Haru’s Love (A Stepbrothers BL Harem) - Chapter 90

While Haru is sorting out his feelings and poly relationship with his stepbrothers, Mason is digging into the past, leading to the cause of their parents’ deaths—a past that could destroy Haru and his relationship with all the brothers if Pandora’s box is opened.

Haru

I was told that South Hampton, the charming little town of St. Joseph Island, was only a twenty-minute walk from the Princeton Resort and Hotel, but heck, I had been walking for over an hour already, and I’d be damned if I could sight anything that remotely resembled a town. Had I taken a wrong turn somewhere along the way? I wondered as I stared off into the distance.

Beach.

All I could see before me was a beach and the endless sea beyond the horizon. I must admit, though, the place looked inviting, and I started trailing down the little pathway before I could stop myself, getting even more lost than before. Well, I did want to explore.

“Whoa!” I chuckled as I stared at the huge waves that came crashing onto the shore. Then I saw a figure in the distance up ahead, surfing.

As I strolled closer, my gaze was glued to the person. He looked like a pro, balancing himself on the surfboard and maneuvering it about as another wave rolled over. Then he was out on the other side as the wave collapsed and disappeared across the shore.

I continued to watch him in fascination as he did a few more rounds. By then, he must have noticed me because he started paddling to the shore, then he walked toward me. It wasn’t until he was up close that I realized he was Darcy.

“Hey, Haru,” he greeted, a cheerful smile playing about his lips.

I was dumbfounded.

Darcy Princeton? Here of all places?

“Hey,” I stammered. “You surf here?”

He nodded. “This is our private beach. Did you know that?”

A private beach?

I shook my head. “No, I didn’t know that. I just kind of got here.” I chuckled. “Somehow.”

“People often do that, especially tourists. The back road running from the hotel.”

I nodded. “That explains it.”

“Were you planning to go to town?” he asked, picking up his surfboard.

I nodded. “Yeah. Just exploring and stuff.”

And shopping for some underwear. I wasn’t about to go another day and night wearing the same underwear; that was for sure. Noah’s fault, of course.

Darcy raked his fingers through his wet hair as he said, “Then why don’t you come up to the house with me? Sakura and I are going there this afternoon.”

I jumped at the chance. “Really? Thanks.”

Darcy turned on his heel and started strolling, and I followed him, wondering where his car was. I didn’t see any proper road or even a parking lot where one could park their car to access the beach, so I assumed it was hidden where only the Princetons knew.

“By the way,” I asked, “Did Nicolas tell you I was here?” He didn’t look surprised to see me moments before.

He nodded. “Yeah, he told the whole family last night, and Sakura especially can’t wait for you to come up to the house.” He stopped suddenly and pointed. “That’s our place.”

I stared into the distance, and there upon the hill I noticed a fancy, luxurious three-story beach house.

“That’s your place?” I asked. “Nice.”

“Sebastian, Sakura, and I, we live there,” he said.

“What about the others?” I asked as we continued toward the property.

“They stay at Princeton Mansion when they’re here,” he said.

I nodded in understanding. Sebastian, Darcy, and Sakura needed their own place since they were in a poly relationship.

Princeton Mansion. I bet it was huge. You didn’t name a home a mansion unless it was damn impressive.

We climbed the hill, which was quite a bit of work I must admit, and a few minutes later, we were at the property where Darcy rested his surfboard against the wall of a garage detached from the house. I assumed it was for their surfing gear and stuff. Then he started rinsing himself down with an outdoor shower. After taking off his surfing suit and wearing only board shorts, he said, chuckling, “Sorry you have to wait while I clean myself up. Why don’t we go in?”

I nodded.

The moment we entered the house, loud barking came our way, and I knew immediately it was Toby. Instantly, the dog appeared, running up to Darcy.

“Hey.” Darcy bent down to pet the canine.

Once Toby had received his greeting from Darcy, he turned to me and wagged his tail.

I bent down and pet the dog, too. “Hey, Toby.”

“Darcy? You’re back?” A soft, gentle voice came our way. A moment later, Sakura appeared from across the hallway. “Haru!”

I picked Toby up in my arms and said, “Hey, Sakura.”

She chuckled. “I didn’t expect to see you so soon after Nicolas told us you were here on the island.” She came to stand beside Darcy and offered her lips to him, which the man gladly accepted and gently planted a kiss.

When they moved back, he said, “I’m going to shower.”

Sakura nodded and Darcy went off, climbing up the stairs. To me, she said, “Come on into the living area. By the way, have you had lunch yet?”

As I followed her into a fancy room, I shook my head.

Once Noah had left for work early this morning, I had slept in for a couple more hours and then woke up to chat with Aiden on the phone, and then Isaac had called and demanded to know all that had happened between Noah and me. Naturally, I couldn’t hide anything from him and blurted everything out, which made him burst out laughing, and he commented on how he had known all along that Noah had a thing for me. By the time Isaac ended the call, stating he had classes, it had been ten in the morning, and I had a quick shower and then left the hotel soon after, intending to have a tour of the small town before settling down to lunch.

“Good,” Sakura said. “You can have it with us.”

“Then I’ll help with preparing it,” I said, stroking Toby’s head. “What are we having?”

“I’m thinking stir-fry noodles with vegetables and chicken,” she said.

“Sounds good,” I said, my mouth starting to water already just at the thought of food. I hadn’t eaten anything since yesterday evening, and I was hungry.

Sakura went into the open-plan kitchen and started taking out vegetables and packed chicken meat from the fridge. Meanwhile, I put Toby back down on the floor, and as I straightened up, my gaze caught sight of the amazing view across the horizon.

“Wow!” I expressed. “It’s so beautiful here.”

Sakura chuckled. “Right? Sebastian chose the spot.”

“Well, all I can say is he has great taste in views.”

Sakura nodded. “You can hear the waves crashing onto the shore at night. It’s like music to the ears. Very peaceful. Good for my artistic mind.”

I turned my attention away from the awesome view and headed into the kitchen. I eyed the various vegetables and three packs of chicken meat. Not to mention there were four packs of egg noodles, too.

“Are we cooking for an army or something?” I teasingly asked as I rolled up my sleeves.

Sakura chuckled. “You can say that. But normally, I’d cook this much in case they turn up. They do that often without announcement.”

They?

“You mean…” I stared at Sakura as I was thoroughly washing my hands under the running water.

She burst out laughing when she saw the look on my face. When she managed to stop, she nodded. “Yes, by they I mean the Princeton brothers: Nicolas, Tristan, Logan, Hayden, and Conrad.”

“Oh,” I said. “But they won’t turn up today, will they?”

She shrugged her shoulders. “I have no clue.”

Shit, but I hoped neither Tristan nor Logan would turn up for lunch, at least while I was here anyway.

Done with washing my hands, I started chopping the vegetables as instructed by Sakura. Then Darcy came in, freshly showered and donning a pair of jeans and a sweater.

“Want some help?” he asked.

Sakura shook her head. “Haru and I are managing fine.”

Darcy came to sit on the barstool across the countertop and watched us. The sound of ringing came, and Darcy picked up his smartphone. “Sebastian? Hey…”

Meanwhile, Sakura and I were busy with the cooking. Well, it was more like me watching her cook. But damn, Sakura was good, tossing the stir-fry like a pro chef.

“Can you crack a dozen of eggs into a bowl, Haru?” she asked.

I nodded and did as she instructed. She’d be making egg omelets to add to the stir-fry noodles. I wasn’t surprised she had to prepare a large amount of food in case they turned up. Back at home, Reo would prepare about a dozen eggs for our scrambled eggs, too. Men did have big appetites.

I just finished beating the eggs when Darcy said, “Sebastian said they’re coming over for lunch.”

I shifted my gaze to Darcy and asked, “You mean your other brothers?”

He nodded. “Sorry, Haru. I know you don’t like Tristan and Logan much, but they insisted on coming when they heard you were here.”

I tilted my head to one side and said, “It’s not that I don’t like them much, it’s just that…” I trailed off, not exactly sure how to explain I wasn’t comfortable with Tristan’s and Logan’s flirtatious attitude toward me without making it sound like I dislike them.

“Don’t worry, Haru,” Sakura said. “Their attention will be diverted the moment they find their next target.” She chuckled.

“I hope it’s soon,” I said, which made Darcy laugh.

By the time Sakura finished with the cooking, she looked beat and had to go and lie back on the sofa while Darcy made her a cup of hot cocoa.

“I just don’t know why I get tired so easily these days,” she said.

“It’s about time you visit a doctor,” Darcy said as he poured hot water into a mug and then stirred. “You’ve been complaining of tiredness for a couple of weeks now.”

Sakura waved Darcy’s concern aside. “I’m fine. Maybe I’m just too worried about the gallery.”

“Gallery?” I asked.

Darcy handed her the mug, steaming hot with cocoa, and Sakura gladly accepted it as she nodded and said, “Yeah. I have a gallery opening soon, and I don’t have enough paintings yet.” She tilted her head to one side. “I need models.” She eyed me curiously. “I know I’ve already asked you this, but could you be my model, Haru? I’ll pay you. It’s for a theme of mine.”

I didn’t know she needed me as a model for her painting for her gallery. I had thought she simply wanted me as a model because she enjoyed painting and that she thought I looked good in a kimono.

Damn, but she looked desperate.

I opened my mouth and was about to say I’d think about it when a loud voice boomed out, “Sakura? Haru? We’re here.”

It was Tristan, and I sighed.

Not a moment later, the man appeared at the door of the open-plan living area, followed by Logan, Sebastian, and Conrad. No Nicolas or Hayden. I knew Nicolas would be with Noah and the marketing team.

After planting a solid kiss on Sakura’s lips, Sebastian took a seat beside the woman and then turned to me.

“Hey, Haru.”

“Hi,” I promptly replied.

Meanwhile, Tristan bustled over and plopped himself beside me and then proceeded to rest his arm around my shoulders.

“Hey, Haru. It was a pleasant surprise last night when Nicolas told us you were here. So, are you having fun exploring our hometown so far?”

I removed his arm from my shoulders as I said, “I haven’t been exploring yet. I got lost on my way into town.”

Logan tsked. “I see you’re one of those that’s not good with directions, eh? How about we be your tour guide?”

I asked, “Don’t you guys have other things to do?”

Sitting on my other side, Logan said, “Nope, we don’t.”

Conrad went into the kitchen and checked out the food. “Oh, wow! Stir-fry noodles! Looks and smells good. Let’s eat, I’m starving.”

“You boys prepare the table,” Sakura said. “I’m just going to sit here for a bit.”

Tristan said, “Sakura, darling, you need to go and see a doctor if you’re that tired from just cooking a meal.”

I retorted bluntly, “It wasn’t just a meal, Tristan. That was a lot of work. If you think it’s so easy cooking, why don’t you cook for Sakura and everyone else instead of turning up unannounced?”

Tristan looked at me for a moment and then burst out laughing. “I see we’re getting close for you to speak to me like that.” He pinched my cheek. “How cute.” Then he nodded. “But you’re right.” Turning to Sakura, he said, “Right, we’ll turn up an hour earlier the next time we come over for a meal, Sakura, so we can help you cook.”

“That sounds marvelous, Tristan,” Sakura said. “Although you guys would be more of a hindrance to me in the kitchen.” She turned to me. “Thanks, Haru, for sticking up for me, but usually, Sebastian and Darcy would help when I cook. It’s just today you’re here so I used you instead.”

I chuckled. “No worries. I can’t just barge in and freeload a meal without helping.”

“So how come you’re here?” Logan asked.

I didn’t quite know how to answer him. Obviously, I couldn’t simply blurt out that Noah had kidnapped me and the whirlwind that followed. Instead, I said, “I came with Noah because he’s here for his job.” I quickly added, “We’re going to have an Easter vacation here. Aiden is coming tomorrow in the afternoon and the others will be here on Friday.”

“Sounds like it’s going to be fun,” Sakura said. “Then why don’t you and your brothers come up to Princeton Mansion for lunch on Saturday?” She turned to Sebastian. “What do you think?”

The man nodded. “Good idea. I’ll phone Mom and Dad this afternoon and tell them. They’ll only be too pleased to have people coming over for a lunch party.”

Turning back to me, Sakura said, “There. You and your brothers are coming over on Saturday for lunch.”

I chuckled. “Then I’ll tell them when they’re here.”

“You guys, help me out here,” Conrad said from the kitchen.

Since both Tristan and Logan were getting too cozy to me, I jumped up and said, “I’ll help.”

Five minutes later, everything was ready and everyone took their seats around the table. I was about to dig into my delicious-looking meal when my smartphone rang. Taking it out from my jeans pocket, I checked to see who was calling.. It was Isaac, again.