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“What happened?” Randy tugged up Tris’s chef jacket onto Jules’s shoulders and massaged her tense muscles.
She still hadn’t moved.
Did she have any idea what the hell Tris was talking about? Because he sure didn’t.
“Someone posted some piece of garbage in one of those rags. A blind item anyone could figure out without much trouble. What newly minted couple in the world of music is really part of a threesome with a hotshot chef on the downlow? Here’s your Warning Sign.”
Randy barked out a laugh, maintaining his hold on Jules when Tristan spun his way. “You think this is funny? People think I’m in a goddamn threesome relationship. My restaurant is going to become a curiosity, a place for people to gawk. No one will care about the food anymore, just the notoriety.”
“Newsflash—you are in a threesome relationship. If the idea was so abhorrent to you, you shouldn’t have posed the idea at the Halloween party.”
“I posed the idea of a fuck, because you were so freaking hot for her that I didn’t want anything to screw with us long-term.”
“So I was the dog bone you were willing to share,” Juliet said coolly while Tris shoved both hands through his hair.
“No. Fuck it, no.”
“Fuck it, yes. Not in those crude terms, but let’s be real.” Randy flexed his hands on her shoulders. Any minute now, she’d probably bolt too. “We made some concessions that night because there were friendships on the line and we were all horny. That’s not where we are now, and if you think you can convince yourself that we are, you’re not only a fool but a liar.”
Tris let his hands drop and let out a harsh laugh. “Oh, this is frigging rich. You, the guy who practically wouldn’t even touch her without asking for holy forgiveness, is criticizing me for admitting I just got into this for sex.”
“No, I’m criticizing you for lying to yourself that that’s all you’re in it for now.” Gently, Randy nudged Juliet out of the way as Tristan stalked toward him and got right in his face.
Only to be pushed back himself as Juliet inserted herself between them.
“What about me? I only wanted sex too. Does that mean I’m supposed to just fuck and duck and pretend none of the rest—”
“What rest, Jules?” Tris grabbed her chin and hauled her face closer to his. “The rest where we tag-teamed you and ruined your hopes of ever settling for any other man?”
“Fuck you.” She shoved him, but he didn’t budge. So she did it again, slamming her fists against him even as he stood immovable. “If you’re ashamed of me, of us, of this, then forget it. I’ve been in a family that prided itself on secrets. I won’t live my life as a lie any longer.”
Randy frowned. What did she mean?
Evidently, Tris had some idea, because he locked his jaw. “Jules, hang on.”
“No. We’ve already been hanging out for you, giving you the space to decide you want us for real. That’s over now.” She flashed him a grim smile. “Don’t worry your pretty little blond head about it. We’re finished.”
“Oh yeah? And you get to make that call, huh?” He gripped her shoulders and for a second, Randy wasn’t sure if he intended to pick her up or kiss her stupid. Possibly both. Eyes wild, he stared at her. “Too fucking late. They already know.”
“Rumors die quickly enough without someone fanning the flames. If we aren’t together, it’ll fall apart soon enough. We can go our separate ways, and that’ll be that.”
The first spurt of panic cut through the anger. Christ, they were going to destroy them. Just wreck everything they’d begun to find without giving it a goddamn chance to grow.
Randy grabbed her elbow. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“Of course he’s not.” Tris smiled coldly. “He’s been waiting for this day from the beginning. Since we’re all telling the truth, how about you do the same? Tell her how you’ve been waiting for me to hit the road so you can have her all to yourself.”
“That’s bullshit, and you know it.”
“Is it? Hard to tell from where I’m standing.”
“Where you’re standing is in a hole of your own making.” Randy sidestepped Juliet and went toe-to-toe with Tristan. His buddy was a little taller than him, but not much. Right now, they felt damn near evenly matched.
In all ways.
“So someone got hold of a blind item. Big deal. We hated the lie being out there about just me and Jules anyway. This way, the truth gets out and—”
“And the fucking restaurant where I’m head chef turns into a sideshow attraction.”
