“Yes, she does. I think you need to leave Hannah,” Cole says calmly.
“Cole, you cannot be living in a house with your ex-girlfriend. I can’t allow that. It makes me look bad.”
“Good thing I don’t need your permission. Go. Now,” he affirms, gently taking her arm and leading her past me towards the front of the house.
“Why are you acting like this?” she whines down the hall.
I am planted on the spot as Cole finally gets her out the front door and walks back towards me.
“Sorry about all that,” he says, collapsing back on the couch.
“No problem. I’m sorry for you. That was…a lot.”
He looks up at me and grins, “Don’t be sorry. I’m pretty sure she’s my karma.”
I smile back, “Well, I’d say you’ve more than paid your penance. She’s not taking no for an answer?” I ask.
“Something like that. She thinks I should be grateful because her dad put in a good word for me with the team.”
“That’s bullshit. You’re a great player, and I’m sure they recognized that more than a silly recommendation. You two were engaged before, right? Why did you never make it down the aisle?”
“We've been engaged twice. I broke it off both times before the wedding planning got too serious. She wanted to move to the next step, and as you can see, she has her brand of persuasion. I caved, quickly came to my senses, and bailed not too long after…twice.”
“Why?” I ask, still feeling like I’m missing too many pieces to this puzzle.
He gets off the stool and walks over to me, “Because I knew I didn’t love her, not in the way I should have to take that step.” His hands come up to bracket my face. “She wasn’t you.”
His lips are on mine, and I’m melting into a puddle at his feet.
The sound of clapping behind me has us pulling apart and facing my two boyfriends.
“Oh no, don’t stop for us. I don’t mind watching, do you, Foster?” Talon asks as he stalks into the kitchen and sits on the couch.
“Nope, anything with Blake is my favorite show,” Foster adds as he leans against the wall.
Neither of them looks angry, but my cheeks are flaming. How can I be so greedy again that I want them all? Haven’t I learned?
“I’m so–” I start, but Talon cuts me off.
“Don’t you apologize. We all knew this was inevitable,” he says, gesturing between Cole and me.
I look at Foster, and he nods. “It started with the four of us, and it’s meant to end that way.”
“Hold up, it was just a kiss. That doesn’t mean Cole even wants to be involved in all of this,” I tell them before this talk goes any further. Cole has repeatedly said to me that he doesn’t want a relationship.
“So, bro, are you in or out?” Foster comes out and asks him.
“He doesn’t need you guys pressuring–”
This time Cole, who cuts me off. “I’m in,” he says, looking down at me. “But, I need to go slow. Like a snail’s pace slow.” He points to the door, “You’ve seen what I’m dealing with right now, and I don’t want you anywhere near that. You don’t deserve to have to deal with my mistakes.”
“And you’re okay with this four-way relationship?” I ask him.
“Do I want to share you? Not really. But I know I’m the last one at this party this time around. I can’t just sweep in and steal you from them. If this is how I get to have you, I’m good with it. I can be okay with these two, but can we make it just the three of us? No more new boyfriends.”
Foster pushes off the wall and slaps Cole on the shoulder. “Gee, thanks, buddy. You’re not too bad yourself,” he snarks, making me giggle.
“Just you three,” I affirm, then get uncomfortable. “I know it sounds hypocritical, but I’d prefer no other women in this arrangement.”
