“Oh.”
Tate and Levi stood opposite me as they both gave me the same look. Wonder, confusion; any would do.
“Um…you didn’t have to come all the way out here. I’m sure you’re very tired from working all day.” I cleared my throat nervously. I shifted my weight on my feet and wrapped my arms around my stomach, as if I was holding myself together. Keeping myself from doing something crazy like throwing myself at them.
“We’re worried about you, Adley,” Tate said.
“I’m sorry I haven’t replied to your messages. But I’m fine, I promise.” I lied easily. At least I thought I had before they both tightened their gazes on me.
“We’re not mad about that or anything. And we don’t care. We just want you to be able to feel like you can talk to us,” Levi said.
I furrowed my brow in confusion. I guess I wasn’t sure what he was really trying to say, and I didn’t know how to ask.
“Look, I’m sure you haven’t eaten all day. Why don’t we just sit and have dinner first?” Tate stepped forward and touched my shoulder gently. But it still sent tingles all over my body.
I swallowed a forming lump and nodded. “Okay.” I tried a smile, but my face was too tight.
They both smiled warmly and sat me down at the table. Tate unpacked the bag; there was a lot of stuff but I realized it was only because it was pho. It required a lot of containers. And there were egg rolls. I nibbled on one as Tate made my bowl and Levi offered suggestions.
“Have you ever had pho?” Levi asked.
“No, never.” I giggled softly.
“Really? It’s pretty good. I hope you’ve at least had spring rolls,” he laughed.
I nodded. “Yes,” I said with a smile.
I already felt so much lighter. Like it was easier to breathe. The tension in my shoulders faded the longer I sat with them. And the food was really good, the beef broth and tender meatballs perfect. The closest thing I ever had to it before was ramen, but it didn’t measure up at all.
I wanted to ask them about the house and everything, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I wanted to stay in that moment where it was just us, and we weren’t held together by anything else. That I would still be sitting here with them if it weren’t for my grandmother dying, and her house being left to me.
“Adley, what’s bothering you? We can tell something is going on.”
We had finished eating and Tate was the first to try and coax me to talk. Levi cleaned up all the empty containers and sought the same information from me. I took a deep breath and tried to find the right words. I didn’t want to start crying so I knew I had to tread carefully. I tended to cry when I was frustrated or mad. When I was sad, I didn’t do much crying. It was odd, but it was just how I was.
“There is a lot going on. I don’t know where it starts or ends,” I said, my voice low and defeated.
“That’s okay. Just start from what you know. We want to help you,” Levi said.
With a shaky breath I stood up and walked over to the bed. I needed air from the both of them. They were just as suffocating as they were comforting. I didn’t know how to take it, or how to explain myself.
“I know. I just…I don’t want to talk. I want…” I trailed off, shaking my head.
Levi walked closer to me, closing the space between us in fast, easy strides. Then he was in front of me, inches away, and not being able to breathe was exactly what I needed.
“What do you want?” He searched my eyes.
Tate came over as well and I was as good as surrounded.
“I don’t know. I mean…I want you both,” I said aloud for the first time. “And I know how crazy that sounds. But it’s the truth. I understand if that isn’t what you guys wanted but…” I let out a gush of air and searched their expressions. It was a mix of shock and something else, but I didn’t know what.
“That’s what we came to tell you, Adley,” Tate said. “The house is almost finished. And we still want to be with you after. There or anywhere else, though I doubt you’d live somewhere else. We want to be wherever you are,” Tate finished. And I knew the other part of the expression I couldn’t place was happiness, or understanding.
“Oh. I don’t know what to say…” I gasped.
I looked up at them both. Levi was smiling his sexy grin and Tate had his soft, comforting smile on. Both their expressions warmed me up inside and made me all tingly. It was all the feelings I had for them that was making it so intense. I only imagined those words, I couldn’t believe they were actually true. Levi nodded to say he felt the same way.
They both wanted me. Two men wanted me and it was insane at the same time it felt so good.