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For a few moments she said nothing. She just sniffed, trying to compose herself.
“We’re so sorry that asshole scared you,” I told her gently. “I wish we could—”
“He didn’t scare me,” Jenna replied sternly. “He startled me, yes. But I made a promise to myself a long time ago; that nothing Elijah does will ever scare me again.”
She took a moment to clear her throat. I wasn’t sure I believed her.
“What’s the problem then?”
“I’m scared foryou,” she said in exasperation. “I’m wracked with guilt for the trouble he’s causing the three of you.”
“Jenna, don’t be—”
“No, listen to me!” she pleaded. “Elijah’s utterly relentless. He won’t stop until he’s destroyedeverythingyou’ve built. You’ll fix one problem and three more will spring up. Every time you think you’re in the clear, he’s already bought and paid for your next obstacle.”
She was holding back tears still. Looking down at her thighs, pinned snugly between us, I could see them shaking.
“I’m scared of how it’s affectingus.”
Now the tears did flow, and Jenna didn’t hold back. I took her hands in mine; as Tyler pulled her close with one arm. She refused to put her head on his shoulder, though.
“I never asked for this,” she said softly. “It was supposed to be fun. A booty call with an ex, or a one-night stand with the three of you…”
“A one nightstand?” Tyler sounded hurt. “Is that what you—”
“No! Of course not!” Jenna gasped. “I’m saying that’s what Iexpected. I never thought feelings would develop. I never imagined it would turn into something this fun, this… this totally amazing…”
Her words trailed off into more tears and sniffling. Tyler miraculously summoned a tissue and handed it to her.
“Want to know why I’mreallycrying?” she said after a time.
Silently, we nodded.
“It’s because I wanted this to actuallywork.I mean, this feels like a second chance for us. As greedy and dumb as it sounds—”
“It’s not greedy,” I cut in.
“It’s not dumb either,” Tyler assured her.
“Yes, but it’s temporary,” Jenna sniffed. “Just like a rainbow. It’s beautiful, it’s amazing, and everyone loves it.” Tears dripped from her eyes as she looked down into her lap. “But like any rainbow it can’t last forever.”
“Oh no?”
The three of us turned at the sound of Luca’s voice. He’d gone out to run an errand more than an hour ago, but now he stood in the doorway, hands braced on either side.
“I think it’s sweet that you want to keep us out of trouble,” said Luca. “But none of this is your fault. And trouble’s not anything we ever shied away from.”
We exchanged glances, the three of us. Then Tyler and I stood up and extended our girlfriend an open palm.
“Come. We’ve got something to show you.”
Jenna rose slowly, following us out of the room and into the hallway. She turned in the direction of the staircase, but I slid my hands to her shoulders.
“No. Not that way.”
Instead we led her deeper down the hallway, toward the room between Tyler and Luca’s. We pushed the door open for her, and ushered her inside.
Jenna’s disbelief was somewhat adorable. Her eyes scanned a bedroom that had been a dusty, broken wreck just a week ago. But now it was clean, empty, and well-lit.
