Life in Hiding

18 ~ Name

The sounds of pans crashing and people laughing pulls me from my bed, actually the blow up mattress on Saffron's floor, far too early.

Throwing a sweatshirt on, I blindly wander downstairs. Somewhere between a yawn and checking to see if my pits stink, I end up in the kitchen. Meaning I'm also stuck in the crossfire of a kitchen fight.

"Maybe if you weren't so bitter, I wouldn't have mistaken your back as my coffee mug." Avery snaps, popping her hip as she glares down at Clay Walker.

I get nervous for her as I take him in. He's literally huge. Word on the street is he'll be nominated for the Heisman, an impressive feat for a defensive player. On the field he's an absolute monster, some people runaway from him, and my idiotic, stubborn cousin just poured coffee down his back.

It was nice to have the two years where we actually liked her, I'll remember her fondly. Everyone else just smirks, Nina, Clay's sister that looks nothing like him, slides Gabe $10.

Clay stands up to his full height and, while I have an inch or two on him, he could kick my ass and I'd probably thank him.

"You should really lighten up, Blondie." He reaches back and next thing I know creamer is being poured on my cousin's very blonde hair.

As her enraged squeals mix with laughter, Ashton jumps to his feet.  "Twins, please tell me you're recording or no Christmas presents."

"Hell yeah, we did." Sterling grins.

"And you don't control our presents, Scar does." Silver slaps Ashton's back.

"Don't disrespect me in my girlfriend's own home!" He shouts, hitting him back.

"Do we have any cream left or do I have to drink my coffee as bitter as Clay?" I ask, pouring myself a cup from whatever is left over.

The terrifying monster turns to me and just when I'm prepared to drop my mug and run, he shakes  the container and hands it to me. "If that's not enough, you can always squeeze out Blondie's hair."

Ashton and Gabe die with laughter as I take creamer and then make myself a plate of French toast. Forcing myself a spot at the table, I wink at Ashton. "I missed you this morning."

"I'm sorry, Babe, but I wasn't cuddling on a blow up mattress." He blows me a kiss and I catch it.

"How late were you two up?" Scarlett asks, observing me from her spot on Ashton's lap.

"I don't know." I admit.

"Maybe 3." Ashton estimates and my sister scoffs. "I missed you the entire time, Sweetheart."

"Hey!" I protest, drowning my food in syrup.

Covering her ears, he grins. "A total lie."

"I'm beginning to feel like the other woman in my own relationship." Scarlett huffs.

"Sage does have a better ass than you." Avery observes.

"Sage is fucking perfect!" A new voice offers and I don't even flinch as Jovie Rawlings takes the seat next to me.

"My beautiful betrothed." I make a show of kissing her hand. "And her two knights in rusty ass armor. What bring you to my humble castle?"

"Food." Jovie, Aspen and Gentry say together, helping themselves to our kitchen.

"Betrothed?" Nina asks, eating the bacon off Easton McKnight's,  her boyfriend and another amazing football player, plate.

"You didn't know?" Gabe pulls Scar from Ashton's lap. "We were all forced into arraigned marriages at birth because our moms were best friends."