I’m not sure what’s happening between the three of us, but I know everything is about to change.
Korbin leans back in the chair, legs stretched out in front of him, arms crossed, face unreadable except for his eyes—soft, guarded, but impossibly attentive.
The three of them helped me tonight. Took me in when I needed someplace to go. They didn’t have to. But they did.
I force my hands to move, fingers shaking.
Thank you.
My eyes shift to Lincoln, the only one who knows what I signed. I’m sure he’s covered it in his class. It’s one of the first they teach.
Lincoln gives me a soft smile, then speaks. “She says thank you, but, Bayleigh, there’s nothing to thank us for. How about we get comfortable, watch a movie with the captions and relax. Take your mind off things. Tomorrow we’ll talk about what happened with your brother.”
He’s so mad.
I hold out the phone, taking my time to show each of them. Korbin pulls his phone from his pocket and quickly types.
He’s not mad at you. It’s me he’s mad at. That I was there. That Lincoln is my brother. Our history with Gina. I thoughtshe was my omega. The one I was supposed to spend my life with. Then she dumped me just like she did him for someone else. She was just a gold digger. Nothing more. This beef between the two of us should have been squashed long ago. Both of usare just too proud and bullheaded to let it go.
He hands his phone to me, and I take my time reading every word. He’s telling me things that I never expected. Milton and Lincoln both lean in reading as well, as Korbin rolls his eyes at them.
Lincoln taps my leg, and I look up as he speaks to his brother. “It’s about damn time. I don’t know what made you come to that revelation, but halle-fucken-lujah.”
The laugh erupts. Soft at first. Then I try to stifle it, my hand covering my mouth.
My eyes drift over to Korbin, who's flipping him off, but smiling at the same time.
Milton takes hold of my feet, slipping off my shoes as Lincoln pulls a blanket from the back of the couch and places it on my lap. He picks up the remote and starts flicking through movies before settling onThe Playdate, then turns on the subtitles.
Milton pops up suddenly and speaks. “Oh! One sec.” He dashes down the hall and returns with an oversized black hoodie. “Here. It’s cozy. Like me.”
I bite my lower lip as I reach out and take it from him, tugging it over my head, the fabric enveloping me like a hug. I inhale deeply—grapefruit and ginger.
We all get comfortable and watch the movie. I pull my legs up, resting my head on Lincoln’s shoulder.
Milton reaches out, pulling the blanket over my feet. My eyes become heavy, and I have to fight to keep them open. I must have drifted off, because the next thing I know my toes aretucked underneath Milton’s thigh. His warm hand is resting on my ankle, over the blanket, like a silent, wordless promise.
Korbin’s still in the chair, his head fallen to the side, eyes closed, sleeping soundly.
I shift my head, looking over at Lincoln, who's fast asleep. His chest softly rising and falling.
“Go back to sleep,” Milton mouths when my eyes drift back over to him. And I do.
The next time I wake, there’s just enough light flickering from the television that I can make out where I am and who’s with me. My body’s been shifted, my head now resting on a pillow. Lincoln’s on the other end of the couch, his eyes half open as he gazes at me with a smile.
Korbin is stretched out in the recliner, and the corners of my mouth tug up as I laugh. My eyes scan the room, wondering where Milton is until I look down at the floor.
Milton's on the floor near my feet, curled up like a cat, strands of hair spilling over his forehead, hands tucked under his head. He’s fast asleep.
My throat tightens again, but not for the same reason as earlier.
It’s because all three of these men stayed close to me. They could have gone to bed, but they didn't. Instead, they chose to sleep in awkward positions, uncomfortable, just to be near me because I needed them.
Lincoln stirs, sitting up. “Hey, you okay?”
I shift upright a little and lift my hands. Lincoln notices the movement first—he always does—which pulls the other two out of their half-asleep haze.
Slowly, I sign.Why are you all here?
