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Isaac’s snores started to fill the room. “I’m with both of them. I’m in love with Isaac and Dylan. And they know. And we’re all good with it. That’s the truth.”
She staggered to the chair, taking the seat Steve had occupied.
“Wait? What? Are they? Are they together too? How in the hell?”
I shook my head. “Oh no. No. No. I mean they’re friends, but not like that. I love Isaac, he loves me. I love Dylan, he loves me. It’s simple from our point of view.”
“You have a fucking open relationship with your two wide receivers?”
I exhaled. There was a small rolling stool near Isaac’s bed. I perched on top. “It’s not open. I’m exclusively with them. They are exclusively with me.”
Her eyes grew even wider. “This is unbelievable. You can’t be fucking serious, Vanessa.”
I nodded. “I am. I’m dead serious. And I need you to figure out a way that I can have both of them. That’s your job now.”
I crossed my arms, realizing suddenly just how valuable Charlie Maine was to me.
Thirty-Seven
Vanessa
I gave Charlie until the end of the week to figure out how to make my dream a reality. That’s when Isaac would be released from the hospital. He would leave having a total of three surgeries. And there was no way in hell, I was sending him home to hobble around on his own.
I had purchased the skimpiest nurse outfit I could find and intended to wear it for him every day if that’s what he wanted. I wasn’t going back on the promise I made the night he was hurt.
I didn’t have to say anything. There was never a discussion—Dylan just moved his things to my house the night of the game. He was waiting for me when I got home from the hospital with two suitcases and a backpack. It was as if Isaac’s injury brought us closer. He made sure I wasn’t alone. He stepped up, taking on the role of two men.
Most people wouldn’t have believed me if I told them what Dylan had taken on. But how could I? That would expose us. Expose Isaac.
I loved how in late fall Texas nights were still warm.
The pool water felt like a bath enveloping my skin. I floated on my back in the salt water, staring at the brightest stars I’d seen. It was one of the best parts of living outside of the city. The sky was lit up like it had been invaded by diamonds.
Dylan swam beside me, resting his chiseled arms on the stonework of the pool. He sipped a cold beer. I had learned to stock them. I had every flavor and brand he and Isaac liked.
“Damn, I love Texas,” he mused holding the bottle in his hands.
“Have you ever lived anywhere else?” I swam to his side, letting my legs kick behind me. They scissored slowly as I held onto the ledge.
I watched his throat move as he swallowed. He was so gorgeous. I inhaled.
“Nah. Only Texas. I’m a College Station boy.”
I smiled. “I can see that about you.”
“How so?”
“You have that cowboy swagger,” I teased.
“Oh really?” He put his beer down, wrestling me in front of him. The water splashed as I pretended to swim away. “You like cowboys?”
I chewed on my lip, looking at the stars. “Oh, I think I like artists, musicians, you know poets…”
Dylan tugged the strings on my bikini, as he pulled me closer. I laughed and squirmed in his arms. My top and bottoms floated away as he pivoted me to straddle him.
“You want to say that again?” he dared.
I settled around his waist, gripping the back of his neck. He started walking backward and I realized he was taking us to the hot tub. He stepped up and over the stone step so that we were surrounded by swirling jets.
