CHAPTER
SEVENTESSIE
The weekend arrives, and the trio tinker around on their beloved cars. Nate dresses in dirty jeans and goes topless, looking ruggedly handsome as he tinkers with the engine. Sporting a black t-shirt that hugs his massive arms, Cain looks like a true mechanic as he helps Nate. Mike has managed to tie his hair back with a hair tie and looks effortlessly cool as he fixes shuffling things around in a toolbox. Meanwhile, I sit on a comfortable garden chair with a blanket over my knees, enjoying the scenery while texting Rae. The sight of the three men working on their cars with sweat glistening on their skin is a feast for the eyes.
Rae
Heya Bitch! Wanna do something this weekend? xx
Me
Sorry, hun, I’m busy. Xx
Rae
Ooo, what are you planning? Xx
I gaze from the screen of my phone and notice Nate standing near his truck, puffing on a cigarette. As he catches my eye, he flashes me a smug grin. The intensity of the sunlight accentuates his abs, while his tattoos give him an even more sexy look.
I couldn't tell Rae the truth about my three men. The mere thought of sharing such intimate details with her makes me shudder. However, I decided to lie to her because Rae might inquire about specific details that could potentially involve Dan.
Me
My mom wants me to attend a charity event with her. I still haven't got a dress for the evening. Xx
Rae
Your mom is doing something charitable… I’m shocked, lol. We can head into town and pick you out a dress. Xx
The only dresses I have in my closet are for clubbing purposes and are not suitable for such an event. I gather my courage and approach the trio, “Can I go with Rae to the town and pick out a dress for tonight?” As I ask, I can feel my fingers fiddling with each other nervously. The trio look at each other, share a chuckle, and scoff at my request. Mike walks up to me and lifts my chin with his hand. “No,” he says sternly. “However, Nate can take you dress shopping.” I can't help but roll my eyes at his response.
I cross my arms tightly, looking annoyed. “You know Rae is going to catch on sooner or later. She's going to wonder why I won't meet up with her alone and only see her at college,” I tell the trio, my voice laced with frustration.
Cain wipes the sweat from his forehead, his hands covered in black substance from tinkering with the car. “It's just not safe enough yet,” he replies. “Nate will take you. That is that.”
I storm off and my breath comes in short, heavy huffs. My frustration boiling over, I barge into the house and slam the door behind me with a resounding bang.
MIKE
We are all gathered around Nate's truck with its hood open, inspecting the engine. Cain scoffs and shakes his head. "She's such a goddamn princess." I chuckle softly under my breath, knowing that Cain absolutely adores her and wouldn't change a thing about it.
Nate wipes his hands clean with a cloth and looks up at us. “I've gotta take her dress shopping. That's going to be fun,” he says, looking back at the door that was just slammed.
I lean my back against the truck and I turn to Cain. “Oh, by the way, someone named Archie at the college asked Tessie questions about Dan,” I inform him.
Cain raises both eyebrows and crosses his arms. “Don't worry. I'll find out more about him and let you know,” I reassure him.
Nate straightens his back, his expression serious. “Is this something we should be worried about?” he asks, clearly concerned.
“Not yet,” I reply. “He only asked Tessie if she might know where Dan was. However, he did know her name,” I explain, shrugging my shoulders.
Nate reassures us, “Don't worry. We will sort it out, guys. Let's have a relaxed and stress-free weekend.”
I ask Cain, “How do you feel about taking Tessie to the Charity event?” He seems hesitant. He looks down at the ground, shuffling his feet before facing us. “I mean, I'd rather be at home fucking her,” he admits with a smile. We all chuckle.
Nate smirks, saying, “You could always find a quiet place at the party.” Cain looks up at the house and we all turn around to see what has caught his attention. Tessie is standing there, still annoyed, looking out the window at us. Nate throws down the cloth he is holding on the truck and says, “I better get cleaned up and take the princess dress shopping.”
“Good luck!” I shout as he strides toward the house.
TESSIE
Nate walks out of the bedroom and I can't help but feel a sense of annoyance. They won't allow me to go into town alone and it's starting to get on my nerves. Nate, on the other hand, seems unfazed by the situation. He puts on his boots and turns to me, saying, “Right, baby. You can stop scowling at me now.” I remain silent, still feeling frustrated. Suddenly, he stands up and takes hold of my face, looking me straight in the eyes. “Or I'll give you something to scowl about,” he says with a hint of playfulness. Despite my irritation, I can't help but crack a smile at his comment.
We leave the house and I immediately see Mike and Cain standing beside the Jeep. They seemed engrossed in a conversation, making me wonder what they were discussing. As we approach them, Cain can't help but remark sarcastically, “Have a nice time, princess.” I try to ignore him as I focus on Mike. He opens the truck door for me and kisses my cheek, making me feel fuzzy. However, his following comment left me blushing. “Maybe you could pick out some sexy lingerie.” He smirks.
Nate and I embark on a scenic drive into town, the sun-kissed breeze blowing through the truck's open windows, filling it with the sweet scent of spring.
Nate breaks the silence and asks, “Which store are we going to?”
I suggest a small boutique that I know of, which has some beautiful dresses.
“That sounds perfect,” he replies with a smile.
As we enter the town, Nate opens the truck door for me and I jump down. He takes my hand and we walk down the street. I feel self-conscious, knowing I had gone public with my affection for Cain and now I am holding Nate's hand. But I remind myself that people will always think what they want to think as we continue walking toward the boutique.
As we stroll down the street, I see an elegant, dark emerald green, silk dress in a store window display. Its striking color and exquisite design leave me in awe. I can't help but express my admiration. “Oh wow, look how beautiful that dress is. I love it.” However, glancing at its price tag, I feel disappointed: “Maybe not.”
Nate notices my reaction and looks at the dress and then at the store name. We continue walking hand in hand up the street, and before I know it, we enter the boutique.
