I’m Sorry. I.. I Didn’t Mean To
1196 Words
Aubree’s POV
My heart was still racing when I slipped back toward the bed, trying to make it look like I’d been asleep the whole time.
But the second my fingers brushed the blanket, the bedroom door clicked open.
I froze.
Carter stood in the doorway first—shoulders tense, jaw tight, eyes scanning the room. Abel was right behind him, chest rising and falling too fast, like he’d run a mile.
They both looked… wrecked.
Not angry.
Not frustrated.
Worried.
Carter’s eyes snapped to me instantly.
“Aubree.” His voice was barely audible. “Why are you awake?”
My breath caught. “I… I was getting water.”
His eyes lowered to the empty nightstand.
No glass.
No water.
No escape.
Abel’s gaze sharpened. “Bree,” he said quietly. “How long were you standing there?”
My chest tightened.
I looked away.
Big mistake.
Abel took a step forward. “Aubree.”
Carter moved closer too, slow, careful. “Please look at me.”
I forced myself to meet their eyes.
Both sets of them— Abel’s storm-gray, Carter’s iceberg-blue—hit me like a wave.
“You heard us,” Carter whispered.
It wasn’t a question.
My silence was an answer.
Abel swore under his breath, dragging a hand through his hair. “s**t—Bree, listen, we didn’t—”
“You weren’t supposed to hear that,” Carter finished, voice steady but tight with something like fear.
I swallowed hard. “I’m sorry. I… I didn’t mean to.”
Abel shook his head quickly. “No. Don’t apologize. We’re the ones who—who said too much.”
Carter shot him a look. “You didn’t say too much, Abel. You said the truth.”
Abel stared at him.
Carter stared back.
And then both of them stared at me.
“Aubree,” Carter said quietly, “we don’t want to scare you.”
“You didn’t,” I whispered. “I just… didn’t know how to come back in without making it worse.”
Abel exhaled shakily and stepped closer. His hand reached out like he wanted to touch me, but he stopped just short.
“We don’t want to fight,” he said softly. “Not about you. Not ever.”
Carter stood on my other side. “And we don’t want you feeling responsible. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“But you two—”
My voice cracked.
“You were hurting. Because of me.”
“No,” Abel said immediately. “We were hurting because we’ve both been idiots.”
“Speak for yourself,” Carter muttered.
Abel glared. “You confessed first!”
Carter shot back, “Only because you almost kissed her in front of the whole damn party—”
“Oh my god,” I groaned, burying my face in my hands. “Please stop.”
Silence.
Then—
Two soft laughs.
Not mocking.
Not teasing.
Understanding.
Abel moved first, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. “We’ll try,” he murmured. “For you.”
Carter nodded, his voice gentle. “We’ll figure this out. Together.”
I believed them.
But as I crawled back into bed, heart pounding, lying between two boys who loved me and didn’t know what to do with it…
I also knew:
Nothing about this was going to be simple.
I woke up to warmth.
A lot of it.
Abel’s arm was draped over my waist, heavy and possessive even in sleep. Carter’s hand rested against my hip, light but steady. Their bodies bracketed mine—heat on both sides, breath on my neck, the faint smell of cologne and clean sheets wrapping around me.
For one second, everything felt perfect.
Safe.
Right.
Then Carter stirred.
His hand flexed against my hip.
Abel inhaled sharply behind me.
And I remembered exactly where I was.
“Oh my god,” I whispered, sitting up too fast.
Both twins blinked awake at once—Carter instantly alert, Abel adorably disoriented.
“Mornin’, Bree…” Abel mumbled, voice deep and rough.
Carter cleared his throat, cheeks dusted with the faintest hint of pink. “Sleep okay?”
“Yes,” I squeaked.
Then mentally slapped myself.
Smooth. Really smooth.
Abel smirked. “Cute.”
I glared at him to hide the blush heating my cheeks. “We should go to breakfast.”
“Or we could stay here a little longer,” Abel offered, stretching like a smug cat.
Carter shot him a warning look. “Abel.”
“What?” Abel shrugged. “I’m just saying—she looks comfortable.”
“I’m not,” I lied.
Or tried to.
My cheeks were still blazing.
Carter stood first, offering me his hand. I took it, nerves sparking where our skin met.
Abel noticed.
Of course he did.
His eyes narrowed, and he slipped out of bed, brushing my shoulder “accidentally” as he passed.
The tension followed us all the way to the dining room.
The second we sat down, I knew something was off.
Sebastian and Michal were already at the table, whispering quietly. Their eyes flicked up when we entered—first to me, then to the twins, then back to me.
Great.
I sat between Abel and Carter, because apparently we were now a permanent trio.
Shelly smiled warmly. “Good morning, sweetheart.”
“Morning,” I mumbled.
Abel immediately slid the plate of fruit closer to me. “She likes strawberries.”
Carter pushed a glass of orange juice my way. “And she prefers this brand.”
Shelly’s smile turned knowing.
Sebastian raised an eyebrow.
Michal nearly choked on his coffee.
“Oh boy,” Sabrina whispered under her breath. “It’s happening.”
I dropped my face into my hands.
“This is fine,” Abel muttered, glaring at Carter over my head.
“It could be worse,” Carter replied calmly, slicing my pancakes before I could grab the fork. “They could be asking questions.”
Sebastian cleared his throat. “So…”
Carter froze.
Abel cursed.
Michal smirked.
“…did all three of you sleep in the same room?”
I nearly died on the spot.
Abel spat out his coffee.
Carter stiffened so hard the knife nearly snapped.
I scrambled for the least incriminating answer possible.
“Yes—but it wasn’t—nothing—danger—it’s not what—”
Abel leaned back with a wicked grin. “We were just keeping her warm.”
Carter kicked him under the table so hard Abel winced.
“We were protecting her,” Carter corrected, glaring.
Sabrina hid a laugh. Shelly covered her mouth.
Sebastian and Michal exchanged a look that said:
Well, s**t.
Breakfast continued in painfully awkward silence until Abel nudged my knee with his.
“You okay?” he whispered.
Carter’s fingers brushed mine under the table.
My heart nearly jumped out of my chest.
“I’m fine,” I whispered back.
But the truth?
I wasn’t fine.
I was falling.
Hard.
Fast.
And I had no idea how to land without breaking all three of us.
- Writer
