Was Quinn right?Did he need to try a different approach?
Was Dane right?Had he been pulling the same shit his father did to try to control everyone around him?
Was Gavyn right?Was he setting Arden up to struggle like they had in a household rife with contention and chaos?
That wasn’t his goal.None of it.
They piled inside their house and stood facing each other in a rough triangle that occupied the center of their living area.Dane’s chest still heaved as a result of his exertion and the emotional outpouring that had fueled it.Joy glared at them both.
Walker swallowed hard and prepared to man up.Even if that meant something completely different from what he’d always assumed.“I think I made a mistake.”
“Youthink?”Joy crossed her arms.The motion highlighted her chest, which threatened to spill over the top of the tank top she’d obviously thrown on without a bra before chasing after Dane.
“Okay, I get it.”Walker held his hands up.“I know I screwed this up.I’m sorry.”
Dane looked up then with wide eyes.
“Is it so unbelievable that I would fucking apologize?”
“Yes,” he and Joy said in unison.
And then she continued, “Are you saying sorry that it came to this or are you remorseful because you’ve realized that we love you and you plan to do something positive about it?Like cracking open your big, stupid heart, and letting us both in once and for all?”
“I don’t know.”Did she have to jump right in with difficult questions?“It’s hard for me to see how getting tangled up between you two is going to fix anything.I’m detrimental to your future, and Arden’s.With me around, you’ll never fully be free of Angus.We’ll always have to be looking over our shoulders.It’s never going to end.You heard Gavyn.We have to break the cycle, if not for ourselves, then for Arden’s sake.”
“If we stand and fight together, I think we’re strong enough to make it.”Joy squeezed his hand, and probably Dane’s too.“Especially with the support of the Hot Rides gang and their friends.They’re everything Wildfire never was.”
“I’m prepared for the possibility that one of us, or all of us, could get hurt.It’s worth the risk.”Dane looked grim as fuck as he said it, his voice shredded.
“I’m tired of running,” Joy said, nodding.“What’s the point of struggling so long if I don’t get to live my life the way I want?”
Walker looked back and forth between them trying to figure out another reason he couldn’t accept what they were offering.“Are you sure, Joy?We’re not easy men, either of us, and both together…we’re a lot.”
Dane didn’t argue with that.In fact, he piled on.“Plus, you know there’s something between us too.Is that what you have in mind for yourself?To be caught up in our freak show?”
“Whose fucking side are you on?”Joy wrenched her hand from Dane’s and glared at him.
Uh oh.
“I’m being realistic.These are all things we need to consider.I have no doubt that sex between the three of us would be phenomenal.The night we spent together was incredible.”Dane adjusted his junk as if he hadn’t spent the better part of the last three hours making Joy scream.
“I thought that’s what you wanted, too.To be whole.”Joy flinched as if Dane had shoved her away.“Isn’t that why you went after Walker?”
“No.I did that because he keeps trying to make decisions for us, which is bullshit.”
“And how is what you’re doing right now, to me, any different?”Joy accused.
Walker figured she was right on that point, but he didn’t mind Dane doing whatever it took to protect her, even if it was from themselves.
Dane sputtered.“Because you’ve never seen us together.You don’t know what you’re asking for.”
“Right.So, let’s put it to a test.Why don’t the two of you kiss and make up, like Quinn said, but let me watch.And we’ll see exactly what my reaction is so no one has to jump to any conclusions for anyone else.”She grinned slowly and surely.“I’m pretty sure I know the answer already, but fair enough.Let’s prove me right.”
Walker and Dane squared off and met each other’s stares.Equal parts questioning and hungry.After their tussle, Walker felt compelled to show Dane that he wasn’t holding any grudges and to reassure him that, no matter what happened, they were going to be okay.They’d always managed to come through things before.At least when they stuck together.
“I forgive you for decking me.”Walker stepped closer.He put his hand up, cupping the spot on Dane’s cheek that already showed hints of a faint purple stain.If he gave Joy what she wanted, maybe that would solve their problems.It might disgust her or push her away.Then they wouldn’t have to fight anymore.
He was selfish enough to admit there was some appeal to that scenario.
Walker wasn’t sure he could give Dane up, even if he should.Today had proved that to him.He’d been scared shitless as he worked in the garage that his plan might have worked a little too well and he’d be left with no one.
Try something different, Quinn had said.
Well, here went nothing.