Hesitantly, Nico made his way over.
Stevie’s cheeks still had tear tracks running down them, and it broke his heart to see.
“I didn’t mean what I said earlier,” she said, looking at Nico.
Since she’d said a lot of things, he waited for her to elaborate.
“I do love you,” she told Stone before looking at Nico again. “And I love you. It’s a curse, I guess.” She forced a smile, but there was a hint of amusement in her eyes to go with it. “I want to pretend all is good now, but I can’t. However, Stone kindly reminded me that we’ve got a lot of time to make up for and there’s no reason to rush anything.”
Nico agreed. At the same time, he didn’t want to go backward. The progress he’d made with Stevie wasn’t something he was willing to give up.
“I’m gonna do my best to be more open about what I want,” she told them both. “And not just with sex. Although…” She stopped playing with Stone’s hair and put her hands on their chests. “I’m gonna be more vocal about that, too.”
Nico glanced at Stone. “I didn’t think she was havin’ trouble with that. Did you?”
Stone’s smile was small, but it was there. “No.”
She smacked their chests lightly. “Hush it.”
Stone reached for her, but she danced back out of the way.
“Are you playin’ hard to get?” Nico asked, curious what her end game was.
“No. I’m takin’ a step back.”
“Why?”
She looked at Stone. “Remember how you said seein’ me and Nico together is an aphrodisiac?”
He nodded.
“It’s the same for me when I see the two of you together.”
Nico continued to stare at her. He wasn’t sure where she was going with this, but he got the feeling he was going to enjoy it.
“I say we get up in that bed and get comfortable, and perhaps y’all might let me watch for a little while.”
“Tonight was supposed to be about you,” Stone told her.
“In that case, Idefinitelywant to watch you two together.”
Nico frowned. “I’m lost.”
“No, you’re talkin’ too much,” she said, the teasing note returning to her voice as she moved around them and climbed onto the bed.
Nico twisted to look as she pulled the blankets back and got under them.
“Come on. Join me.”
“You good?” Nico asked Stone, keeping his voice low.
Stone nodded. “As long as y’all aren’t kickin’ me out, then, yeah.”
Nico didn’t bother telling him he’d prefer he stay forever. Now didn’t seem to be the time to make any significant adjustments to their future plans.
With that in mind, Nico walked around to his side of the bed and climbed in with Stevie. A moment later, Stone joined them.
This was exactly where Nico wanted to be.
