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“But when you both left last night, I realized I was so wrong. Being with both of you wasn’t the scary thing. Losing both of you was.”

“You’re never gonna lose us, Liv.” Griff bends down and kisses the top of her head.

“Never,” I echo, giving her a grin. “You’re stuck with us, Pixie.”

She lets out a watery laugh. “Even if Kyle freaks out and stops being friends with you?”

I scoff. “KJ’ll get over it. He knows we’re good guys and we’ll treat you right. Besides, you really think he never got up to anything out of the norm with women?”

Her laughter turns to shudders. “Stop right there, I don’t want to hear another word about his love life.”

“Fair enough.” I grin, then tug her in for a kiss.

She melts into me, and I would go through a thousand more surgeries if they all led to a moment like this.

“What about when other people find out? What if they judge us? The team, could they cancel your contracts? I still have to worry about the university…” She’s anxious again. Last time, this is when Olivia pulled back. This time, she shows no signs of wanting to run away.

“We’ll deal with it together,” I say firmly and Griff grunts in agreement. “The team isn’t gonna care, I guarantee that. And if anyone wants to judge us for who we choose to be with, then they can fuck right off. The only legit concern I’m hearing from you is the university, and I promise we’ll face that together. I seriously doubt there’s anything they can legally do, but if we have to, we’ll fight. Together.” I lift her hand to my lips and kiss her knuckles to emphasize that last word.

“That’s what this means, Liv. If we’re in this, we’re in this all the way. All three of us, no matter what. We don’t face anything alone.” Griff moves to face her, looking down at me briefly, then back to our girl. “I do have to tell you both something, though. My sister Janey knows, and so does Cal.” He winces at Olivia’s gasp.

“How the hell does Pretty Boy know about us?” I ask.

Griff groans. “He overheard me on the phone with Janey. I made him promise not to say anything, not even to Juniper.”

“And your sister? Was she okay?” Olivia asks quietly.

He nods, his expression warming again. “Oh yeah. She can’t wait to meet you.”

That earns him a small smile. I open my mouth to tell them we should just come clean to everyone, all at once, but am interrupted by the nurse coming in to discharge me.

We don’t get another chance to talk among all three of us because as soon as we get to Olivia’s place, where I’m apparently staying while Griff goes to the next set of away games with the team, he heads off to the stadium to get ready for tonight’s home game.

My living situation gets two enthusiastic thumbs-up from me. Well, an enthusiastic one and the other more cautious.

“You know, you’d look sexy as hell in a nurse’s costume,” I comment when Olivia brings over a glass of water and my prescription medication.

“In your dreams, buddy,” she says, laughing, and sitting on the couch next to me.

I lean to the side, letting my head fall in her lap. It’s awkward, adjusting my position without jostling my shoulder, but I manage. And when she starts combing her fingers through my hair, I sigh with contentment.

“Feels good, Pix.”

She makes a sound of acknowledgement and keeps going. And soon enough, the combination of comfort, affection, and good old pain killers has me drifting off to sleep.

When I wake up some time later, it’s not Olivia underneath me, but a pillow. That sucks. I sit up and find her in the kitchen, pouring water out of the kettle.

I push up to stand, wincing as the aches and pains make it clear what my banged-up body thinks of the awkward position I was sleeping in.

“You’re awake,” Olivia says with a smile when I walk up to her. “I’m glad you were able to get some sleep. Do you need anything?”

“Just this,” I rumble before leaning in and kissing her soundly.

She wraps her arms around my waist, relaxing into me. But it doesn’t last long before she pulls back, her nose wrinkling. “Actually, I think you need a shower more than anything. No offence, but you stink.”

I lift my good arm and take a whiff. “Damn. Sorry, Pix.”

She laughs. “It’s okay, you were a little busy being cut open and stitched back together.” She steps back and nods toward the hallway. “But no excuses now, let’s get you clean.”