“Bullshit,” Cor said, his voice coming out harsh.
“Ror, do we give you too much shit?” Ollie asked.
Goddammit, I’d invited the feelings parade. My eyes burned, and I scrubbed at my face. “Not you guys, okay?”
“It’s easy to feel different out there,” Declan said by the doorway, and my heart squeezed tight. Out of all my brothers, he’d know the best. “But with the right person, you’ll just be…you.” His gaze lingered on Noah, and my chest twisted. I was so damn exultant he’d found his person, but I never thought I’d feel jealous about that too. This feelings shit was getting way out of control.
“Okay, if we keep on this train, I’m going to have to bust out the story about the pussy I pierced yesterday,” I muttered. “And it’s a doozy of a story too.”
“Are you looking for advice here?” Cor asked.
I scrunched my nose. “I guess, yeah. I’ve never done the relationship thing before, and I’m out of my depth. Is this even worth chasing?”
“Coming from someone who didn’t piece together that I was bi until post-divorce, I’d say hell yeah, worth it,” Ollie responded.
I snorted. “Well, of course you’d say that. You and Liam were pretty much the ones who were married throughout most of your relationship with Josie.”
“Here’s the real question—do you feel like he’s worth chasing?” Aislin asked.
Ugh, why the fuck had I gathered my siblings together?
“Why am I not drunk for this?” I moaned, squeezing my eyes shut. “This is torture.”
“You asked for it,” Declan responded. “Quite literally.”
“We could all close our eyes while you’re talking if it makes you feel any better,” Noah suggested.
A laugh escaped me, and I opened my eyes again. They already knew the worst. “Look, the guy’s making me consider a fucking relationship. Yeah, he’s worth chasing. But…how the fuck do I find out if he even wants more?”
“You could try using words,” Declan commented, in full snark queen over me using his house as a meeting site.
I lifted my middle finger in response, not budging from my comfortable spot on the ground. “Like you and Noah did?”
“Eventually, yeah,” Noah said. “Honestly, if I’d been straightforward with your brother, we would’ve been together ages earlier.”
“You said it,” Declan said.
It had taken me a full-ass month to even broach the tattoo convention with Owen at work, so how long would it take to muster up the courage for this? A goddamn year?
At that point, Wyatt would’ve moved on with some hot chick closer to his age who didn’t know his daughter. My gut churned.
“Did he tell you he only wants a fling? Or that the fact you know his daughter is a dealbreaker? Or that he’s struggling with his bisexuality?” Cor asked, being annoyingly reasonable.
“No.”
Aislin flicked me in the side again, lying next to me on the floor. “Talk. To. Him. Dumbass.”
“How rude,” I said, flicking her back. “I have so many other things I’d rather be doing with my mouth.”
Ollie laughed, and Cor let out a groan, and just like that, the heaviness that had been weighing me down floated away.
And maybe that was something to hold onto.
I pushed up from the floor. “Since you’re all here, I might as well share the story about the pussy piercing. Also, are any of you queasy about shit?”
“Hard pass,” Noah announced. “Babe, can I join you in making tea?” he called to Declan.
“Is that your euphemism for sex?” Aislin asked, also coming to a seated position.
