Page 81 of The Triangle

They stare at each other. Gazes steady.

But Danny’s not glaring, and Alec’s not smirking so… progress.

My hand is still on Danny’s bare chest. I sweep the tips of my fingernails across his pectoral muscles and his skin prickles up like I give him the chills. “You love me,” I say, pausing to wait for him to meet my gaze.

“I do,” he says, his rough voice low.

“And you love Alec too.”

His gaze wanders back to his declared nemesis.

“In your own way,” I say, turning my body to face Danny. He looks down at me again, his blue eyes solemn and maybe a little sad.

“I don’t trust him,” Danny says.

“He doesn’t trust you either.”

“Fair enough.”

I look over at Alec, who might be holding his breath. Because he’s still and silent. Like he knows this moment counts for something. Finally, after several painful seconds, he lets out the breath and says, “I’m here for you. Both of you. What other possible reason? Just… this is all I want, bru. The three of us. That’s it. You asked why I have this place?”

Danny nods.

“Because I’ve been waiting for you. I never forgot what you are. What you mean to me. I got a safe place to be ready for the moment you realized… well, that you made a mistake. Because I believed you would realize it. That’s all there is to it.”

I feel Danny’s heart beat faster under my palm. And for a moment I wonder if telling Danny Fortnight he was wrong was the best way to proceed.

Then he sighs. “Fine. I might’ve… could’ve… maybe I… just… fine. I overreacted, OK? It’s been known to happen.”

I have to shake my head and stifle the giggle.

“Hundreds!” Alec says. “Now, was that so hard?”

“Fuck you,” Danny says. He takes another drink, but only to hide his smile.

“Can we be on the same page now, eh? Like old times?”

Danny offers up half a nod. Still wavering on the whole us thing, I can tell. And I want this moment to be in the past. I want this talk to be over with. I want this hesitation to be history.

I want us to be committed again. Like we were, but different.

I want Danny to love Alec as much as he loves me. The way we love him. And sure, he gave in already, but I need to make him see that this world just isn’t the same unless all three of us are in it. In the same place. At the same time.

So I reach for Alec’s hand and bring it to my breast. He squeezes without prompting, but I don’t stop there. I hook my finger into the waistband of his pants and tug. Make him take a step forward. And place his other hand on Danny’s chest next to mine.

I look at Danny to gauge his reaction, but he’s calm. Looking at Alec, not me. “It’s not how I thought we’d end up,” he says.

Alec just… shrugs. Slides his hand along Danny’s chest until he’s got it cupped over his shoulder. “Why do we have to end up anywhere?”

Danny just huffs.

“Why can’t we just keep traveling?”

I know why. I see both sides.

Traveling—for Danny, anyway—is being lost. Because he’s been adrift his whole life. He needs a home base. He craves stability. He wants… normal.

And it’s just never gonna happen.