“Talk to him,” I say, “Clear the air, at the very least, because I can’t just leave things like this.”
“Once again, you’re probably right,” the corners of his lips turn up in a small smile.
“Damn straight. I’m always right,” I reply playfully, nudging him.
His smile widens and he wraps an arm around my shoulders. “We’ll go talk to him first thing tomorrow morning,” he promises me, “I just want a little more time to get my thoughts together, go face him after a night’s rest.”
I nod in agreement, although I think we both know neither of us will be sleeping much tonight, not on these emotional roller coasters.
We sit there on the beach for a while, watching the moon slowly rise, until finally, I get to my feet and reach down for Brendon’s hand. Wordlessly, he takes it, and the two of us head back inside the resort and up to our room.
We don’t say a word the entire way, but our fingers are interlocked up until the point that the door to our room closes behind us.
I slip into the bathroom to wash my face while he changes for bed. Once I’m done with that and brushing my teeth, I pad out to the bedroom and he takes my place while I change into my pajamas and crawl into bed.
After a few minutes, he joins me. I roll over to face him and he pulls me close. I press my forehead to his chest, and he strokes my hair. “Whatever happens, you know I love you, right? And none of this is going to come between us.”
I smile, nodding. “I know,” I whisper, “But I just…you know it’s okay if you love him, too, right?”
Brendon pulls back so he can look at me, and after a long moment, he sighs and nods a little. “I think maybe I do. I don’t know how it’s possible, we just fucking met the guy.”
“How long after you met me did you know that you were in love with me?” I asked.
“By the end of our first date,” he admits.
“So maybe it’s not as crazy as you think,” I say, reaching up to stroke his cheek with my thumb.
“I guess.”
He’s quiet for a moment, contemplative, then he asks: “Do you love him, too?”
I nod. “I think I do. Does that upset you?”
“Well, you’ve already said that none of this is coming between us, right?”
“Of course not.”
“So why should it upset me? You can’t help it any more than I can.”
“True, but jealousy and logic aren’t exactly bosom buddies.”
“Also true.”
“Should we tell him?” I ask, “I mean, clearing the air and everything is one thing, but…he’s said he doesn’t want a relationship, declaring feelings seems like a good way to chase him off.”
“Maybe, but remember what he said when he came in here tonight? He couldn’t stop thinking about us. Whatever this connection is between the three of us…maybe he feels it, too.”
I smile. “I like that optimism, babe,” I tell him, leaning in to brush a kiss over his lips.
When I finally pull away, I curl back into his chest and he resumes stroking my hair. And despite my suspicion that sleep would elude me, I eventually find myself falling into a dark, dreamless abyss.
Chapter Nineteen
Chip
“Hey, Chip, what brings you to our office at this early hour?” Brian asks cheerfully as I step into the Ahearn’s office the next morning.
He and Rasmus are the only ones currently there, and while part of me would have liked to talk to all of them, I also know how challenging it can be to catch all three in the same place at once.