“Then I walk in here and find you in bed with him, and other clues start to click into place. The way he flies off the handle when someone on the team mentions you. All the nights he hasn’t come home. It’s all starting to make sense. He’s been in a manic, elevated state for weeks. Whatever this is—” He points one accusing finger at us. “It’s not a game. At least not to him. And my gut says you didn’t just come up with this charade on a whim. So do you have something you need to tell me, sis?”
I sense him before he moves or makes a sound, and I hold my breath, concerned I’ve shifted somehow and am hurting him.
Ty stirs behind me, his fingers digging into the fleshy side of my hip. Like he needs the reassurance that I’m here, that it’s me, that he’s okay.
I hold my breath, not daring to look my brother in the eye, and silently will Tytus to drift back to sleep.
He’s dealing with enough already. This can wait.
“Mon ange?” he asks, groaning.
Atty huffs, the sweet nickname further confirming his suspicions.
“It’s okay,” I quietly assure Ty. “It’s just Atty. Go back to sleep.”
Several seconds pass before I look up and meet my twin’s gaze again.
“So are you married?” he lobs at me without preamble.
Ty grasps my hip again, anchoring me to him.
Instinctively, I cover his hand with mine, offering a reassuring squeeze in response.
We’re okay.
I’ve got this.
“We’re not.”
Atty narrows his eyes, searching for the lie. “But you’re together?”
I bite down hard on my cheek, weighing my words.
By not being up front with Atty, Ty and I have already inadvertently hurt him. There’s no logical explanation for any of this. How do I explain to my brother that his best friend blackmailed me, broke into my dorm, and forced me to come on his lap, all while referring to me as his wife… and I… what? Played along? Went with it to see where it would go?
I actively participated, pushing the limits and redefining our connection with every encounter. I let myself play games with Ty. I let myself fall deeper with Mercer and Noah. I chased what felt good. I found three men who wanted to keep me, when no one had ever wanted more from me before.
As a result, the last two months have been the most selfish and destructive of my life.
I hurt everyone by creating this perfect storm in which the people I care about hurt each other.
I try to blink away tears while holding my brother’s gaze.
They fall anyway.
It was stupid to think I was ever in control. Or that I would get a happy ending with any of the men I’ve fallen for.
It was stupid of all three of them to fall for me.
I’m a poison. All I bring is hurt and pain.
“We’ve been together for a few weeks,” I finally reply, still not meeting my brother’s gaze. I leave it at that. Partly because I don’t want to lie to him anymore. But also because I don’t want to agitate Ty in his current state.
Atty rumbles out a humorless laugh, muttering something that sounds like “always the last to fucking know.” Angling forward, he glares again. “What about the men out in the waiting room, Sawy? The two mucholdermen, one of whom I believe is your boss? They’re sitting out there looking wrecked as hell, like they haven’t slept all night. What about them?”
I suck in a sharp breath.
Mercer and Noah are still here?
