“They do, though?” He tilts his head. “I won’t be held responsible for my actions.”
Carson snorts into his drink. “Hunter means he’ll smile politely after he breaks their kneecaps.”
Hunter shrugs again, not denying it.
Carson swivels in his stool until he’s facing me full-on, propping an elbow on the counter beside my hip. “I’m gonna say this carefully. I don’t love it. But not because of them, exactly—because Landon already got it wrong once. And Finn…” He raises a brow. “Well, the whole lurking-in-the-shadows thing would’ve gotten anyone else tased.”
I open my mouth to argue, but he lifts a finger.
“That said,” he continues, voice softening, “I’ve watched you with both of them. I see the sparks that are still there with Landon and the newer ones with Finn. If this is something you need to explore, I’m not gonna stand in your way. I’ll be the guy showing them where we keep the soap and explaining how the dishwasher works.”
My lips twitch. “I’m sure you don’t even know how the dishwasher works.”
“Exactly. Power move.” He smiles, a little sideways. “Either way, I’ll still be here. Probably buying them matching towels and assigning bathroom schedules. But here, with you.”
“You are not assigning anyone anything,” I mutter, trying not to cry.
Carson raises his brows. “You want me to start a group chat now or later?”
Graham hasn’t spoken yet. He’s been watching me. Just watching, searching for something under the surface.
He steps between my knees, resting his hands lightly on either side of my thighs on the counter. His gaze is steady. When he finally speaks, his voice is low. Quiet.
“You’re not reckless with your heart, Willow. You love loud. So if there’s still room in it for them…I’d rather know that than have you pretend otherwise.”
I exhale slowly, emotions tightening behind my ribs.
“I can share space. I can even share you.” His jaw flexes. “But I won’t share you with people who make you question your worth. So if this happens, it’s on your terms, and they meet us where we are. Not the other way around.”
I blink fast.
“You can love us and still be untangling what they mean to you.” He leans in just slightly. “They hurt you again, though? You won’t even have to ask. I’ll handle it.”
I nod, throat thick.
“You won’t lose us for being honest,” Hunter says, still by my side.
“Hell no,” Carson mutters. “You think I stuck around after listening to you moan over tacos just to dip now?”
That earns a teary laugh from me.
Graham leans in just enough to rest his forehead lightly against mine. “You can figure it out. We’re not going anywhere.”
With his words, the fear starts to melt. Not all of it. But enough.
Enough to breathe again.
Then Carson clears his throat, nudging my thigh with the back of his hand. “Okay, but I do need to point out something deeply alarming.”
I glance over, wary. “What?”
He gestures to the half-eaten taco beside me. “You let a perfectly good taco go cold. That’s... unforgivable.”
A laugh breaks out of me, sharp and unexpected.
“Seriously,” he goes on, mock-horrified. “We might need another visit to the nest just to cleanse the vibes.”
Hunter snorts. “Pretty sure that’s not how nesting works.”
