She makes them better—both of them.
The problem isn’t that I don’t want her. The problem is that I do. More than either of them knows.
And maybe it’s time I stop being responsible for once, and do something that will truly make me happy.
CHAPTER 16
Tania
I’m standing in front of my closet holding a cream sweater when the reality hits me.
I have to lie to my mother today. And I have to lie to Ben. I have to look them both in the eye and pretend this arrangement is still what we said it was—temporary, fake.
Except I’ve slept with Callum and Evan. Multiple times. Together. And Silas kissed me at that gala in a way that I still feel his lips on mine when I close my eyes.
I pull the sweater over my head and smooth it down. The four pies we made yesterday sit boxed on the kitchen counter. And they’re proof of something I can’t name. Proof of something more, that we’re spending holidays together now and building traditions.
Evan appears in my doorway, already dressed. “You look nervous.”
“I am nervous.”
He crosses to me and kisses me. My body responds immediately, wanting more, and I almost forget we’re supposed to be leaving. Almost. I break away, breathless.
“It’ll be fine.” He kisses the tip of my nose. “Your mom will love us.”
“My mom already loves you. You’ve known her since you were eight.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“The problem is, I don’t know how to act around you anymore. Not in front of my family, the people who know me best.”
His hand slides to my waist, pulling me closer. “I know. It’s getting harder.”
We don’t continue the conversation because Callum is yelling from the kitchen that we need to leave.
Evan and I go downstairs, and I grab the pies before I can think too hard about acting like these guys are just my friends.
The drive to Ben’s takes twenty minutes, and I spend most of it staring out the window while Callum drives and Evan sits beside me in the back. Silas is in the passenger seat, scrolling through his phone, avoiding eye contact with any of us.
My apprehension intensifies the closer we get.
Ben’s house is a renovated brownstone, and my mom’s car is already parked out front when we pull up. I’m carrying two of the pies, Evan has the other two, and Callum grabs the wine we brought.
Silas holds the door for me.
My brother opens his front door before we can knock, and the smell of roasting turkey hits me immediately.
Ben’s grinning. “You’re late.”
“Five minutes isn’t late.” I step inside, and he pulls me into a hug that lasts longer than usual. Like he’s checking to make sure I’m okay.
I’m not okay.
But I hug him back and lie with my body language.
My mom appears from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a towel, and her face lights up when she sees all of us.
“There you are!” She hugs me first, then Evan, then Callum, and then Silas. She’s known them most of their lives and watched them grow up alongside Ben, and the warmth in her greeting is genuine.
