His expression was somber. “He’s not gay. I’m not gay.”
“Then what? You’re…?” She leaned forward, angling her chin and raising her eyebrow, waiting for him to fill in the blank. “I need you to tell me, Holt.”
Her bravado failed her, and the first tear fell, adding to her shame and anguish.
Her voice was a harsh whisper when she said, “Tell me so I can understand what the fuck is goin’ on.”
If he answered, Bailey didn’t hear him because the tears began to fall, and they didn’t stop. He pulled her into his arms and held her against him, palming her head in an embrace that made her feel treasured and even more confused.
“How can I be in love with two men who love each other?” she sobbed, realizing he probably didn’t understand a word she said because it came out in a jumbled mess.
Holt pulled back, pinching her chin and urging her to look up at him. She didn’t want to, but she met his gaze.
His voice was pitched low, his tone serious. “Because those two men happen to be in love with you, too.”
“What?” she croaked, positive she did not just hear what she thought she just heard.
***
“Hey. What’s up?” Rafe answered when hisbrother called.
It was rare for Rex to call. Most of their conversations were via text, so he figured this was either important or urgent or both.
“You … um … might wanna come by and talk to Bailey.”
“Is she okay?”
“Well…” His brother trailed off, but Rafe could hear him breathing.
“Rex, if you don’t start talkin’ right—”
“Her mother saw you kiss Holt, and now Bailey thinks she’s your beard.”
“Mywhatnow?” Rafe frowned. “I don’t even know what that means.”
“And I don’t have time to explain it. I only know that Bailey’s freakin’ out because she thinks Holt used her because he’s tryin’ to hide his feelings for you. It’s a mess.”
It was Rafe’s turn to be silent because he wasn’t sure what to say. And he knew his brother was likely trying to figure out whether Rafe was in a secret romance with Holt Callahan. If he had to guess, that was exactly why Rex had called rather than texted.
Nosy fucker.
“It’s not what you think,” he told Rex, hoping that would appease him.
It didn’t.
“And what do I think, Rafe? That I’ve watched my brother pine for the same woman for nearly three years now, and then suddenly this hot writer appears out of nowhere and suddenly claims to know you, and suddenly, you’re gay!”
Jack’s voice sounded. “You think the writer’s hot?”
Never mind that Rex had used suddenly three times in the same sentence.
“I’m not gay,” Rafe clarified.
“So you’re straight?”
“I didn’t say that either.”
“You really think he’s hot?” Jack repeated.
