Page 14 of All He Wants

Morgan: This is the last time I cover for you over the holidays

Morgan: but also tell me more

Me: Do you remember Nick’s brother?

Morgan: You mean sm’oakley?

I rolled my eyes at Morgan’s message as I sat back down on the window seat I’d found the other day. My fingers were still a little cold from the winter walk-turned-orgasm-fest, and I wrapped them around my mug of hot chocolate with a shiver that wasn’t entirely due to the cold.

Sm’oakley – short for smokeshow-Oakley – was what Morgan and my other friends had taken to calling Oakley after they’d met him the first time he had visited Nick.

Me: the very same

Morgan: … DETAILS

Morgan: Did something happen between you and Nick?

I knew what she was asking, if I had broken up with Nick or had a fight with him while we’d been away, but trying to explain what had actually happened was difficult — because I wasn’t sure I fully understood it myself.

Me: It’s a long story

Me: But I was with them both

Morgan: As in???

Me: Yeah

My phone rang with a video call a second after I sent the reply and I took a sip of my hot chocolate and nearly choked on a tiny marshmallow before I hit answer.

“Hey.”

“Hey? That’s what you have to say? What the hell happened?” Morgan’s green eyes were bright and seemed to be glittering a ton — or maybe that was just the reflection of the store’s holiday lights in her shimmery silver eyeliner.

“They, ah, like to share?” I winced. “I don’t know, okay? It just happened. Nick said Oakley was in love with me and we were out in the forest and then they were both just kissing me and⁠—”

Morgan shushed me. “Take a breath. And another one.” I did as she told me and she nodded in approval. “Now, did you have fun?” I nodded. “Then that’s all that matters, okay? Talk it out with the boys when you’re ready, but otherwise try not to stress about it.” I opened my mouth to protest and snapped it shut when she narrowed her eyes. She was right. I was naturally a stresser. “The store is all fine by the way, massively busy, but we’re coping. Though, I think it’s your turn to run things next year.”

I nodded. “Totally. Thank you again.”

“Any time, babe.” A crash sounded in the background and she winced. “I, ah, gotta go. Happy Christmas!”

“Merry Christmas,” I replied, the phone cutting me off before I’d finished and I took another sip of my drink as I watched the snow flurries start up again outside and tried not to worry about whatever was going on back home. Morgan could handle it.

Oakley

My head was spinning. I was an absolute mess. Yeah, I’d finally had the chance to kiss Ember, to pretend like she was mine. Our girl. But now?

I’d had a taste and it wasn’t enough. What was I supposed to do? Move on? Pretend it didn’t happen? That she wasn’t fucking perfect in every way imaginable?

I stalked across the hall and knocked on the door, striding inside without a word when Nick opened the door. He’d clearly just come from the shower, a towel wrapped loosely around his waist. “We need to talk.”

Nick closed the door and retreated into the bathroom for another towel that he used to ruffle his hair. “Sure. What’s up?”

“Me. You. Ember.”

He hummed. “Yeah, good, right?”

“Nick, I don’t want to be a third to you guys, just something fun you guys do when you’re bored and horny.” I folded my arms across my chest and was surprised when his face softened.