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“I’m outraged you don’t think I could pass as a nerd.”
Zane leaned in, whispering, “I do like you, you know.”
I met his eyes, nodding. “I like you too.” His smile managed to grow wider. “Thanks for before. I started to think about it all, and it got overwhelming.”
“No sweat.” He winked, getting up and returning to his seat. Slade and Simon were still fake arguing about nerds and bad boys, and I laughed, realizing how much I liked their banter. Slade turned back to me, winking. He sobered, looking between me and Zane.
“Peach, I don’t know how I feel about sharing you with my brother.” My heart sank at his words, and I felt Zane stiffen.
“Babe—“ Simon started before Slade hushed him with a look.
“But,” he emphasized, giving us all a look for jumping to conclusions, “it’s not for me to tell you how to feel. I don’t want to admit it to myself, but it’s all been inevitable since the beginning anyway, the four of us. So… I’ll figure out how to be okay with it. I can’t guarantee I won’t dick punch you,Zane,” he snorted, still finding it funny, “if I see you kiss her. Or that I won’t start some arbitrary war of who can leave the best love bites. It’s my nature,” he shrugged, “but I’ll try for you.”
Zane and I looked at one another, smiling for a second. I looked back between the other two knuckleheads at the table. “So, does that mean you two?”
He looked at Simon, his features softening, and I found Si,blushing. It was adorable, and I was surprised when I didn’t feel jealous.
“We’d like to figure it out if you’re good with it?” Slade asked, looking back at me for an answer. I nodded, smiling. I felt contentment settle inside me, at such odds to how I’d been the past two days, months, years even. I liked it, and the anxiety of having to get it right fell away. It was time to just try.
“Yes, I’m good with it. But it’s just us, right? We’re exclusive otherwise? I didn’t do this with Simon, and it led to a lot of hurt feelings, so I want the lines to be clear.”
“Peach, I’ve been yours since I was sixteen. I told you I was all in, and I meant it. There’s no one else besides this clown for me.”
I bit my lip, moving uncomfortably in the chair at the heat in his words. Slade’s eyes seared into me, promising meall kindsof things. I watched as he licked his lips, his tongue ring peeking out slightly. My breath hitched, raising for an entirely different reason this time. A throat cleared, bringing me out of the lust haze mere seconds before I launched myself across the table at my hunky Tatzilla.
“I don’t want to date anyone else either, turnip. I haven’t had feelings for you as long, but I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you since the night we kissed. I’d like to see where our chemistry goes.”
“Okay, well, I guess I have three boyfriends then.”
“Now, who’s cursed, Lenn?” Simon laughed, giving me a pointed look.
We finished breakfast, making plans for the rest of the day, ignoring Slade when he said I still had to work unless I wanted to work off my hours in other ways. I showered and wore my jeans with a borrowed shirt and boxers from Simon. We were going to stop by the shop to do a few quick reschedules and so I could change, then we’d head to the place. I found my phone in my pocket and pulled it out. I had a couple of messages from my family, and Darcie so I replied quickly to them. There was one from psycho Thane too, but I decided to ignore it, for now. I didn’t want to ruin the day with his crazy threats, needing one day to escape everything he represented. I could see the start of a message, and it already gave me hives. I’d deal with him tomorrow.
Before shoving it in my pocket, I placed it on do-not-disturb and walked out with my three guys, a smile on my face. Slade was pacing outside, on the phone yelling at someone, but I ignored it, happy it wasn’t me for once. When he caught up to us, I caught the tail end before he hung up.
“I don’tcare, Adam. You’re the manager. Figure it out. Don’t think I haven’t noticed how absent you’ve been lately either. If you care about your job, then do this, or I’ll find someone else.”
He looked at me before he hung up, heat blazing down my spine. Slade Evans was a man full of possession and dominance, and I couldn’t wait to be owned by him wholly—heart, body, and soul.
* * *
Laughing,I raced toward Equinox Ink, Simon hot on my tail as I attempted to make it to ‘base’ before he caught me. We’d decided to play tag the last block here after parking, and I’d barely tagged him before he was on me again. Slade ignored us, rolling his eyes, but I caught the smile playing on his lips as we laughed and ran around him.
I’d decided at the last minute to wear a dress again when we’d stopped at the apartment. The skull and rose material fluttered around my legs as I ran, reminding me how much I loved dresses. It had felt fitting for October, with it’s gothic look and I found I felt more like myself wearing it, too, so that was a bonus.
It was something I hadn’t realized until slipping it on. I’d taken some leggings and my chucks for 2 Good 2 Kart & Paint, not wanting to flash everyone while attempting to throw balls of paint. Thankfully, they’d given us jumpers to wear, protecting our clothes. Apparently, the setup was similar to a late 90’s movie with Heath Ledger, but it was fun even if I hadn’t been familiar with it. Zane had schooled us all at paintball, his natural athleticism giving him an edge. Though it had been Simon who won the go-cart races. It had been great to get away and laugh together. It was exactly what we’d all needed.
Some people had looked at us oddly when all the guys had taken turns holding my hand or sitting next to me, but I’d gotten used to shrugging off the judgmental stares long ago and just enjoyed being out with them. We’d dropped Zane off at the vet clinic on our way back after we’d eaten. He had to check in with his boss and do some paperwork after returning from Africa. I did get to hold a puppy for a few minutes as he gave us a tour.
In some ways, I wondered how I ever fell for the faker because the real Thane blew him out of the water. The red flags I’d ignored seemed obvious now, but I couldn’t beat myself up anymore over it. I had to choose to focus on us and move forward. I’d almost made it to the door, my victory in sight when arms wrapped around me, hauling me up over a shoulder, causing a squeak to leave me.
“Good gravy! I’m going to flash the entire street, Slade!”
“Fine,” he bit out, moving me down into a bridal carry instead of the fireman hold he had me in. He looked down, daring me to say something now.
“Just put me down. I was almost winning. Besides, I’m heavy. I don’t want you to carry me that far.”
“Are you calling me weak, Peach? Because I know you’re not calling yourself fat.”
