Chapter 72 - Vol. 3: Noah To Haru - 72

Haru

Ah, I see. Conrad was being treated by his brothers like my brothers treat me, being the baby of the bunch. No matter how old the youngest gets, the youngest would always be treated like a brat, huh? Then I wondered how old Conrad was. Probably around Mason’s age.

To me, Tristan asked, “Are you freaked out, err...?”

“Haru,” Sakura provided. “His name is Haru, meaning spring in Japanese and he’s half-Japanese.”

Tristan burst out laughing. “You’re half-Japanese? I thought you were, but now I’m sure. And your name means spring. That’s a nice name, like our sister Sakura.”

“Hello, everybody, we’re home.”

Two males came in through the front door, and I suspected they were the brothers I hadn’t yet met.

“A guest?” one said. “And he’s damn beautiful.” He chuckled, his eyes twinkling.

I felt my stomach knotting in dread. Why did I have the feeling this one was kind of a pair with Tristan?

“Logan,” Tristan provided. “He’s the other triplet, and my buddy.”

I was right.

Logan came over and took a seat on my other side. As he leaned back, he spread his arms out, and one happened to rest just behind my shoulders. “Hey, little guy.”

Did I look that little to him?

“Haru,” Tristan said. “He found Toby for us.”

“Oh, wow,” Logan said. “Thanks a bunch, Haru. Want to stay over for dinner?”

From the other side, a voice said, “You two are a pair of nuisances. Stop picking on the boy. He looks damn uncomfortable.”

Conrad said, “Hayden is right.”

So that one was Hayden.

Nicolas said, “Ignore them, Haru. They are a pair of nuisances. Though they may freak you out, they don’t mean anything by their...flirtatious attitude. They mean you no harm.”

I gave Nicolas a tentative smile, not sure if I could trust his words fully.

Sakura said, “It’ll be great if you can stay for dinner. I’d like to thank you for finding Toby.”

“Maybe next time,” I said. “We have a housewarming party over at the apartment, and we have guests coming.”

Tristan asked, “This housewarming party, is there lots of food and alcohol?”

Sakura burst out laughing while Conrad rolled his eyes.

“Yeah,” I said.

Then my phone rang, and I jolted in surprise. I put the glass of juice down on the coffee table and then took the phone out from my jeans pocket. I saw that it was Aiden’s name on the screen.

To the others, I said, “I have to take this.” I eagerly removed myself from the sofa—and Tristan’s arm around me—and walked over to the other side of the room.

“Haru?” Aiden said.

“Yeah, hi,” I said.

“Where are you? You okay? You’ve been gone for ages.”

“Yeah, I know,” I said. “Something happened.”

“Something happened?” Aiden sounded worried. “What happened?”

“I found an injured dog on my walk with Aki. I took him to the vet and then returned him home to his owners.”

“I see,” Aiden said. “Where are you? I’m coming to pick you up.”

I thought about saying no but decided against it. By the time I got home, it’d be well past five.

“Okay,” I said and then proceeded to give him the name of the apartment and the address.

“The Princeton Apartment?” he asked, sounding a little shocked.

“Yeah,” I said.

“Okay, I’ll be there as soon as I can,” he said.

We ended the call, and I returned my attention to the others. “Oh,” I expressed, seeing every pair of eyes on me. Were they listening to me talking to Aiden?

“Who was that?” Tristan asked.

“My...” I paused, wondering how I should tell him who Aiden was in relation to me. My stepbrother? My boyfriend? “That was Aiden. He’s coming to pick me up.”

Logan asked, “Who’s Aiden?”

I stared at the man. Well, he wanted to know. I said, “My stepbrother and boyfriend.”

They looked a little shocked at hearing this, naturally. Well, of course. Whoever had a stepbrother for a boyfriend?

“You’re already taken?” Tristan sounded both pissed and flabbergasted.

“But you’re so young.” This came from Sakura.

Wait. They weren’t surprised I had a gay relationship with my stepbrother, but that I was young and taken?

I chuckled as I scratched my head. “We started dating last year.” Oh, damn, why did I have to go and tell them that?

Logan said to Tristan, “Looks like we have competition,” to which Tristan nodded.

What the heck was with those two guys? Were they just playing around and teasing me, or were they serious?

Nicolas said, “Unfortunately, those two brothers of ours are bisexual, and you’re a beautiful thing for a boy so...” He chuckled. “I’m sorry about that, Haru.”

I could only blink. They are serious?

Hayden said, “Don’t worry, their attention will be diverted as soon as they see the next beautiful thing coming along their way.”

I suddenly had the nagging feeling I didn’t want them to meet Jess.

I took a seat on the armchair, instead of the sofa Tristan and Logan occupied, and the brothers started asking me various questions about me and my brothers and our background. Fuck, but I felt like I was in a job interview for a powerful position.

Fifteen minutes later, I heard Aiden’s voice. “Hello?”

I jumped up, and my gaze flew to the door where he was. Aki, too, perked up at the sound of Aiden’s voice.

“Aiden,” I said, both pleased and relieved.

Nicolas got up from his seat and went over to Aiden. “You must be Aiden,” he said.

“Hi,” Aiden said.

Was it just me or was Aiden looking a bit stunned?

He continued, “You’re Nicolas Princeton.”

Nicolas chuckled. “Yes, I am. Have we met?”

Aiden chuckled. “No, but I’ve seen your photos in the newspaper a couple of years back when you took over the Princeton Group.”

What was Aiden talking about?

“And my brother works for you,” Aiden said. “Noah Davis.”

Nicolas widened his eyes. “Noah is your brother?” He burst out laughing. “What a small world.”

Tristan said, “Looks like we’re connected after all, Haru.” He even winked at me.

Nicolas said, “Come on in and let me introduce you to everyone.”

“Sure,” Aiden said, walking into the living area.

I came over to him, and he pulled me into his arms. “You all right?”

I nodded. Aki chose that moment to bark at Aiden, to tell him that he was there, too.

“Jesus, you two! It’s not like you haven’t seen each other for years,” Logan said. When Aiden turned his attention to him, he introduced himself. “The name is Logan Princeton, and your stepbrother is just cute. Can we have him?”

Aiden looked like he didn’t quite know how to react to that. “I beg your pardon?”

Nicolas chuckled. “Ignore him.”

“But we’re serious though,” Tristan said. When Aiden shifted his gaze to him, he gave Aiden a curt nod of the head. “Tristan Princeton.”

“Ignore that one, too,” Hayden said. “And I’m Hayden Princeton.” He offered his hand, which Aiden took.

“Hi,” Aiden said.

Waving his hand toward the sofa on the other side, Nicolas said, “Sebastian, Sakura, Darcy, and Conrad.”

Conrad said, “Haru told us you guys are having a housewarming party.”

Aiden nodded. “Yes, you’re welcome to join if you like.”

Tristan jumped at the invitation. “We’d love to. Sakura, sweetie, there’s no need for you to cook tonight. We’re going to Haru’s apartment for dinner.”

Logan said, “Should we bring some wine?” He was looking at Aiden, of course.

Aiden shook his head. “There’s no need. We bought enough alcohol to drown a village.”

Tristan whistled. “You’re the man.” He came over and hooked his arms over Aiden’s shoulders. “But we still want Haru though. We’re serious.”

Aiden chuckled. Firmly, he said, “Sorry, but Haru is mine.” He even leaned down and gave me a solid kiss on the lips, which made me blush. I couldn’t believe he’d kiss me in front of our new acquaintances.

Sakura chuckled. “Looks like you gained yourself one possessive boyfriend there, Haru.”

Logan said, “As if you haven’t? Both Sebastian and Darcy are dragons when it comes to you.”

Sebastian said, “He’s not wrong.”