“I don’t understand,” she admitted quietly.
Tyrell leaned forward, calm and steady in that way that made everything feel less scary. “We realized yesterday that all three of us have spent time with you this week. And that we’re all interested in you.”
Her cheeks went pink. Bright pink.
I melted a little inside. Shereallywould make the best little sister in the whole world, and it was becoming harder andharder to control myself. Not to mention her blushing made other parts of me hard too for some reason.
“And,” Master Lee added gently, “we didn’t want you to feel like anyone was hiding something. Or competing behind your back.”
I nodded vigorously. “Also, because I really, really like you, and I didn’t want to pretend: I didn’t want Daddy and I… to pretend we didn’t know Master Lee, because that would be weird, and you deserve honesty, and also breakfast is better with friends.”
Tyrell covered his mouth like he was hiding a smile. “Breathe, baby.”
“I am breathing,” I muttered. Again.
Hope laughed then, soft and startled, hand flying to her lips like she couldn’t quite believe she was doing it.
“Okay,” she said slowly. “Okay… this is a lot. But… thank you. For telling me.” She looked straight at Master Lee. “I was going to tell you about them today. Well, them... and you already know I went on a date with Master Troy last night. But then there’s also Master Archie.”
Wait. What?
There weremoreguys?
I mean, realistically, I could see things working out between all of us, if it were the four of us. But two more guys? Who I didn’t know? My heart sank, and Tyrell must have sensed my shift in mood because he grabbed my hand and gave it a squeeze.
I didn’t look at him right away. I kept my eyes on the table like maybe if I stared hard enough, two extra men would disappear.
Master Lee didn’t react immediately. I caught his nod in my peripheral vision. “Thank you for telling us,” he said evenly. “That can’t have been easy.”
Hope’s shoulders dropped a fraction at his tone.
Tyrell squeezed my hand again before releasing it, but this time he kept his fingers resting against my thigh.
“Are you interested in them?” Tyrell asked gently.
Hope hesitated. “Yes. I mean—I think so. There’s so much to figure out. I didn’t expect to connect with anyone, let alone… this many people.”
I swallowed.
Because that made sense. She wasn’t collecting us like trophies.On purpose.
She was just overwhelmed. Kind of likeIwas feeling right then.
Master Lee leaned back slightly in his chair. “Hope, this event was designed for exploration. No one here should expect exclusivity without a conversation.”
He glanced at me then. Not long. Just enough. It wasn’t a warning. Somehow it felt more like reassurance. We knew what we had signed up for.
Tyrell shifted closer to me, shoulder brushing mine. “You don’t owe any of us any promises of forever and fidelity,” he added. “Not yet.”
Those words landed softly.
Not yet.
Hope looked between the three of us, clearly bracing for disappointment. “If this is too much, I understand.”
I finally lifted my head.
“Hey,” I said, and my voice came out steadier than I felt. “You don’t get disqualified for being pretty and popular.”
