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By the third day, something had to give.
Canceling my evening shift at the grocer’s, I called Meghan and invited her out. I wanted to sit on my ass and rest my tired feet. I wanted to go someplace — anyplace, really — where someone servedmefor a change.
“That barbecue joint on Cambridge,” my friend said. “I’ve always wanted to try it.”
“Done,” I told her.
“You’re buying.”
I laughed. “Sure, whatever.”
The sun was already down by the time I got there. I found Meghan in a booth near the corner, merrily absorbing all the hustle and bustle. Under normal circumstances, she’d be two drinks ahead of me. Knowing my condition however, she’d opted for a couple of diet cokes.
“Bad day?” she asked, pushing one of the glasses my way. It wasn’t really a question.
“Bad week.”
“Awww, poor baby,” she cooed. “Stuck in that big old mansion you showed me last time. With… what is it?Threeshredded ex-Army guys to keep you company?”
“Two Army, one Navy SEAL,” I corrected her.
“Unreal,” my friend shook her head. “The ingratitude! The unappreciat--”
“Look, it’s definitely nice and all that,” I cut her off. “The guys walk around half-dressed, they work out all the time. Shirts on, shirts off… you never really know what—”
“AND?”
Meghan’s look of genuine outrage made me laugh. If her jaw got any wider it would scrape the floor.
“Well it’s not like I can take advantage of it or anything,” I protested.
She stared back at me like I’d spoken in tongues. “Oh no? And why the hellnot?”
“Because they’re off-limits.”
Briefly I explained the situation, starting with all the shirtless flirting Evan had done — which was totally unfair, now that I thought about it — and ending on my near-miss with Joshua. Even Cole had unintentionally sparked my repressed sexual appetite, stopping by my bedroom often to make sure I had everything I needed. His cool confidence and brooding good looks were a huge turn-on; a far cry from the scary bearded giant I’d met only a month ago. Plus, there were moments I caught him looking. Sly glances and overly-long stares lingered on certain parts of my body, as if the disciplined soldier just couldn’t help himself.
Finally I explained their ‘pact,’ which effectively eliminated any chance I had of having any fun.
And boy, did I needfun.
“Are you kidding?” Meghan laughed. She looked me up and down. “Quinn, you’re missing the obvious.”
A server walked by with a plate of ribs and my stomach growled. The delicious smell of barbecue permeated the air. Down below our feet, it was baked into the wooden floor.
“The obvious what?”
“The obvious answer,” my friend smirked.
I shook my head. I still didn’t get it.
“Don’t choose one of them…” Meghan paused, leaning forward. “Choose them all.”
I took a moment for her words to register. When they did, my stomach did a slow somersault.
“All of them?” I breathed. “Atonce?”
Meghan shrugged. “If that’s the way they want to do it, sure.”
