I cup his face, steadying him the way he’s been trying to steady himself all this time, and I don’t let him look away like this is something he has to carry alone.
“Carter, you don’t have to keep riding just to prove he existed. Do it for yourself,” I say. “Your brother isn’t a promise you have to bleed for, and you’re not doing him justice by punishing yourself in his name.” I lean in and hug him. “I love you, Carter,” I say. “You don’t have to forget him. Just don’t leave yourself behind to keep him alive.”
He embraces me, and we stay like that for a long time. “You mean everything to me, June.” Then his lips find mine, and thekiss is sweet and slow and perfect. It tastes faintly of whiskey too. I sink into him, letting myself be held, because I deserve this and I never knew love could actually feel this good.
“Okay, enough of that or we’re never leaving this house,” Kai blurts out.
We break apart to find him standing in the doorway, grinning. He looks slightly better than Carter.
“Morning,” I manage, wiping my eyes.
He strides into the room and physically pries me out of Carter’s arms, swooping me up and planting his lips on mine before I can protest.
Not that I would.
His kiss is different from Carter’s. Hungrier. More urgent. His hands grip my waist, pulling me tight against his chest, and I melt into him the same way I melt into all of them. Completely. Helplessly. Happily.
When we finally separate, I’m breathless and probably flushed and definitely not thinking about rodeos or bulls or anything except the three impossible men who have claimed my heart.
“So,” I say, trying to collect myself. “Did you two even sleep last night? I don’t remember seeing you before I fell asleep.”
Carter snorts. “I’m pretty sure Kai deposited me on the couch after we got home. Woke up around five, still in my boots. Let’s just say I had a bit to drink,” he adds. “But in my defense, it was all worth it. Tanner won’t be annoying you anymore.”
I look between them, suspicious. “What did you two do last night? Did Tanner actually show up for your challenge?”
“Oh he was there.” Carter’s grin is angelic and completely untrustworthy. “No fights or property damage. Just the agreement between gentlemen.”
“The idiot lost colossally,” Kai adds gleefully. “And his loss means he leaves you alone for good. That was the deal.”
“Really?” Hope blooms in my chest. “He agreed to that?”
“In front of witnesses.”
“Oh my God.” I throw my arms around Carter, then Kai, and then Carter again because I can’t contain my joy. “I love that so much. Thank you. Both of you.”
“Speaking of witnesses…” Kai pulls out his phone, his grin turning downright wicked. “Someone recorded the whole thing. It’s going viral.”
We crowd around the screen as he pulls up a video. The quality isn’t great, clearly filmed on someone’s phone in a dimly lit place, but the content is unmistakable.
Tanner, swaying on his feet, draws his arm back to throw a dart. He releases. The dart goes wildly sideways. Someone screams, and then Tanner pitches forward, face-first into the floor, and starts snoring.
The video has half a million views.
I’m laughing so hard I can barely breathe. “Oh my God. This is the best thing I’ve ever seen.”
“No one will ever let him forget this,” Kai says with deep satisfaction. “Best karma ever.”
“I sure hope you don’t plan to drive today, Carter,” I manage, still giggling. “That alcohol is probably still in your blood.”
“Nope. Kai is our designated driver.” Carter drapes an arm around my shoulders. “Which means you can snuggle in the back seat with me today.”
Kai is already bouncing toward the door, energy radiating off him. “Come on, come on. I made coffee for the road. Those big travel mugs that keep everything hot. One for each of us.”
I catch his arm as he passes. “Hey. Are you ready for today? With Brutus?”
“Yeah,” he says, and there’s a steadiness there even if his eyes give him away. “You have no idea how ready I am, but I know it’s going to be a great day.”
He tugs me in for one more kiss, and I let myself melt into it. For a moment, I allow myself forget everything that could go wrong.
