Gage laughed. “Good thing. I’ve been married to the man for goin’ on nine years, and I haven’t scratched the top layer yet.”
Trey huffed a laugh. “Hell, I’ve known him all my life, seen him at a million family functions, and I haven’t figured him out.”
“Fair point.”
“Magnus is in love with Ava,” Trey blurted. “Has been for a long time. They grew up together, have a shared history and whatnot. But she was married, so he considered her off-limits.”
“And now she’s not? And they’ve gotten closer?”
Trey nodded.
“And you and Magnus…?” Gage wagged a finger back and forth.
“It’s rocky right now. Although I’ve denied it a million times, I love him.”
“But you don’t wanna share him.”
“Partly, yeah. The other is that I’ve…” This was the hard part, but Trey forged ahead, lowering his voice. “I’m thirty-eight fuckin’ years old, and I kissed my first woman last week.”
Gage grinned. “I assume you mean Ava.”
“She kissed me.”
Gage’s eyebrows rose. “And…?”
“I didn’t throw up.”
Gage barked a laugh loud enough to draw attention from others. Trey couldn’t help it, he laughed, too.
“Seriously,” Trey amended. “I liked it. But when it first happened, I wasn’t sure if it was because I’m not ready to let go of what I have with Magnus.”
“That makes sense, sure.”
“What I want to know is … how did you know Travis was it for you?”
“First off, if you know our history, you know I hated him. Hell, I’m the one who outed his secret marriage to Kylie by bringin’ her to Coyote Ridge.”
Trey had heard the tales.
“I fought my attraction to him tooth and nail, but in the end, there was no denyin’ it. I wanted him, but that’s because I wantedhim. I fell in love with Travis Walker, notaman.”
“That’s my problem,” Trey admitted, using his fingernail to peel the label off his beer. “I felt somethin’ when Ava kissed me the first time, but even more so today.” He met Gage’s eyes. “I can’t name another woman who’s ever captured my attention or made me wanna switch sides. Or play both, as is the case with them.”
Gage set his beer down and leaned forward. “Gay or straight, you love who you love, man. And I love Travis with all that I am, but I can tell you, I’ve never looked at another man that way.”
“Or been in a relationship with two people?”
Gage’s eyes dropped to the table.
“Do you think you and Travis will ever…?” Trey couldn’t get the words out.
Gage’s eyes snapped up to his face. “I’m surprised you asked me that.”
“I didn’t mean to overstep.”
Gage waved his hand where it rested on the table. “It’s not that. I think it’s on everyone’s mind. No one’s ever had the guts to ask.” He exhaled slowly. “It’s far too soon for me even to consider that right now, but who knows what the future might bring. Right now, our only focus is on the kids.” Gage leaned back in his seat. “I still miss Kylie every minute of every day, and though it no longer feels like there are shards of glass rippin’ and slicin’ through my insides, I still ache. I don’t wake up in a cold sweat anymore, though, so I figure that means the healin’ has begun.”
Trey felt a knot form in his throat, but he swallowed down the emotion.
