"So?" Tanner pressed.
"I don't know," I admitted. "It was a million little things. The smell of her shampoo, the way she looks a little terrifying when she's with J.D. How she's made pink into a fire color, not a girly one. It was also seeing the rage on her face when someone hurt one of her guys." And I tilted my head toward J.D.
"And you aren't one of her guys," Tanner pointed out. "Or is that what you're trying to do? Hoping to take Ty's place?"
"That's not my call."
And finally, Tanner showed a little smile. His eyes jumped over to J.D., and he nodded. "He might not be scared of you, but I'm pretty sure he is of me. I also think he's being honest."
"I'm good with it," J.D. said.
"Same," Tanner agreed, all of that defensiveness gone as if it had never been there. But then he smirked at me. "And I'm asking her all about it. Details, Jake. You know, like condoms."
"Yep," I said. "Used one. Know better. Not in trouble for that."
"Then you're not in trouble," Tanner assured me. "Also, her shirt looks good on you."
"Hers?" I asked, aware the fit was snug, but I didn't think this was Cody-sized.
"Mine, but of hers," J.D. clarified. "And keep that. Shit, let her see you in it and you might get a repeat. Just know I ain't backin' off, and he isn't either."
"Didn't think you would," I promised. "And to be fair, I didn't think anything would happen between us. I hold no expectations that she and I are anything more than friends."
"You're more," J.D. told me.
"But if you hurt her?" Tanner said. "I will break your legs. Now, I don't mean the normal stuff. I mean the kind of hurting you should know better than to do."
"Like Ty?" I asked.
"He only got pushed around a little," Tanner promised. "But if you treat her the way Jaxon did J.D.? Yeah, that's crossing a line."
"I'm not that dumb," I promised.
So he made his way around the kitchen bar and offered his hand. "Since we're sleeping with the same woman, Jake, welcome to the family."
Like J.D., he was only wearing underwear. Unlike J.D., Tanner had a build I hadn't expected. He looked like he could match me in a fight, even though he was the smaller of us. His muscles were the real type, not the pretty type. The sort a man earned by doing more than merely pulling himself back down on a bull.
But I took his hand and shook, pretty sure I was sealing some sort of deal. I wasn't sure if it was with the devil, but even if it was, I had a feeling it'd be worth it.
"Just tell me if the rules change, ok? Because I honestly don't want to get between the three of you. Looks like a damned good deal. I also know she won't pick me if ultimatums are thrown around."
"And she's still not ours," J.D. reminded me. "Jake, she needs to experience a few things. Shedeservesthat. We ain't gonna stop her, neither."
"We're going to cheer her on," Tanner said. "And because of that, she will always come back to us. There's a lesson there, Jake. Learn it."
"Yes, sir," I said. "I also don't know if she ate last night. I mean, just so you two know." And I stepped toward the door. "I'llsee you three at the arena. And J.D.? Todaywillbe better. I'll make sure of it."
"Already did by kissin' Ty," he called after me. "And you're a chickenshit for runnin' before she's up, but I'll let you have it."
I chuckled. "I am. Mostly because I want her to have some space to talk to you two. Otherwise, I promise I'd stay. And no, I'm not doing that for you. It's because I thinksheneeds the talk."
Then I left. Yeah, I may have hurried a bit, and my balls were definitely hiding right now, but no one else needed to know that. Those two? They came across all nice and sweet, but I'd been in the Tough Enough series long enough to know better.
And yet I still liked them. I respected the shit out of both of them, but my head was still spinning. I'd just slept with J.D.'s girl. I'd let Tanner's throw me into her bed. I'd crossed so many lines, I should be scratching my rides and heading for the hills - but those three didn't work that way.
Yeah, I wanted to say it didn't make sense - but those were the rules I'd been raised with. They were the same ones that said I needed to find a placid wife to cook my dinner, and that Cody needed to keep her legs together until she was ready to have some babies. They were the sort of thing that had everyone in the PBR rushing to live just a little bit before the lives we were excited about ended and the adult responsibilities took over.
They were the box that suffocated us into obedience, and somehow,theyhad shattered it.
