CHAPTER 85: DATE AMBUSH

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Chapter 85

~Spring’s POV~

I pouted at my brothers for not believing me, but I barely had time to dwell on it because the next second the doorbell rang.

I shot up from the couch on instinct, but Kaius’s voice cut through the air like a thunderclap.

"No."

I froze mid-step, one foot dangling in the air as all three brothers turned their heads toward the front door like predators catching a scent.

"Sit," Eryx added with a pointed look. "We’ll get it." But could I trust those words when he smirked like that?

I could swear he was thinking of using his big brother role on Storm this time around.

"And don’t try to sneak away either," Rhys muttered under his breath.

I dropped back onto the couch with a groan, covering my face with both hands. "This is not happening," I mumbled into my palms.

But it was.

Kaius reached the door first and swung it open like he was stepping into a war zone.

Storm stood there, sharp and put together, holding a bouquet of white roses and a smile that faltered slightly when he saw not me, but three towering older brothers with very unimpressed expressions.

Before Storm could speak, Jace walked up behind him, carrying an equally beautiful arrangement of dark red peonies.

The two locked eyes and then looked forward again—this time, registering that the person who’d opened the door wasn’t Spring.

Kaius raised an eyebrow. "You’re here for...?"

Storm cleared his throat, his confidence returning in a heartbeat. "Spring."

Jace nodded. "Same."

"Of course you are," Eryx said dryly.

Rhys waved them both in with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. "Come on in, gentlemen. Make yourselves at home. Spring’s just..." He glanced over his shoulder at me, still frozen on the couch. "...dying inside."

I sank lower into the cushions as they stepped inside.

Unlike Eryx, Rhys was having the time of his life, trying to pick a boy for me or see if truly what I said about being kissed before was true.

"Hey, love," Storm greeted, offering me the flowers, but Eryx’s cold stare and Kaius’ stoic expression made him retract his hands.

"Table," Kaius commanded, and they both placed their bouquets carefully on the glass coffee table.

I opened my mouth to speak—maybe to apologise, maybe to explain—but the sound of engines roaring outside snapped everyone’s attention back to the front of the house.

Two more sleek, expensive, and polished cars rolled into the driveway—one black, one deep forest green.

Rhys peered through the blinds and let out a low whistle. "Damn. I never knew my little sister was this hot and attracting all the boys."

Kaius muttered, "She’s grounded."

I groaned louder, dropping my head onto the armrest. "This isn’t my fault."

The doorbell rang again.

"I’ve got it this time," Rhys announced playfully as he casually strode to the door like we weren’t collecting suitors like coupons.

When the door opened again, Kael stepped inside first, green-eyed and composed as ever, dressed in a crisp button-up with a box wrapped in silver ribbon under his arm.

Tyrion followed, less formal but just as confident, his sharp features relaxed but alert. He held a gift bag and offered a polite nod.

Both paused when they noticed Storm and Jace already inside.

"Right on time, I see," Tyrion said with a faint smirk.

"Don’t act like you’re not here for the same reason," Jace snapped.

Kael shrugged. "We brought gifts."

"Everyone did," Eryx muttered.

All four of them placed their items on the coffee table like some strange offering altar. I stared at the mountain of wrapped boxes, roses, ribbons and bags with a sense of existential dread.

All of them turned to me.

And then my brothers did too.

Kaius crossed his arms. "So... you wanna explain this?"

"Let’s start with who exactly you all are," Eryx added, narrowing his eyes at the four newcomers.

Tyrion stepped forward, bowing slightly. "Tyrion Levir."

"Kael Kaiden."

"Storm Draven."

"Jace Raith."

There was a pause. Then they all said in unison:

"We’re here for Spring."

I groaned and covered my face again.

Rhys cleared his throat and gestured toward me. "She’s right there. Feel free to explain how all four of you scheduled the same date, at the same time, on the same day."

"I didn’t!" I finally blurted out, sitting upright, hands flailing. "It was an accident. A complete, stupid accident."

Jace turned to me. "You said yes."

"I meant to say no! I was talking to... in my head and accidentally hit send. I wasn’t thinking."

"You weren’t thinking?!" Kaius snapped. "You double-booked your dates like this was a café schedule!"

"You mean quadruple booked," Eryx voiced, narrowing his eyes on me as though he was waiting for one move, one hint to make it seem like I did not want to be, and then he’d swoop in, scoop me up, and run away.

"It wasn’t like that!" I insisted. "Storm messaged me first. I accepted. Then I got Jace’s message right after and saw that they both messaged me at the same time. However, before I could say no properly, Jade distracted me, and my thumb betrayed me."

Jace blinked. "Wait... so you weren’t planning to—?"

"No!" I said quickly, then glanced away. "I... I was going to suggest a different time later in the evening. But then my brothers showed up, and I panicked when they literally screamed my name. After that, I forgot."

Kael folded his arms, looking both amused and slightly irritated. "And us?"

I sighed and looked at him and Tyrion. "I didn’t know you two were coming. You didn’t even message me."

Tyrion smiled slightly. "Surprise."

"Seriously?" Kaius growled, running a hand through his hair. "So let me get this straight. You agreed to a date with one guy, accidentally agreed to another, and then got ambushed by the other two?"

I nodded slowly.

"You’re not even trying to deny it?" Eryx asked.

"What’s the point?" I muttered, burying my face in my hands again. "My life is officially a soap opera."

Rhys laughed, walking into the kitchen and returning with five mugs of coffee like this was perfectly normal. "Well, since everyone’s here, we might as well sit. Spring, pick who you want to go with, and the others can chill until she comes back."

All four guys straightened up at once.