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“Did you see that couple at dinner?” I toss the question into our little circle, light and easy. “The ones arguing over dessert?”
Grayson chuckles, a low rumble that vibrates through the water. “Yeah, she wanted the chocolate torte, but he insisted on cheesecake.” His grin is infectious, and I can’t help but join in.
“Team chocolate all the way,” I declare, and we share a moment of frivolous camaraderie.
Conrad clears his throat, shifting the mood with a subtle undercurrent of seriousness. “Brielle,” he starts, and I turn toward him, noting the thoughtful tilt to his brow. “It’s my turn, isn’t it? For the questions game.”
“Hit me,” I say, bracing myself for whatever comes next.
He leans forward, palms flat against the edge of the hot tub. “We’ve been dancing around this, haven’t we? What are we doing here, Brielle? Where do you see this going?”
There it is—the deeper dive, cutting straight to the heart of things.
I take a deep breath, trying to match his intensity. The steam carries away my hesitation, leaving only the raw honesty between us. “I’m not sure,” I admit, feeling the weight of the question settle over us. “But I’m willing to find out.”
Water laps at my skin, warm and comforting, but Conrad’s question sends a shiver down my spine. It’s like he’s peeled back the layers of playful chatter to expose the uncertainty beneath.
“Conrad’s right—we’ve been avoiding the real questions,” Grayson says, his gaze never wavering from mine. “But, Brielle, what do you want? Really want?”
My heart hammers against my chest, pounding out a rhythm that seems too loud in the silence that follows. I draw in a shaky breath, the steamy air filling my lungs as if it could give me the courage to voice my desires.
“Isn’t that the million-dollar question?” I try for a laugh, but it comes out more like a nervous tangle of notes.
Grayson leans closer, and his proximity sends another wave of heat through me, unrelated to the water surrounding us. “No dodging,” he insists gently. “We’re all in this together.”
I bite my lip, feeling the flush of pink spread across my cheeks. My eyes flicker to Conrad, then back to Grayson’s steady gaze. They both wait, patient and unwavering.
“Part of me…” I start, my words trailing off as I grapple with the thoughts swirling inside me. “Part of me is scared to say it out loud.” The admission feels like a whisper, yet it echoes around us.
“Scared?” Grayson probes, his tone soft but insistent.
“Of what people might think,” I admit, the confession slipping out before I can cage it once more. “What my father would say…”
“Your happiness is what matters, Brielle,” Grayson reminds me, his hand finding mine under the water, a solid anchor amidst the storm of my emotions.
“I know, but—” I swallow hard, the battle between my upbringing and the yearning in my heart suddenly fierce and demanding attention. “It’s not just about me, is it?”
“Let’s focus on you, for now,” Grayson encourages, squeezing my hand. “The rest will fall into place.”
“Okay.” I nod, taking strength from his touch. “Okay, I’ll try.”
Conrad leans forward. His intense gaze pins me, a silent command that’s impossible to ignore. “Brielle,” he says, voice low and compelling, “it’s time.”
I inhale sharply. The steam from the hot tub curls around us, a misty veil that can’t hide the truth waiting on my tongue.
“Stop holding back,” Conrad urges. His hand brushes against my knee under the water, sending ripples outward. “We want you to be honest, to take what you need. We’re here for you. Both of us.”
My heart hammers in my chest, each beat a drumroll to the moment I’ve both craved and feared. I meet his eyes, finding an ocean of reassurance in their depths.
“Say it, Brielle,” he coaxes, a half smile playing on his lips. “Whatever it is, we can handle it.”
I open my mouth, the confession teetering on the edge.
Grayson’s hand never leaves mine. His touch steadies me as he adds his voice to Conrad’s encouragement. “You heard him,” Grayson says, calm as the night sky. “What’s yours is ours. But first, you have to let us in.”
His words are like a lighthouse guiding me through the fog of my own hesitations. I squeeze his hand back, and I realize the power isn’t just theirs—it’s mine too.
“Okay,” I finally whisper, the word barely audible over the gentle bubbling of the water. “I…I want this. With both of you.”
