“Sort of,” I hedge, not wanting to give them too much information. “She was always there.”
“And you didn’t notice her being there?” Boone raises his eyebrows.
“I did… and I didn’t.” It’s surreal talking about my complicated history with Lyra with men who might have feelings with her as well. The cynical side of me worries that they might use anything I tell them against me, but the other said tells me I have to trust.
“She had her life, and I had mine and once in a while, we’d come together.” I press my hands together and push them off each other. “We had fun—”
“How much fun?” Leo asks with a lascivious grin, but his eyes are serious.
“Not fun like that,” I assure him. “Plus, we usually ended up arguing.”
“She’s a scrapper.” Boone smiles, and it’s more disconcerting than his scowl. “I like that.”
Rand goes around and asks them what brought them to the show. One thing I like about hanging out with him is that he talks a lot—and I find out a lot about the others.
“I was sort of pushed into it by the guys in the fire station,” Fireman Dylan admits. “We did one of those calendars, and women would DM me, and even show up at the station. It was fun for a while, but I’ve never been big on dating.”
“Well, that certainly opens up room for the rest of us,” Rand drawls. Dylan is one of the better-looking guys here.
“I want to settle down,” he argues. “No more dating.”
I wonder if Lyra will ever settle down.
“My sister made me do it,” Boone offers in his gravelly voice. “I don’t say no to her.”
“Same with mine.” Heads turn in my direction since it’s the first time I’ve given anything. “Half-sisters, but still sisters. I’d do anything they tell me to. Not that they told me to do this. This was all me. They were very surprised.”
“I’ve got brothers, and they told me I didn’t have a chance,” Rand says cheerfully. “What about you?” He turns to Leo. “Need a little more reality after your dancing debut?”
Leo shrugs apologetically. “My agent suggested it. Gotta find a way to bridge the kid actor to the leading man. But knowing Lyra was going to be the Suitorette was definitely a bonus,” he adds.
“My daughter told me to do it.” This is from Jon, who wants to be the leader of the group. I laugh when I think of him trying to control Lyra.
And then I feel sick to my stomach.
It’s a regular occurrence when I think of any one of these guys taking Lyra from me.
Never exactlytaking, since she’s never been mine, but winning her heart, in Suitor terms. I feel sick at the thought of any of them walking away with her, because there’s an excellent possibility that any of them could.
King Magnus would approve of them asking for the hand of his only daughter.
The realization that Ilikethe competition is worse than the waiting.
“You have a kid?” Rand asks with enough surprise for the rest of us.
“She’s six and wants to be a princess.”
“She’ll love Tema then. Lyra’s great with her. She’s Bo’s daughter,” I say, inwardly cursing about giving any information.
I may be friendly with these men, but we’re all after the same prize.
“What else can you tell us about Lyra?” Leo demands.
I shake my head. “Nope. You find out what you want on your own.”
“Dude,” Rand pleads with mock seriousness. “There’s a bro-code.”
“Really?” Leo asks.
