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She gave me a stone-cold Mom look. “I didn’t ask if you’re hungry. You cannot skip meals, Zelda Claudette. Besides, it’s still Thanksgiving. I cooked all damn morning and you know how much I hate cooking. Dinner’s at five. Youwillbe there, and youwilleat.”
“Okay.”
She paused between Drew and Aithan. “Thank you for taking such good care of my daughter.” To Aithan she added, “Hob isn’t angry about the harsh things you said to Greer. He said far worse.” They thanked her and she left.
Aithan pulled me into his arms. “Famwich time,” he said and gestured to Drew, who stepped into the hug behind me.
I sighed. “This is even better than a friendwich.”
Drew started laughing. “Now I get it. I didn’t know what the fuck Mr. Fitness was talking about.” His voice had a raw edge.
I turned in Aithan’s arms to face Drew. “This is your first famwich?”
“Yeah.” Joy had replaced anger on his face, and it was sweet enough to realign my crooked heart.
I wrapped my arms around him, and Aithan encased both of us. “I love that this doesn’t intimidate you guys. You don’t get all weirded out and threatened by each other.”
Aithan shrugged and kissed the top of my head. “I’ve always had guy friends.” He stepped back and pulled off his rain-soaked shirt, giving me the best view I’d had all day. “And four men sharing my mom’s affection. Intimacy isn’t just about sex. It includes friendship and family. We discussed that a lot at home when I was growing up.”
Drew sat on the sofa and pulled me onto his lap. He wasn’t ready to let go of me, and that was fine. We balanced each other, and Aithan was our rock-solid foundation. “You are the luckiest fucker I know,” he said to Aithan.
He nodded. “I wish you’d had an easier childhood.”
“Me too,” Drew replied. “But all that shit made me who I am. It made me appreciate what I have.” He kissed my cheek and smoothed back my wet hair.
“I’m gonna change,” Aithan said, “and bring you dry clothes, beautiful.” He headed up the stairs.
“I’m gonna need dry clothes too,” Drew muttered. “You’re soggy, babe.”
“Sorry.”
He put me on my feet and stood. “Strip.”
“Trying to jump me? I’m not really in the mood, you know.”
“Nope.” He went into the downstairs bathroom and returned with a bath sheet. “Trying to get you warm and dry so you don’t get sick.”
“Being cold doesn’t make you sick.” I pulled my shirt off and handed it to him. My soaked jeans followed after a bit of a battle. Bra, panties, and socks came next. He wrapped the large towel around me, then took my clothes and Aithan’s shirt to the bathroom.
Aithan returned, dressed and carrying a T-shirt, hoodie, and sweatpants — all his clothes. “I don’t think your folks will mind you being comfy at dinner tonight.” He’d also brought my sports bra, panties and socks. He helped me dress while Drew started a fire in the fireplace.
Aithan dropped heavily to the fluffy, white rug before the hearth. “I feel like an idiot.”
“If you’re about to blame yourself for that mess, don’t.” I settled against him, making his lap my pillow.
He carded his fingers through my damp hair. “Not what happened today. I mean all his travel. I paid for a lot of those trips.” He released a long sigh. “I facilitated his affair, Zel. Paid for hotel rooms, airfare, meals.” He shook his head, mouth a hard line. “Dammit.”
“Because you trusted him like I did. What’d you said about that, Drew?”
“You have a good heart.” He settled beside us and pulled my feet onto his lap. “You’re lucky you can trust so easily. Don’t change because of this. Either of you.” He held my feet; he didn’t massage or tickle, he just held them. It felt amazing.
I closed my eyes, relishing my guys’ gentle touches. “Playboy, how did you learn to trust again?”
“Therapy. Medication. Mostly need.”
“Need?” The fire’s heat made me drowsy.
“Shutting people out was killing me. I’m not wired to be alone.”
