The four of them take turns holding my hand and spending time with me, and if it weren’t for feeling like I was leaving Elias out, the day would have been perfect. Although he tried to act like it didn’t bother him to watch me with the others, I have no idea what to do about it.
He’s been my best friend my entire life. He was also my first crush, and I thought I had been in love with him before he disappeared. Now that he’s back in my life, my feelings have changed. I realize I hadn’t been in love before, because what I feel now is so much more intense; it can’t be anythingotherthan love, making what I felt before pale in comparison.
But the others seem to merely tolerate him, and I am already forcing them to share me between the four of them. I feel like it’d be an insult to add Elias into the mix. And I still wasn’t sure if Elias even felt that way about me. I know he cares, but I’m still not completely convinced it’s platonic, at least on his end.
CHAPTER TWENTY
WREN
As I stand under the warm spray of the shower, I start to grow nervous. Today has been the best day of my life. But tomorrow… Tomorrow we go to stake out Robert, and who knows what will happen.
That’s not what’s making my stomach twist with nerves, though. What has me feeling uneasy is the conversation I want to have with my boyfriends.
I’ve decided to confront them about the fact that we haven’t had sex yet. I feel more than ready, and I know none of them are virgins. And if they really haven’t had girlfriends, as they’ve said, then I don’t understand what the holdup is. It’s starting to make me feel self-conscious.
When I finish with my shower, I get dressed and take my time drying my hair before stepping into the bedroom. Pete and Dex are lying on the bed, watching TV, but their eyes immediately find me.
“Come join us, angel,” Pete says, patting the bed between them.
“Actually, I wanted to talk to you guys, all four of you.”
“Is everything okay?” Dex asks, sitting up as concern etches his features.
“Yeah, I just want to talk to you about something important.”
“I’ll text Jagger and Sly to join us,” Pete says, quickly pulling out his phone and firing off a text.
I start to pace, but don’t make it four steps before Sly and Jagger arrive, looking worried.
“What’s wrong?” Sly asks, immediately eyeing me.
“Nothing, but can you two sit down? I have something to say.”
Jagger closes the door as Sly sits on the edge of the bed beside Dex. Jagger comes to sit at the end of the bed, where he’s only two feet away from me. He reaches for my hand, and I give it to him, giving it a small squeeze before I let go and start pacing again.
I know I’ll get it out more easily if I don’t look at them directly, so I take a deep breath and open my mouth, but nothing comes out. I huff out a growl and pace another few steps before I try again, but nerves wrap around my voice, keeping me silent.
“Wren, you can tell us anything,” Dex says when I try, unsuccessfully, for the third time.
“Unless you’re trying to break up with us, in that case I don’t want to hear it,” Pete says, looking like he’s half-teasing and half worried.
I look at him in alarm. “No! Of course not!”
“Then what is it you’re trying to tell us?” Sly asks.
“I…” Once again, my tongue gets tied, and being the men they are, they decide to help by guessing what I’m trying to say.
“You don’t want to wear the leash anymore?” Dex asks, and I shake my head.
“No, that’s fine.”
“You think Sly is too bossy?" Pete guesses, and I shake my head.
“You’re tired of Pete’s childish humor?” Sly asks, glaring at him.
I let out a sigh as Dex asks, “Is it about Elias?” All eyes turn to me, and I shake my head.
“No, it’s not about him, it’s about you guys.”
