North nods and is quiet for a few moments before he starts again. “I’m sorry. I treated you like you weren’t an equal, and that was wrong of me because youarean equal, and I appreciate your opinion.” Nash and I stare at North. Nash’s mouth even pops open a bit. “What? What did I say wrong this time?” North looks at us, confused.
Nash steps forward and pulls North into a hug, slapping his back. “Nothing, man, absolutely nothing.”
I smirk at North, who looks at me over Nash’s shoulder, bewildered, before finally raising a hand and placing it on Nash’s back, hugging him back.
“Okay, so now we have that covered,” North murmurs, gently pushing Nash away from him. “Back to the topic. It wouldn’t be just herjoining in. It would be her having a relationship with all of us. She would beourgirlfriend. Can you imagine what people would say?”
Nash lets his head fall back. “Of course, that’s what fucking bothers you.”
I chuckle slightly.It really isn’t a surprise.
“I’m sorry I’m the only one who thinks about our reputation! We live in a fucking town where everybody knows everybody, and we’re going to be what everyone will be gossiping about for months, if not years.”
“And?” Nash challenges. “They gossip about us anyway. Let’s be honest. In this godforsaken town, we’re royalty and the ones who fuel the gossip. Why don’t we give them something new to talk about? Me being a whore and you guys’ accident is surely getting boring to bitch about after all these years.”
“How can you be so unfazed about this?” North asks him, honestly curious, it seems.
“Because it doesn’t change shit, does it? If they talk about me or not, if they like me or not? What does it change? Not one of them would tell us shit to our faces since we’re the ones they depend on. We’re where their money and jobs come from. Do you really think anyone would be hostile to us?”
“No, but maybe Lio? Children can be cruel,” I chime in, not wanting him to get bullied for stuff we decide.
“They could try,” Nash challenges. “Uncle Nash will visit them if they think they can talk my favorite nephew down.”
“Are you threatening five-year-olds?” I ask Nash, amusement evident in my tone.
He just shrugs. “I’m gonna do what I have to.”
“Okay, so fuck the consequences, fuck the townspeople, but what about Mom and Dad?” North presses. “Do you not give a fuck about their opinion too?”
“Of course not, dickhead.” Nash crosses his arms over his chest. “But I know they will be fine with however we want to live our lives. They’re just happy we are living, especially you guys.”
I bite my lip, furrowing my brows, looking to North. “He’s right again. We should listen more often to the dumbass.”
Nash chuckles, and North shakes his head with a smirk. “Fine, so fuckeveryone. But that brings me to the second point. She would have sex with each of us.”
That makes my hackles rise. “Onlyus,” I grit out.
I would go feral if any guy other than those two were involved.
“Not a problem for me.” Nash shrugs. “As long as you guys keep your hands on your own dicks.”
“Wait,” I chime in, holding up my hands. “I may overlook that she will be intimate with you guys, but I will not be in the room when it happens.”
“Spoilsport,” Nash mutters.
North barks out a laugh. “Fuck, okay, I think I can live with this if I don’t have to see your dick too. I saw it enough while I helped Mom change your diapers.”
Nash grabs a pillow and throws it at North. “We get it. You’re ten years older and so much better.Shut up.”
I shake my head, looking at the ceiling before my gaze returns to them, my brothers. “So we’re going to do this? For real? We’re going to be with her? All of us?”
“Slow down, brother-husband,” Nash jokes, and North smiles, looking down at his feet.
I haven’t seen that guy smile so much in ages.
“Before we can jump feet first into this little adventure, we have to convince her to forgive us.”
Right.
