Sawyer snorted. “You’re not pissed because Reggie was in bed with me are you?”
Hutch looked up and met Sawyer’s gaze. “No,” he said honestly. “I think . . .” Hell, what did he think? But then they’d always been honest and up front with one another. There wasn’t a reason to deviate from that now. “I think I’m pissed because I’m not pissed.”
Sawyer crooked one eyebrow. “That’s some messed up logic.”
“Tell me about it,” Hutch muttered.
“Care to elaborate?”
“Think about it, Sawyer. What normal guy wouldn’t be pissed that the woman he loves is curled up in not one man’s arms, but two? His two best friends. I’m beginning to wonder if I haven’t lost my damn mind. I stood there in the doorway this morning looking at the three of you, and all I did was grin. How fucked up is that?”
Sawyer pursed his lips thoughtfully. “So you’re more messed up over the fact that you’ve accepted our arrangement than you are over the idea of sharing Reggie with me and Cam.”
“Yeah, something like that.”
“Well, if I had to guess, I’d say that it’s very similar to what Reggie is struggling with. I don’t think the idea of being with the three of us freaks her out nearly as much as herconsideringthe possibility.”
Hutch nodded. “Yeah, I can relate to that.” He put the knife aside and turned on the electric skillet. “As much as we’ve always given less than a damn what other people think about us, as much as we’ve always gone our own way, I can’t help but wonder over the fallout over our . . . relationship.”
He pulled out a frying pan and set it on the stove then plunked three slabs of ham into it. Then he returned to the electric skillet and held his hand over the griddle to test the temp.
“So you’re worried about what other people will think?” Sawyer asked with a frown.
Hutch shrugged. “Maybe? I mean I don’t worry so much about me, but Reggie has a public service job. Can you imagine what the citizens of our esteemed community are going to do when they get wind that she’s shacked up with the three of us? And her father. Jesus. There’ll be no end to his screaming. She could very well lose her job over this.”
“We’ll always take care of Reggie,” Sawyer said.
“But will she be happy?” Hutch asked softly. “Because I want her to be happy more than I want me to be happy or you or Cam.”
Sawyer rubbed a hand over his face. “That’s a good question,” he murmured. “But all we can do is try, Hutch. Weallwant her to be happy. I’m going to do everything in my power to make that happen, and I know you and Cam will too. And maybe in the end, that’s all wecando.”
Hutch sighed. “I know you’re right, man. It’s just messed up. I mean even the fact that we’re sitting here discussing the pitfalls of sharing the same woman . . . it’s twisted.”
“I didn’t realize this bothered you so much,” Sawyer said quietly.
Hutch carefully ladled out the batter into small circles on the skillet. “Most days it doesn’t. I won’t lie to you and say that like you said, in a perfect world, it would only be me and Reggie. I’m okay with this. I really am. And I think that’s what bothers me. That I’mokaywith it. When the sane part of me is screamingwhat the fuckat me.”
“Get over it,” Sawyer said. “It doesn’t do any good to let your sensibilities scream bloody murder. Yeah, it’s unorthodox as hell. No doubt it’s going to gain us a few raised eyebrows and public censure. But it’s our job to be above that and to protect Reggie from as much of it as possible.”
Hutch nodded. “You’re right. I know.” Then he leveled a stare at Sawyer. “I wasn’t jealous this morning. I’ve been up front with you from the beginning. You know I’d tell you if I was.”
“It’s okay, man, even if you were jealous. I don’t expect this to be some freaky utopia where we never have to work at things.” He rubbed a hand over his face. “Christ, I’m starting to sound like freaking Cam. He’s the one who usually does all the feather soothing. When did it become my job to babysit your asses?”
Hutch chuckled and relaxed. “Sorry, man. I think I just hit the panic button this morning.”
“Yeah well, cut that shit out. We’ve got other things to worry about.”
“What are we worrying about?” Cam asked as he entered the kitchen. “And has anyone seen my glasses? I swear I left them in the living room but hell if I can find them.”
Sawyer grinned and picked up the wire frames from the counter and held them out to Cam.
“Thanks, man,” Cam mumbled. He slid the glasses on and shoved his hair back from his face. “Now what are we worrying about?”
“Yeah, do tell,” Hutch said. He picked up the spatula and flipped the first pancake. Perfect.
“Hello? There’s some freak out there stalking Reggie?”
Cam’s face darkened.
