“Si, güey. Warwick got drunk one night when we were together. He never said her name, but it was obvious who he was talking about.” I wince, and Joaquin kisses my cheek. “I’m sorry.”
I re-cross my arms over my chest. “It’s fine. Go on.”
He bites back a smile and kisses me again. “From what I gathered, Renée started to develop feelings too, or maybe just realized that shecoulddevelop feelings, but Wyatt was not okay with it. They told him they couldn’t do it anymore.”
“Oh my God, why would he stay? To torture himself?”
Joaquin shakes his head. “I don’t think he ever stopped loving her. I think he just wanted to be near her, in whatever capacity he could.”
My heart hurts to think of poor Wick loving her from afar all those years.
“Yeah, still not sounding convenient to me. That soundsawful. It sounds like a fucking mess.”
Joaquin holds up his hands. “Maybe. Maybe not. You and I suffer from the same ailment. Love of a man who acts like he doesn’t have a heart, even though there’s undeniable proof of its existence.”
I nod. “Sounds about right.”
“Here's the thing. That threesome situation they tried didn't work becauseoneof the participants wasn't into it. But we don’t have that problem,” Joaquin says, taking my hand and kissing my knuckles. “I've had feelings for Warwick for a while now, but that night the three of us spent together, something new clicked for me. And I dare say a couple of nights with you settled it. I think there's something here that could work.”
I let out a sharp laugh, then whisper, “There isno wayWarwick would allow himself to be in a relationship.”
“A typical relationship? Absolutely not. But…” He pauses, looking around to make sure Warwick isn’t spying on us. “Buthe's only ever had one-on-one confrontations with love. He's never been double-teamed on the love front before,” he says, giving me a conspiratorial wink.
“Double-teamed on the love front? Like…what was that word? I just Googled it again this morning. Meta-something?”
“Metamour,” he says, popping his brows.
“Yes,” I declare, pointing at him. “Only…I was looking it up, and metamours don’t cross swords, generally speaking. So we can’t be metamours.”
Joaquin taps his chin. “But maybe we could beco-conspirators.”
I stifle a laugh, and the first pure hit of joy I’ve had in a while fills my chest. I grab his shoulders, shaking them. “Yes. Like a tactical assault, but on his heart.”
Joaquin tilts his head side to side, considering it. “Could work. Think about it—we already know he doesn't like being left out of what we’re doing. He wants to be here with us. Right here with you and me.”
I nod. I saw the jealousy. “You know, he once told me that he’d rather raw dog a cactus than be tied down to one person.”
Joaquin covers his laughter with his hand. “He’s said the same thing to me. He literally does not know how to accept love. So maybe we don’t give him a choice. Maybe we go all-in on him, make him believe in love again.”
“Yes, yes, yes,” I scream-whisper, pointing at him. “It’ll be like…the OnlyFans version of sneaking through the enemy lines to capture a soldier.”
Joaquin laughs, kissing me and then kissing me some more, probably because it feels so damn good. “Only you would come up with that analogy. Well, you and Wick.”
I chuckle, rubbing my hands together. “So…co-conspirators, huh?”
“I’m willing to bet he's never had two peopleconspireto love him. Two people who could definitely fall for each other while conspiring to love him.”
I swallow hard. Joaquin looks as serious as a heart attack.
“So, uh, you think you could? Fall for me, that is?”
His expression softens into the world’s most brilliant smile, and he cups my face as though it’s precious to him. “Es tan fácil como respirar.”
“That means it’s easy?” I ask, my voice going breathless.
He nods, placing sweet kisses all over my face. “As easy as breathing.”
I’m a little shaky on the inhale, but I nod. “Same. I mean…easy for me too. You’reincredible.”
