Page 19 of Triplets for the Rival MC

“I know,” she says with a shrug. She bites her lip, an anxious habit that I find achingly sexy. “But I wanted to do something nice for you guys. As a thank-you and an apology, I feel bad that I’ve come between you all. The last thing I want is to be the reason why you fall out.”

I wait until she meets my eye before speaking. “Tori, this isn’t your fault. Hunter made a promise, and he broke it. That’s why we’re pissed. You shouldn’t blame yourself. If you want Hunter, and he’s made it perfectly clear that he wants you, then you should be together. Me and Flint will just have to deal with it.”

I don’t know if this is true, but I also don’t want to get in the way of their relationship if they make each other happy. How could I not want that for my best friend? Even if he is being an ass right now.

“What if I want more?” she asks, so softly I wonder whether I’ve misheard her.

“More?” I ask, stepping closer to her.

Her breathing becomes shallow, her lips part, and her pupils dilate. Is Tori attracted to me? I briefly contemplate kissing her, imagining what it would be like, but I push the thought aside. She’s done nothing to suggest that. She probably means a relationship instead of sex. I’m letting my feelings for her cloud my judgment.

“What was Bella like?” she suddenly asks, throwing me off guard but also making me wonder if my instinct might have been correct after all. Why else would she ask about her?

I sigh, considering avoiding answering, but there’s no reason why Tori shouldn’t know. “Beautiful, smart, the kind of woman who would walk into a room and have everyone eating out of the palm of her hand. But she was also manipulative, jealous, and petty. I’m not sure she ever really wanted us. She just wanted us to want her. She didn’t understand how none of us were jealous of the others sharing her. She wouldn’t want to share us with another woman, so she felt that our being happy to share meant we didn’t love her enough. So, she decided to make us jealous, because it was the only way to prove we loved her as much as we said.”

I glance over at Tori and notice she’s stopped cleaning, her focus on my story. I continue to scrub, needing an excuse not to look at her.

“The only problem was, the more jealous she made us, the more it tore us apart. It wasn’t enough that we were possessive and jealous of other guys, she wanted us to be jealous of each other. She made us compete for her affection; the winner would get her. Eventually, we realized how toxic the relationship was, how she was turning us against each other, and we decided our friendship was more important.”

“I bet she was pissed when you guys broke it off with her,” Tori says with a wry smile.

I chuckle, thinking back. “You could say that again. She keyed our bikes.”

Tori winces. “Oof, she might as well have kicked you in the balls.”

I laugh, appreciating her understanding of how precious a man’s motorcycle is to him, as precious as his manhood. “Right? Probably would have been cheaper and less painful.”

“So, after that, you guys didn’t share women anymore.”

“Right,” I agree with a short nod.

“Was she the first woman you had shared?” she asks, cocking her head.

I want to ask why she’s so interested in this, but I don’t. “Emotionally, yes. Sexually, there were others.”

“And you didn’t fall out over those?” she clarifies.

“No, only Bella,” I admit.

I think I get her angle now. I have to admit the thought of having sex with Tori is undeniably tempting, but I also don’t know if I could handle it being no strings attached. I know I can be a hopeless romantic, and I already like Tori for who she is, not just her looks.

She nods, satisfied by this response. “Has it occurred to you then that Bella was the problem? Not the sharing.”

“Of course, but the risk of testing that theory means I could lose my brothers forever if I’m wrong.”

Her smile fades. She nods, her attitude shifting, becoming guarded and closed. “Of course. You wouldn’t want to risk that for anything. Or anyone.” She finishes up cleaning the last spot on the bike, dumping the water down the drain. “I should probably go and get ready for work. I’ll see you later.”

With that, she rushes out of the door, leaving me standing there wondering if I should have told her all that.

Why do I always have to be so goddamned honest? Hunter would have kissed her. That’s why he got the girl, and I’m standing here like a fucking idiot. No. Fuck it. If Hunter can be an ass and do whatever he wants, then so will I.

I rush after Tori, catching up with her in the corridor. “Tori.” I reach for her hand, and she turns to face me, surprise etched upon her face. “Hunter isn’t the only one who wants you.”

I kiss her. For a mortifying moment, I think I’ve badly misjudged this and made a terrible mistake, but then she kisses me back. The kiss is deep, passionate, incredible. When she finally pulls away, her lips are swollen, her eyes bright, and her cheeks flushed.

“Cyrus, I…” Confusion and conflict rush across her face.

“You don’t have to decide anything now,” I assure her, kissing her hand. “I just wanted you to know how I feel. Don’t worry, whatever you decide, I won’t hold it against you, and it won’t ruin mine and Hunter’s friendship. I’ll make it work somehow.”