Chapter Twenty-Three
Rip
I woke early, just like I did every morning. Mars’s familiar arm was flung across my chest, and for a second, my mind lingered over the usual morning routines.
Coffee and breakfast with Aunt Grace, and there should be some leftovers I can bring for lunch…
Then I felt another shape, shifting beside me, and I remembered.
I pulled myself out of bed slowly, careful not to wake the guys. As I stepped into the hot shower and felt a blast of water against my face, the night slowly returned to me. Mars had seduced me into a few threesomes over the years, but they were always a little awkward, and the guys could never match the easy rhythm Mars and I felt with each other. Clark, though, was a whole different story.
As I ran a brush through my hair and tugged on some clothes, warm satisfaction filled my chest. I could have sworn it felt as good to know they were there, sleeping safely in my bed, as it did to feel both of their bodies at once, hot and hard in my hands.
When I exited the bathroom, Clark was standing there, rubbing his eyes and yawning. He smiled awkwardly to me as he pulled his glasses back on, and I leaned forward to place a quick kiss on his forehead.
“Mars is still asleep,” Clark said quietly.
I laughed, no longer worried about keeping my voice down. “He’ll snore through the morning,” I said. “A marching band could pass by and he wouldn’t even notice.”
Clark smiled to himself. “That’s not surprising,” he said.
I glanced at the door. I wanted to offer Clark breakfast and make sure he was feeling okay after our night together. There was so much we needed to talk about, but the night before, there hadn’t really been time for words.
“I have things to do this morning,” I said. “You’re welcome to stay here, but maybe…” I trailed off, not certain if I should follow what my gut was telling me.
Fuck it, I thought.Time to stop doubting my instincts.
“I have breakfast with my aunt every morning, Aunt Grace. Want to join us?”
Clark blinked, surprised by the offer. “The woman you moved here to take care of?”
“She’s working through some things,” I said. “Helps to get a good breakfast at the start of the day.” I paused, considering Clark again, from his wrinkled shirt to the awkward cowlick in his hair. “You’d like each other,” I said.
Clark thought about it for a second, then nodded. “Sure, I could use some breakfast before I head to work.”
“Great,” I said as I grabbed my jacket. “Let’s go.”
I led us down the stairs and to Aunt Grace’s porch, then asked Clark to wait outside while I ran in to wake her and ask if she was up for a guest. She nodded groggily, but smiled at the suggestion, and I left to give her a little privacy while Clark and I pulled some food together.
“Come in,” I said to Clark. “Just try to keep your voice down if you can. Mars might sleep through a tornado, but quiet is nice in the morning.”
“Quiet is nice in the morning,” Clark agreed.
I flipped on the coffee and directed Clark to whisk some eggs, and we quickly fell into each other’s rhythms. Even though Clark was disheveled from the night and clearly out of his element, he still traced his eyes over the apartment with honest curiosity, turning from the decorations on the walls to the empty coffee mugs scattered around.
“You and your aunt have a lot in common,” he said simply, clearly noticing how similar it was to my place upstairs.
“We do,” I agreed. “She’s my only real family.”
Clark turned to me, then stuck a hand on his hip. “You can’t get away with that anymore, Rip,” he said, his voice somehow stern and warm at the same time. “Not after last night.”
I cocked an eyebrow, not certain what he meant.
“You love Mars,” Clark said again. “That’s why everything happened, isn’t it? Because Mars is your family, too?”
The coffee machine gurgled, and I hit the button to flip it off as the last few drops fell into the pot. “Has it always been that obvious?” I asked. “How long have you known?”
“A while,” Clark answered. “Since Mars first started talking about you, I guess, although I didn’t quite realize it then. How long have you known?”
