Jase nodded. “We aren’t treating this as something casual either. We’re all in.”
Somehow, both of these men had stolen my heart, and I was as committed to us as they were.
We continued chatting for a while, but I checked the time and ended the conversation. “As much as I would rather stay here tonight, we really need to get ready for the gala.”
“Okay,” Dad replied. “How long will you three be in D.C.? Maybe we can get together again before you leave.”
“That would be great, but Jase and I leave the day after tomorrow,” Dylan explained.
Jase added, “We’re flying to San Diego to visit my mom for a couple of weeks before heading to spring training.”
“That’s wonderful. I’m sure she’s very excited to see you.” Mom turned to Dylan. “Are you going to see your mother too?”
Maybe I was becoming more in tune with the guys than I realized, because I immediately noticed a slight shift in the air. It dawned on me in all our time together, I had never heard Dylan mention his mom. He talked about Jase’s mom often, but I knew nothing about the woman who had given birth to him.
“We don’t have a relationship,” he said casually. “She wasn’t very present when I was younger. When my dads came out, andTyler was honest with her about who he is, she spouted off some pretty horrible things. I decided at that point I wasn’t going to keep someone in my life who was full of hate.”
Mom placed her hand on Dylan’s arm. “I apologize for bringing it up.”
He shook his head. “I came to terms with it a while ago. Honestly, I have a great family who loves me no matter what. She’s the one who’s missing out.”
Dad nodded. “Absolutely.”
As we stood to leave, my mom pulled me into a hug and whispered, “You seem happy.”
I smiled against her shoulder. “I really am.”
An hour later,I stood in my bedroom, smoothing the fabric of my sage-colored trumpet gown as I stared at my reflection.
It had been a while since I’d attended an event with a date. Now I had two, though only a handful of people knew that. Still, I knew there would be photographers eager to capture pictures of Jase and me together, even without confirmation that we were a couple.
Across the hall, I could faintly hear Jase and Dylan laughing about something as they got ready in a guest room.
The staff had arranged the room assignments; however, just like in Portland, I knew we’d end up in the same bed. But it wasn’t something I felt like explaining to my parents.
I was adjusting my earrings when someone knocked at the door. “Come in.”
The door swung open, and I balked.
“Surprise!” Fallon grinned.
I blinked. “What are you doing here?”
“You’ve been avoiding me,” he accused, stepping inside as if it were his room, not mine. “Hid out in Portland for two weeks. Barely answered my texts. So I came to you.”
Rhett hovered behind him, looking far too entertained by all this. “Hi, Faye.”
I groaned and hugged them both. “I was busy.”
“Uh-huh. Busy dating baseball players and pretending dropping that bomb wasn’t a big deal.”
“Why is my dating life a big deal?” I shot back.
He gave me a look. “Two guys. Twoyoungerguys. Two guys who I’ve had a front-row seat to their partying ways.”
“So you came all the way here to question me about it? You realize that sounds unhinged, right?”
That earned a snort from Rhett.
