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Shifting on Brynn’s other side makes me realize that Ares is awake too. He’s also staring down at her, looking at her like he can’t believe she’s there. Maybe he thought it was all a dream, I don’t know.

It’s not a look I’ve seen on his face maybe ever, but then he glances up, notices me watching, and his expression clears.

He looks at me, and I look back, the two of us sharing the moment. Finally, Ares rolls his eyes. “Next time,” he murmurs. “She’s wearing my shirt.”

I snort. “Now look who’s being possessive,” I tease him. “I thought she didn’t belong to you.”

“She doesn’t. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want to see her in my clothes.”

I definitely can’t blame him for that. Every time I look down and see Brynn in my shirt, it sends that little pulse of satisfaction curling through me.

“We’ll see how it goes,” I reply. “Maybe she likes my clothes better.”

“How many clothes do you even own that aren’t chef coats?” Ares throws back. “Eventually, you’re gonna run out of shirts, and then I’ll be there waiting.”

“I don’t know if you know, Ares, but there are these things called stores where you can go and buy more shirts. I could have a whole closet full if I really wanted to.”

He rolls his eyes at me again. “That’s not the point.”

It’s lighthearted, the bantering between us. The same kind of shit we do about what to order for dinner when we’re all hanging out, or what to watch on TV when we can’t find something Ares is in to watch. It feels easy, fun. This is definitely not something we’ve done before, partly because Ares has never really seemed interested in hooking up with or dating women at all. Now I understand why, so I get it, but still. We’ve never talked about it, and I don’t know if the thought has ever crossed Callan or Ares’ minds at all.

But it feels natural to be like this. Sure, I felt a little jealous watching Brynn with my friends in a way, but it was the kind of jealousy that only turned me on more and made me eager for my turn. A kind of anticipation that burned under my skin and made me desperate to show her how good I could make her feel too. There was nothing bitter or angry in it, and I liked the way that felt.

If it was that good the first time, I can only imagine how much better it’ll be once we’ve all really learned how it works to do this together. It could be fun to see how it could all play out days down the line, maybe even longer. But—no. That’s not the kind of thing I go for. I’m not a ‘relationship’ guy, and this kind of thing would be even more intense to navigate than a normal relationship. Better to not even start thinking like that.

“Why are you just staring into space?” Ares asks, shaking me from my thoughts.

“I’m thinking, Ares. I know that’s not something you do very often. You just get a set of lines and directions and do what you’re told. But this is what it looks like when someone is using their brain.”

“Wow, you’re an asshole,” Ares deadpans.

We both laugh at that, and the sound wakes Brynn, who stirs between us with a sleepy little yawn.

She blinks up at me, and then turns her head to see Ares there too. It’s interesting to watch in real time as the events that led up to her being here between us start to slot into place behind her eyes.

“Oh,” she breathes, cheeks going pink.

“Oh indeed,” I reply, smirking down at her. “Remembering a few things about last night?”

“Apparently,” she mutters, turning her face to hide in the pillow.

I laugh, and Ares reaches over to smooth her hair back.

“How are you feeling?” he asks, uncharacteristically soft.

“Fine. Sore.” She doesn’t look up, but she does nuzzle a bit into his touch.

“We did a number on you yesterday,” I say. “No shame in feeling it.” I smirk, even though she can’t see it with her face buried the way it is. “In fact, it’s hotter that you do feel it. That means we did it right.”

Callan makes his presence known with his usual morning grumbles, and Ares turns to look at him. Callan takes in the sight of the two of us sprawled in bed with Brynn between us and raises his eyebrows.

Ares just shrugs. “You missed out by not sleeping on the bed.”

Callan just rolls his eyes. “I’m fine.” He says it flatly, but he looks at Brynn, and there’s something loaded in his gaze. His eyes travel over what he can see of her, and I wonder if he does feel like he missed out.

“We should see if we can leave today,” Callan says, breaking the slow, sleepy spell over the morning. It was easy to forget that we’re still not where we’re supposed to be, trapped in this endless snow and ice bullshit.

Callan’s words get us up and moving at least.