Okay. That doesn’t sound so bad. So when Joel drags us all to the end of the bed, leans back on the headboard and puts his arms around us, I don’t resist.
Heh, who am I kidding? Their bodies pressed to mine chase away the tattered remnants of the nightmare, and this is a story I wanna hear.
***
“Why did you run?” Joel asks, tucking Candy into his side. “What could be so bad?”
“I’ve wanted you for ages,” Candy whispers, her cheek resting on Joel’s shoulder. “Both of you. I was afraid to tell you, in case you thought I was a stalker. Or that I wasn’t serious.”
“How can wanting us for ages make us think you’re not serious?” I ask, baffled. “Isn’t that, like, the opposite?”
“I was afraid you’d think me one of those obsessed, brainless fangirls.”
“How long are we talking here?” Joel is frowning.
“Um. Like I said last time, a few years?” She’s biting her lip, and I want to kiss her. I want to smooth away the worry from her gaze. “I used to watch you from afar when you were in college. Saw your pictures on Facebook and Instagram, with Jet. Lots of girls want you two.” She looks away. “And I thought I seriously wanted you, both of you, with me.”
“So now it’s not serious?” I shake my head that’s starting to ache again. “Candy…”
“It wasn’t serious back when it started. Or even before I met you. But now… now it is. For me.” She looks up at Joel, then reaches for me, takes my hand. “You just mean so much to me, guys. I got scared last night that you’d freak out if you found out.”
I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. “This is it? This is the big secret?”
“Jet…” Joel says warningly, and I shut my trap. He’s right. This obviously distressed her a lot and wasn’t an easy decision. I shouldn’t make light of it.
“That’s not all,” she says, and yeah, I thought not. “Meeting Joel at the bookstore was a shock. I never expected to meet him, really. But you, Jet…” She glances at me, and my stomach twists again.
“What?”
“Connie, a friend, found out you were going to be at that concert and told me about it. You were the only reason I showed up there. I wanted to meet you.”
Silence falls. I can hear Joel breathing. I can hear the blood rushing in my ears.
“You knew who I was all along. You came to my stall to buy beers, and you knew my name.”
“Well, I didn’t know for sure, but I thought it might be you. You’re always blurry in Joel’s pics on Facebook.”
I nod. Of course I am. I always move and look away, so that anyone looking at them won’t recognize me. Turns out it might all have been for nothing, though. If I’ve been found, as I fear…
Hell.
“Jet. Are you upset with me?” Her small hand squeezes mine, forcing my mind back to the present. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you earlier.” Her gaze flicks to Joel, and she juts out her chin a little. “To both of you. I’m so sorry.”
“I’m not mad,” Joel says, and his mouth turns up into a faint smile. “Are you, Jet?”
The thoughts bouncing around in my head blur, but… “Nah. Why should I be? It’s cute.”
“Really, you guys?” She’s blushing crimson now, but also smiling widely, and I pull her hand up to my mouth to kiss her palm.
Never had a girl secretly want me that much. This girl. Wanting me, and Joel, together. Man, I’m lucky.
“Oh, come here, you.” Candy scoots closer to me and kisses me. Her lips are soft and warm and the tension finally leaves my shoulders as her arms wind around my neck. I pull her onto my lap and kiss her back, tasting her mouth, nipping on her lower lip. My body hums with arousal, and I’m so hard I ache.
Oh yeah, damn lucky.
Joel’s arm around me tightens. “Fuck, yeah.” His fingers dig into my arm, his breath warms my neck. “I’ve been seeing reruns of last night in my head all day today.”
Candy breaks the kiss with me to turn and kiss Joel, and I lick my lips, savoring her sweetness, watching avidly as she wraps one arm around his neck and closes her eyes, moaning against his mouth.