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“I’m willing to do anything.” Jules fisted his jacket. Her huge dark eyes were swimming in pain and tears.
Tristan cupped her jaw. “Babe, please.”
“No.” Her fingers climbed to his shoulders. “You don’t understand. I can’t lose you. It’s taken forever for me to actually feel something for anyone again. I love you. I love you both so damn much.”
Tristan’s gut clenched. She was young. She’d figure out that this was just a wild bit of her youth. “I…” He was absolutely at a loss as to what to say.
“I fucked up. I know it. I even tried to force things with some gossip. I’m not proud of it, but I hated the secrets.”
“You what?” Tristan took a big step back.
She crowded in on him again. “It was stupid, but I thought if everyone knew about us then we could all be together.”
“Even though I told you I didn’t want to jeopardize my job?” He’d worked so damn hard to get his own restaurant.
“I know. I was desperate.” She blew out a long breath. “You guys know I come from a fucked up background.”
Tristan swallowed. “Yeah. You told me a little bit about your family.” It sucked that her father was a pathological adulterer, but Jesus. To go out there and start shit with the tabloids? That was crossing the line.
But knowing she was willing to tell everyone about them cracked the hurt he’d been stuffing down for so long. It wasn’t the right way to go about it, but knowing she wasn’t ashamed of him—of them. Yeah, that was something he didn’t see coming.
“While my father might not take his vows to my mother to heart, there’s more to my issues.” She swallowed and held out her other hand to Rand. “I was content to let everyone think I was a party girl because the one and only time I let someone in it went sideways. I’ve never been good for anyone.”
“Don’t say that.” Tris brushed his lips over her temple. Her dark plum scent urged him closer. Between the tears and missing her he was so fucking toast.
“You don’t know. No one really knows about Dru. I don’t talk about him ever.”
Tris didn’t really want to know about another guy in her damn life. It was bad enough he had to see her with Rand. But the pain in her eyes was enough to keep his damn mouth shut. “Okay.”
“I lived in Paris for a year. We were young and dumb and wild.” She dashed away tears. “So wild. Bikes are big over there. Even more than over here. There’s just no room on the roads. And they’re so dangerous.”
Her eyes were distant and Tris saw the painful memories crowding in on her. He had a few shitty moments in his past that he’d rather not relive, but nothing that would make him shake like she was. He hooked an arm around her waist and hauled her into his chest.
She laid her cheek against his shoulder. “He almost died. He almost died because I was such an adrenaline junkie for speed.”
Rand came up behind her and the two of them put aside their issues for a moment. This woman who had been nothing but loving and giving with them needed them right now. Rand smoothed a gentle hand down her hair. “It’s okay, Jules. We’re here. Say what you need to say.”
“We were racing. There always seemed to be a race going in the streets at night. And the Ducati in front of us skidded out on a puddle of petrol. Someone’s gas line leaked. The racers were always doing illegal enhancements to go faster.” She sniffed. “Dru tried to downshift, but we were just going too fast.”
“Wait, you were on the bike too?” Tris pulled back and looked down at her.
She nodded. “I got thrown and Dru skidded through the puddle. There were all these sparks and flames.” She dashed away tears as fast as they came. “He got burned and I was fine. He never forgave me. I tried to be there for him. But he told me every time he looked in the mirror he saw the ugliness I brought to him.”
“No.” Rand came up behind her again and hugged her. He tucked his chin on her shoulder. “No, it was an accident.”
“I know.” She gripped Tristan’s chest and brushed her cheek against Rand’s. “It took me a long time to understand that. To believe I was good enough for anyone. But then you two came along.” She smoothed her hand over Rand’s arm and lifted her other arm around Tristan’s neck. “You showed me how beautiful love was. And everything I felt for Dru paled in comparison to this. To us.”
Tristan touched his forehead to hers. “I’ve never let a woman get close enough to say the words—her to me, or vice versa.”
“I love you, Tristan. So much. I know this…” She hugged Randy closer and crowded in on Tristan. “I know this is a lot. But we’re worth it. You’re worth it.” She leaned touched her cheek to Randy again. “You’re worth it. Even if people give us sideways looks and sneer—it doesn’t matter. I need you both. I want you both.”
Rand looked up at Tristan. “We clicked as friends from the start, now it’s just a little more. She makes us more. I’ve never had a home before you two. My whole life has been a nomad existence.” He rose to his full height. He brushed his lips against the top of Juliet’s head. “As soon as I was able to get out on the road, I never looked back. It was just what my family did.” He clamped a hand on Tristan’s shoulder right next to Juliet’s hand. “I want a home base. I want to belong somewhere.”
Tristan’s chest expanded and contracted. “I want that too. I didn’t realize just how much until you guys left.” He swallowed hard. “Until I pushed you away.”
“Don’t do it again.” Jules sniffed. “None of us have to ever be alone again.” She lifted her mouth to Tristan’s. Salt and joy mixed into a flavor he’d never expected to find.
She tipped her head back against Randy’s chest. The angle was a little awkward, but they made it work. It seemed like none of them were ready to let go of one another.
