Lucy POV

I was in the kitchen, rummaging through the freezer on my quest to find ice cream.

I needed ice cream and I needed it badly.

I was on edge the last couple of days. Meeting new people and being surrounded by them constantly had me tense. I was always alone when I lived with Jack, and it was a huge change to be around this many people all the time. Don’t get me wrong, I loved my family and friends, but I needed some time alone.

And ice cream. I needed ice cream.

Since my family moved into the house next door, I haven’t had a minute to myself. They wanted to spend time with me and get to know me, which meant that they were here all the time. Also, Theo and Noah couldn’t be separated from me with a crowbar.

I feel like shit complaining about something trivial like that. I should be happy that they want to be with me all the time. It’s just too many people. My anxiety was through the roof, and on top of all that, I got my period this morning.

My lower belly hurt like hell and I was sick. It’s been a while since I had my period and it was like the first time all over again. When that nice gynecologist examined me at the hospital, she explained that I lost my period due to malnutrition and stress. Now that I’m eating properly and nobody is using my body as a punching bag, my period is back.

My hand touched a small, round container, and I almost cried in relief.

Ben and Jerry’s Cookie Dough ice cream. A girl’s best friend.

I smiled, grabbed a spoon, and sat down on the kitchen counter.

I knew my brothers wouldn’t agree with my choice of breakfast, but it was 6 am and I knew they wouldn’t be awake. The only reason I woke up this early was pain.

Cramps woke me up from my peaceful sleep around 5 am. I barely managed to wiggle my way out of Noah and Theo’s arms. I took a shower, put on the comfiest outfit I could find, and ran out of my room to find ice cream.

The comfiest outfit I could find was a pair of short sweats and an oversize t-shirt, which I was pretty sure wasn’t oversize because it was made like that, but because it was Noah’s. I obviously grabbed the wrong one. But I couldn’t care less. It was comfy and neither my shirt nor my sweats put pressure on my lower belly. It was all I could ask for.

“Ice cream for breakfast, really, Shortcake?” a voice startled me, making me choke on a piece of cookie dough in the ice cream.

“Oh, shit, baby, sorry.” Dylan mumbled as he ran to me, patting my back as I coughed.

“What are you doing here so early?” I mumbled, trying to take a deep breath.

“I went on a run.” Dylan answered, watching me worriedly. “Do you need water?”

I nodded, and he went to the fridge to grab me a bottle. I opened the cap and gulped the water down. It helped and I could breathe normally.

“Sorry, Shortcake.” Dylan said. “I made so much noise walking inside the house and I was sure that you heard me.”

“Ben and Jerry had my undivided attention.” I said, smiling at him and taking the spoon back into my hand.

“I can see that.” Dylan chuckled, sitting on the counter opposite me.

“Why are you here and not in your house?” I asked him.

“I saw the light was on.” he said, smirking. “I thought it was Liam and I wanted to annoy him for a while. You know, to make sure his day started off on the right note.”

I laughed and put a spoonful of ice cream in my mouth.

“Where are Theo and Noah?” Dylan asked. “I can’t believe they left you alone.”

“Sleeping.” I said, but it came out muffled because of the ice cream.

Dylan smiled. “God, I missed this, Shortcake. I missed you so much. Do you know how many mornings we spent like this? You eating your cereal, taking to me with your mouth full about a new cartoon you watched, and me trying to get you to chew your food. I was terrified you were going to choke.”

I swallowed my ice cream and smiled. I never realized how much stuff I missed when I wasn’t around.

“Do you remember that?” Dylan asked quietly.

His eyes held so much pain, and I almost lied to him. I stopped myself because that wasn’t fair to him.

“I don’t.” I said sadly. “I’m sorry.”

Dylan sighed and nodded, looking down at his hands.

“But we can always make new memories.” I said softly.

He looked up at me and smiled. “You can bet on that, Shortcake.”

I smiled and looked back down at my ice cream.

“Can I ask you something, Lucy?” Dylan asked quietly.

I placed a spoon in my mouth and nodded.

“Can I hug you?” he asked, his voice filled with hope.

I spent a lot of time with my cousins, my uncle, and my grandfather in the past few days, but I never let them touch or hug me. It still felt a little bit weird. I don’t know why it came so naturally with my brothers, but I struggled to be as comfortable with the rest of my family.

I studied Dylan’s face for a moment. I knew he would never hurt me, so I nodded.

A huge smile spread across his face as he stood up and walked toward me.

He wrapped his arms around me, pulled me close, and placed a kiss on the top of my head.

“God, I missed this.” he mumbled. “I love you so much, Lucy.”

I smiled and tightened my arms around him.

He let me go after a few moments. “Thank you for trusting me, baby. I would never hurt you. I hope you know that.”

“I do.” I smiled at him.

“Okay, Shortcake.” Dylan said. “I’m going to go home to take a shower. Don’t eat that whole thing.”

“I can’t promise that.” I shook my head.

“I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that.” Dylan chuckled as he walked out of the kitchen. “I don’t want to listen to Ezra’s lecture about healthy food.”

I laughed, jumped off of the bar stool, and put the rest of the ice cream back into the freezer. I was full and I was starting to get a little sick. I didn’t know if it was because of the ice cream or the pain.

I walked to the living room. I turned the TV on, making myself comfortable on the couch.

The pain made me groan, but I really didn’t want to take a painkiller. I poisoned myself enough over the years. I didn’t need one right now. I could deal with the pain on my own.

About half an hour later, I heard footsteps walking down the stairs.

“What are you doing here this early, honey?” Ezra asked as he walked toward me.

I turned to look at him, and his eyes widened.

“Oh, God, what happened?” he asked, rushing toward me. “Why are you so pale? Are you hurt? Are you in pain?”

He placed his hand on my forehead, his eyes looking me up and down, searching for an injury.

I didn’t realize I looked that bad, but the pain was worsening by the minute.

I gently moved his hand from my forehead. “I’m fine, Ezra. It’s just a period.”

“You got your period?” he asked. “That’s a good thing, honey.”

“It is.” I nodded, giving him a small smile.

“But why are you pale?” he furrowed his eyebrows. “Didn’t you take a painkiller?”

“No.” I shook my head. “I’ve taken enough painkillers over the years. I can handle it.”

Ezra sighed, running his hand through my hair. “I know, honey. But I don’t like to see you in pain.”

“I’m fine, Ezra.” I said, smiling at him.

He bit his lip and stayed silent for a minute. I could tell that he was thinking about something.

“How about this?” he said. “You eat something and take only half the pill? It will help, honey.”

I didn’t want to admit it, but I kind of wanted to take it. My bravery went downhill when my back started hurting as well.

“Deal.” I said with a small smile.

“Oh, good.” Ezra breathed out. “I was worried Theo would see you like this when he woke up and freak out.”

Ezra smiled at me teasingly.

“I don’t look that bad.” I whined.

“Sure you don’t.” Ezra chuckled, taking my hand and pulling me off the couch.

I rolled my eyes and trailed behind him to the kitchen. I sat back down on the bar stool and watched Ezra as he opened the fridge.

“What do you want to eat?” he asked me.

“Ice cream?” I decided to test the waters, already knowing what the answer would be.

Ezra turned to look at me. “If I opened the freezer right now, would I not see the half-eaten tub of ice cream in there?”

My eyes widened. “How did you know?”

“You left the spoon in the sink.” he said, looking back at the fridge. “There is a little piece of cookie dough on it.”

I groaned, making Ezra chuckle.

“I will forgive you this time.” he said, taking a carton of eggs from the fridge. “But I’m making you a healthy breakfast and I will watch you eat it.”

“Deal.” I grinned.

Ezra chuckled and turned around to whisk the eggs.