I love them.I choose them.
None of it sounds right.
We pull up to Ben’s brownstone, and my throat goes dry.
“Ready?” Silas asks.
No.“Yes.”
We get out and walk to the door together. Silas reaches for the bell, and we wait. Ben opens the door within seconds. He must’ve been waiting for us to arrive.
He steps back and lets us in. His jaw is tight, and he looks tired. “Let’s talk in the living room.”
We follow him inside. The same room where we had Thanksgiving dinner two nights ago. When everything was still a secret.
Ben sits in the armchair. We take the couch—me between Evan and Callum, Silas on the end.
Silence.
I count my heartbeats and lose track after twelve.
Ben leans forward. “I’m listening.”
Silas speaks first. “We never meant for this to happen.” Despite what he must be feeling, he’s maintaining control of his emotions really well. “We went into this agreement planning to end this after the year was up, or as soon as we could. We never expected to have a real relationship with your sister.”
Ben doesn’t respond.
“None of us expected it to be real.” Callum shifts forward. “But I fell for her. We all did.”
“When?” Ben asks.
Callum glances at Silas, then Evan. “Different times. But it happened.”
“And you?” Ben looks at Evan.
“Same.” Evan’s hand finds mine on the couch. “In the beginning, it was all for show. But at some point, those lines blurred, and I fell in love with her. But I couldn’t help it.”
Ben scoffs. “Love?”
Evan squeezes my hand. “It’s real.”
“I love her, too,” Callum agrees. Then he locks eyes with me. “I will never want someone else.”
I exhale. Hearing them admit this to Ben makes my whole body warm with affection.
Ben’s eyes shift to Silas.
“I held out the longest,” Silas admits. “I thought I could keep it professional, long after they did. I was wrong.”
Ben’s eyes shift to me. “And you? Youlovethem?”
I sit straighter. “I do. I chose this. I want this.”
“Because of the money?”
“No!” I don’t mean to raise my voice, but the accusation hurts. “Because they make me feel safe. I belong with them. The love between us is real.”
Ben drags a hand through his hair.
