Chapter 2
REED
I metRayn Ledger and Jamison Hart in high school. I remember the day like it was yesterday.
It was the middle of freshman year, and my parents and I had just moved from Arizona to Silver Falls, Florida. I had a chip on my shoulder and was pissed because they uprooted me from my life and the friends I’d had since kindergarten, not to mention the girl I had started dating six months prior.
I had just left English class and was heading toward Algebra when someone knocked into me. The girl bounced off my chest, skittered back on her feet, then landed on her ass. She was pretty. Long, red hair, cheeks lightly covered in freckles, and a pair of rectangular glasses perched on her dainty nose.
I felt like a jerk and bent down to help her gather the books that had fallen from her arms. Of course, being asshole teenagers, none of the guys or girls passing by cared enough to stop and help. Instead, they just kicked the books out of their way. I felt even worse when one of them stepped on the girl’s hand and she let out a little yelp.
I was getting ready to stand up and deck the guy who stepped on her hand when a fist landed in my face. Stars danced in my vision and it was my turn to fall back on my ass. Luckily, the hit wasn’t bad enough to draw blood. My eyes shot up to the guy to find him glaring down at me while he helped the pretty girl to her feet.
“What in the hell was that for?” I growled the question, rubbing my sore chin. “I was helping her pick up her things.”
The guy snatched one of the books up and growled back, “Yeah, after you pushed her.”
“I didn’t push her,” I denied, because I damn well didn’t. I got to my feet and faced him.
He stepped closer, balling his hand into a fist like he was waiting to deck me again. “It sure looked that way to me.”
“Then you need to get your eyes checked.”
“All right, you two stop it.” The girl stepped between us, her head swinging back and forth. Her eyes finally stayed locked on the guy. “He didn’t push me, Jamison. It was my fault. I wasn’t looking where I was going.”
Some of the anger left Jamison’s face as he looked down at the girl. He and I were about the same height, which put her several inches shorter than both of us. He lifted her hand to inspect it. Thankfully, it was only slightly red.
“Does it hurt?” he asked, running a finger over her knuckles.
She lifted one shoulder. “Only a little. It’ll be fine.”
His head lifted and he glared at me. “You shouldn’t have been hurt in the first place.”
“Stop it, okay?” She wiggled her fingers in his face. “See, I’m okay. The pain is already fading.” Her head swung my way, and her freckled cheeks puffed out with her grin. “Besides, his face is too pretty to mess up.”
That was the beginning of our friendship. Or rather, I should say, it was the beginning of mine and Rayn’s friendship. It took a couple of weeks before Jamison and I stopped glaring at each other, and that was only because Rayn threatened to unfriend us both if we didn’t learn how to get along. The three of us have been friends ever since.
That was also the moment I fell in love with Rayn. That bit I’ve kept to myself over the years. It just never felt like the right time to tell her. First, it was me solidifying my friendship with her and Jamison. Then, halfway through sophomore year, Rayn’s dad and Jamison’s mom died during a robbery gone wrong while both families were vacationing. Then it was the stress of becoming an adult and figuring out what we were going to do with our futures. After that, Rayn’s mom and Jamison’s dad shocked us all when they decided to spontaneously elope. None of us even knew they were dating.
I’ve kept my feelings for Rayn on lockdown for eighteen years. I’ve had moments where I’ve almost told her, but something always holds me back. If I’m honest with myself, it’s out of fear. Fear that she doesn’t or can’t return my feelings. And fear that it’ll ruin the close bond we have if she doesn’t.
But my feelings for Rayn aren’t the only ones I have. It’s the feelings I have for Jamison that scare me the most.
Both of them know I get my rocks off with both sexes, even though I’m more attracted to women, and both are totally fine with it. The problem is, Jamison’s never given any inkling that he’s interested in men.
In a perfect world, I’d have them both, but there’s not a chance in hell that’ll ever happen. Even if one of them had the same feelings for me, I don’t see either wanting a trio relationship.
Which makes the suggestion I just made to Rayn a painful one. I already have to watch Jamison bring girls home and hear them go at it in his bedroom, silently wishing it was me he was plowing into, or vice versa. I’m a glutton for punishment if I have to watch Rayn do the same. I mean sure, I’ve seen her date guys, and even make out with a few, but all of that is innocent compared to knowing she’s in the room next to mine while some guy gives her everything I want to give her.
Shaking my head, I pull myself out of my thoughts and focus back on Rayn. Is it just me or does she look extra sexy tonight? Her long, silky, red hair is pulled over one shoulder, leaving the other bare because her top has spaghetti straps. Speaking of her top, it dips low enough to show a hint of cleavage, and it takes every bit of mental strength I have to keep my eyes from staring. Her skirt rides halfway up her crossed legs, exposing her creamy, pale flesh, scattered with freckles. I’ve often wondered if she has freckles everywhere. The closest I’ve come to seeing her naked is in a bikini, and so far, my answer is yes.
I stare at her, waiting for her answer as she shreds the napkin sitting under her drink. It’s a cute habit she’s had since high school. It’s also a dead giveaway when she’s nervous or something’s bothering her.
Grabbing one of her hands, I force her to stop killing the poor napkin. “Come on, how cool would it be to live with your two boys for a few months?” I cajole. “It’ll be like old times when we shared a place in Gainesville during college.”
It’s gonna be fucking torture being surrounded by Rayn and Jamison for hours and hours each day, just like it was back then, but I’ll suck it up for Rayn. I can’t imagine moving back into my parents’ place at the age of thirty-three.
It takes her a long time to answer, and many emotions slide across her face as she thinks. I hold her hand the whole time, liking the way her soft skin feels against mine.