Page 82 of Filthy Rich Brother's Best Friends

I open my mouth, then shut it again. Miles clears his throat behind me, and I realize he’s still holding the coffee he brought. I accept it with a quiet thank you and take a big sip while I process this new information.

“I didn’t mean to hide anything, Lola. I wasn’t trying to play some kind of game. I just—I didn’t want money to be the thing that changed how you saw me.”

My throat feels tight, and I’m staring at the reformer like it might explode.

“Interesting that you’d leave that piece out,” Reid mutters. “You always said honesty was your thing.”

Jude ignores him and gives me his full attention. “I just wanted to help. I saw you struggling and thought…maybe this would take some of the pressure off.”

“You could’ve asked.”

“I figured you’d say no.”

“I would’ve.”

He smiles. “Exactly.”

I take a deep breath but it doesn’t help. My body is holding too much—frustration, confusion, the embarrassment of standing here with all of them watching me.

“Okay, enough.” I rub a hand down my face. We can’t keep doing this. If I’m sleeping with all of them, then I need to own up to sleeping with all of them. “Sit down. All of you.”

They all look confused. Then they sit on the reformer. Except for Reid. He chooses to be a defiant little prick. Instead of sitting,he leans back against the front wall. He folds his arms across his chest and challenges me with a smug little smirk.Some things will never change…

I stay standing. It makes pacing easier.

“Since you’re all here, I feel like we should talk about this, right? Or do we just ignore it and pretend it’s not happening? That kind of feels like a disaster waiting to happen. But, I’m already a disaster, right, Reid?”

“That’s not?—”

“Lola!”

I stop short, turning to face Jude, who is now standing behind me. He takes my face in his hands.

“Take a deep breath, okay? We’re here and we’re listening. Just say what you need to say.”

“I never meant for this to happen,” I start. “I didn’t plan any of it. It just happened. And I care about all of you—as selfish as that sounds. I don’t want to pretend it’s not real just because it’s messy. Itismessy. I know that. But it’s also real. At least it is for me.”

Jude is the first to nod. “Then let’s stop pretending.”

Reid laughs bitterly. “You want real? Okay. Let’s start with this—are you going to keep rotating through us until you’ve had your fill, or should we draw straws?”

I stiffen. “You can go back to sleeping with my roommate if it bothers you that much. No one’s stopping you.”

The fire in his eyes ignites. “That’s rich coming from you—since you’re sleeping withbothof mine.”

I open my mouth to respond with something scathing but Miles beats me to it. “Stop being an asshole and say what you really mean, Reid. You care about her. So stop hiding behind your bullshit potshots and admit it.”

Reid doesn’t respond. Miles ignores him and turns to me. “You’re not selfish, Lola. You’re allowed to feel what you feel. And if you’re choosing me…then I’ll share.”

“Really?” I breathe out.

Reid stands abruptly. He mutters something under his breath and storms out of the studio.

Chapter 24

Reid

Ishove the door open and walk out.