“I swear it’s legit! The guy even shared the details, down to his routine for maintenance and upkeep and everything. Dude’s intense.”
“That’s gotta be AI bullshit,” Kai hedges.
Arjun crosses his arms and huffs. “In username StandardDeviantKW I trust.”
“Enough,” Mercer says, using his stern professor voice to quiet the crowd. “You’re all here to check on Sawyer and Tytus. Is that correct?”
General murmurs of agreement rise up from the group.
“Okay.” Mercer looks around the foyer. “You’ve located them. They appear well. Will there be anything else?”
The room falls silent. It’s an awkward, noxious silence. As eager as I am to get everyone out of this foyer, I highly doubt Atty is going anywhere without answers.
“We need to talk,” I tell him, then give each of my guys a quick look in turn.
When I meet Noah’s gaze, understanding registers, and he dips his chin.
“Listen up,” he tells the group. “I just put on a fresh pot of coffee, and there are two kinds of pie in the fridge. Help yourselves, but also clean up after yourselves, understood?”
Murmurs of agreement and gratitude float around us as they file down the hall.
Cam trails behind, grabbing my hand once she’s close enough. “You’re good?” she asks, concern marring her face.
I can’t hide my smile. “I’m so,sogood.”
She wags her brows and subtly eyes the guys. We have a lot of catching up to do.
“I’m sorry about all of them,” she adds. “That was the last time I ever sanction a hockey team and rec crew get-together. Arjun and hockey players do not mix. Text me when you’re back on campus this week, okay? We’ll do lunch.”
I squeeze her hand as she takes off after the others, then I turn to face my guys.
Atty looks around the foyer, noting who’s left. “So when you say ‘we’ need to talk, this is the ‘we’ in question?”
My stomach sinks. Good grief. He’s not going to make this easy on any of us. Gnawing on the corner of my lip, I glance at Ty to gauge his opinion.
“It’s your call,” he murmurs.
Last night, Mercer confessed his devotion and told me the only way through was by leaning in with love. It would be easier to talk to Atty alone. Or to sit him down with Ty by my side. But that wouldn’t be the most honest representation of our dynamic.
So I focus on my brother, then tip my chin toward the living room. “Yes. Weallneed to talk. Let’s go.”
Chapter fifty-one
Sawyer
My brother refuses to sit. He’s taken to pacing in front of the fireplace.
Maybe coming in here to talk wasn’t the brightest of ideas. Every time I track Atty’s path, memories of what happened in front of the fireplace last night trickle into my consciousness.
“So you’re with all of them?” he asks, repeating the words I just said.
“Yes.” I nod once. I’m seated beside Noah, with Mercer and Tytus standing on opposite ends of the couch, like sentries of silent support. “I’m with all of them. We’re in a relationship, the four of us.”
Atty halts and pulls a face. “They’re not exactly in the same age bracket as you, Sawy.”
Tytus scoffs, crossing his arms over his chest. “We’re in our twenties. They’re in their thirties.”
He subtly glances our way to confirm, and the guys both nod. “It’s only weird if you make it weird, bro.”
