“Fuck.” Miles groans. “Diana was already on the fence about this. She did a lot of digging on Bella; made me talk about things she didn’t need or want to know. We talked the whole way here. The entire flight.”
“Jesus.” Nick breathes. “So she doesn’t trust the marriage?”
“She’s worried that I want that with her. Want her to be all submissive and to get kinky like that, to share her.”
“Do you?” I ask. “Honestly, Miles. It’s us. You can share the truth.”
“No.” He hisses. “Diana brings out something in me. I don’t even like her flirting with others. I can’t imagine sharing her, letting anyone else touch her or enjoy her or anything. Hell, I hate when she teases Sophie by hitting on you guys.”
“Weird.” I huff. “I mean, to think of how you were with Bella compared to that … big change, almost like you’ve been body-snatched.”
“Very funny.”
“Just remember the safe word. If you say duckling, we’ll make sure to free your brain from the alien that’s trying to take over,” I insist. “It’s a safe place.”
Miles rolls his eyes. “I’m serious. It’s just … different sometimes.”
Sophie and Diana come back. Sophie sits, and Roman kisses the back of her hand. Diana shoots a look at me, and I shrug. Miles knows but based on what he told me before we moved out, I wonder how he’s taking this.
Lunch moves along quickly, and Sophie heads upstairs to rest. Holden and Nick go their own way as well. Diana sighs. “I’m going to see Sophie, see if she wants to get manicures and what she’s wearing to the luau tomorrow.”
Great. Stuck with the man I fought with and the dude that’s at the center of two conflicts now. Roman looks between us then clears his throat. I hold up my hand. “Look, we all know what’s going on here, and we’re fine.”
“I was out of line, Gunner. I was pissed that Sophia was leaving with you guys, and I thought if I picked at a nerve, you’d make her stay.” Miles says.
“Yeah, I get it.”
“But I know she’s happy with all of you. I get that it’s different from being with Bella because she’s here, namely, but I’ve also never seen her so happy.”
Roman chuckles. “She yelled at you.”
Miles rubs the back of his head, and I chuckle. “She’s a wild one. Can’t exactly boss her around.”
“Apparently, she got that from me.” He sighs. “So I’m sorry. I was out of line.”
“You were,” Roman says.
I blink at him. I expected him to be the first to forgive. Miles stares at him, a hard look coming into his eyes. Roman shrugs. “You and Bella both are. You can’t impose what you think is best when you don’t know how well we work as a group. And assuming that if she were to pick, she’d pick me, and saying it just to start drama, it’s fucking low.”
I pat his shoulder. “Thanks, brother.”
“I get it. I was wrong.” Miles growls. “I don’t like it. But Sophie’s an adult. She’ll make her own choices, and that’s the way it’s going to go.”
“I’m glad we’re all on the same page, then.” I want this to be done. We don’t need to dig into it, especially since we’re still dealing with Bella’s terms. I clear my throat. “Be careful with Bella right now. She may try to self-sabotage.”
“Matthew comes first.” Roman hisses.
“I’m not jeopardizing anything with Diana. She’s giving me a second chance, and I’m not stupid enough to waste it. Especially knowing it’s just Bella’s nervousness talking.”
We nod, Miles pays for lunch, even though we offer to split it, and finally, we head upstairs, Roman tugging me to the room he’s sharing with Sophie. He winks. “We have something to finish.”