close and I immediately started panicking. I continued to mix the eggs I had cracked into a bowl but slowed when I felt his fingers

when she was cooking. My father was confused at first because men don't usually carry hair ties around with them. But she kept asking every day, so my father stopped by a store on his way home from work and bought some thin black hair ties. He started wearing a couple on his wrists at times from that day on. So when my mom would ask for him to tie her hair back he would tug one off and wrap it in her hair. He

This small thing let my father show how much he cared for my mother. She said her father and mother did the same thing, and a small act like that made their relationship stronger. So after that, I also started wearing the ties on my wrists. A few times my father let me tie my mom's hair instead of him. For some reason, I thought that if I could learn to do more than just tie her hair back it would show how much I loved her. So I learned how to braid hair." He

things are on your wrist? Hair

even after she died." He replied softly. Silence

the tradition. There was a girl that I thought would be the one I would share those moments with, but she was

fall away and

you," I said

version of this

my cheek. I expected him to pull away but his hand lowered just enough to lay against the back of my neck. My eyes searched his for a clue at what he was thinking, but I never expected him to pull me to him and crashed his lips against mine. The intensity of it

I'll be there to tie your hair back." He said softly before turning around and returning to his seat as if nothing happened. =

an embarrassing amount of time. The sound of footsteps coming down the stairs finally broke my trance and I quickly turned back to the

asked resting his head on my shoulder. "Breakfast!" I replied turning and smiling up at him. He gave me an expression that

to try it!" He planted a sweet kiss to my cheek before giving

away when Leo came up on my other

down and

once I was left alone again, and I had to force myself not to spontaneously combust so I

continued his tradition of rummaging the fridge for a carton of juice followed by Leo going off on him for not using a glass. When each of their omelets was finished I set one in

nervous.

Logan spoke up

to look at Leo next. "So?" "Best omelet I have ever had!"

but those two would say it tasted good even if it tasted like dirt. They were my sweetest angels and always said the sweetest things to me even if I didn't deserve it. It was Asher and Jayden's reactions I was