Luke glanced back to toss me a smile. "I bought a sonic cleaner online, so I'm slowly but surely getting everything back to working order." To prove his point, he lifted up a shiny piece of something that looked a lot like a tool.
"Nice," I said, making my way closer. "So, I'll counter that with news that Faith made a friend at school today."
That had his complete attention. "Yeah?"
"Some kid named Zeke, and he's a freak who listens to metal, but you will not tear him down." I lifted a brow to make my point.
"Zeke Harding?" he asked. "Fuck, really?"
"Why?" I asked.
Luke let out a wry chuckle. "Because the boy's a little shit. He tried to shoplift from the gas station. He got caught drawing dicks on the side of some cows - "
"What?!" I gasped. "Do I even want to know how that's possible?"
"Livestock markers," he said, waving that off. "Pretty standard stuff out in the country, Vi. All I'm saying is that he's a punk. Not really the kind of kid I want Faith hanging out with."
I lifted a finger even as I moved closer. "Luke, she has no friends, and sometimes those punks turn out to be pretty decent men. Often, they just need a little help seeing how their actions affect others."
"Uh huh," he grumbled, but it was with a little smile on his lips. "I think you're biased because your best friends were criminals." Then he pulled me up against his chest. "Maybe a little?"
"And I happen to think they're damned good men. A prostitute and a killer, right?"
Luke paused. "Ash actually killed someone?"
I nodded. "Yeah, he didn't tell you?"
"Never really came up," Luke admitted. "I'm also willing to bet that you won't say much. I just didn't expect that."
"Kinda like you didn't expect to see Cy's ex?" I tilted my head, making it clear I wasn't trying to give him a hard time. I was honestly curious.
"Never thought about it," he admitted, letting me go so he could step back. Thankfully, he didn't turn away. "I honestly thought the guy was from some oversight thing. When Cy said his name?" Luke's ass hit the workbench, his hands landed on either side of his hips, and he let out a heavy sigh. "It felt the same as when Ash showed up, if I'm honest. No, worse. All I could think was that I wouldn't let that little shit have him."
I had to bite my lips together to keep from smirking at him. "Mhm. So, you've really embraced this whole bisexual thing, huh?"
"I told you. Vi, I'm not scared of working through my shit. I'm not going to shy away from something because it's difficult. I might fumble around, but yeah, I think I'm getting there." He huffed a laugh. "I'm in love with Ash. I fucking love a man? I don't even know how that works, but I'm pretty damned sure of it. And I love you. More than I could've imagined. Here's the thing..." He paused, those green eyes watching me. "I feel the same way about Cy. Tell me that's ok?"
"That's amazing," I breathed, stepping in so I could wrap my arms around his neck. "Luke, this works. This? It makes me happy. I love you, and I always thought I'd end up with some guy who'd be passive enough to ignore my best friends. That was it. I just wanted him to ignore how close we are. And yeah, I always hoped that Ash and Cy would get back together, but this?"
"It works," he agreed, allowing his hands to slide around my back, nice and low. "I just feel like I'm ignoring you. I'm trying so fucking hard to get this right. I promised you that I'd prove myself, and it feels like I'm letting you down somehow. Between Faith and this? I mean, Cy just started talking to me again, and I don't want to lose that. I've been messing around with Ash..."
"And you fall into bed with me every night," I reminded him. "Even if that's just to let me use your shoulder as a pillow. It's ok, Luke."
"You deserve to be the center of everything, though," he countered.
"No." I stretched up to kiss his lips softly. "Believe it or not, I like to sleep sometimes. I like to be with my friends. I like this, maybe more than I should. I think you guys are sexy. And yeah, I notice the little looks you three trade. It makes me feel like this is right, Luke. Like I'm not being a bitch, or monopolizing everything. It makes me feel like it's ok for me to lock myself in my office for one more day and worry about my own shit instead of cleaning the house or trying to act like a good little wife."
"Oh, please do not ever do that," he teased. "Princess, you are not a good wife. You're the matriarch. You are a force of fucking nature, and I don't want you to change a thing. Watching you go from this kind and gentle woman when you're talking to Faith to that viper with Kindle?"
"I kinda did, huh?"
His arms tightened. "All my life, Violet, I was taught that I have to protect my women. I have to chase off the guys sniffing around them, and I'm supposed to handle all the shit while she spends my money and bitches that I did something else wrong. Doesn't sound real appealing. This? I love this. I love knowing that my woman is the strong one here, and we're all just trying to keep up with her."
I pressed my face into his neck. "Keep sweet-talking me, cowboy."
"Mm..." He gently kissed the side of my neck. "How's this? I'll give Faith's new friend a chance, but I wanna meet him. So you encourage her to invite him over to play, ok?"
"Pretty sure they don't play at this age," I reminded him. "They hang out."
