“I’m not entirely sure that makes it better. Even if there’s a reason for it, you’re basically still telling me you have feelings for your ex.”
“Exes.”
“Of course. How could I possibly have forgotten—”
“And, no, not ‘feelings’ in the way you’re thinking. Our romance is over. But I do love them.”
Jax pushed away from Niall. “I can’t believe you say that like it’s nothing. Can you even hear yourself? First, you tell me you still have feelings and now you’re saying you full-on love them?”
Niall shook his head vigorously. “No, no. Not like that. What I mean is, I love them as friends. That’s the only place they fit into my life now. And you know I would never act—”
“What do you mean ‘fit in your life now?’” Jax interrupted.
An inscrutable expression crossed Niall’s face. “I…um…I was going to tell—”
“Wait a minute—”
“Jax—”
“Shit! Fucking shit!—”
“Babe—”
“Shit!” Jax exclaimed again, his body vibrating. “It’s Ronan and Teal, isn’t it?! It has to be them! Your bosses are also your exes?!”
“Yes. I didn’t mean to blurt it out like that. But that’s what I wanted to talk to you about earli—”
Jax leaped out of the bed, arms flailing. “Fuck! Right under my nose this whole time?! You’ve been in love with your bosses and—what—you just decided not to tell me?” He twisted his hair into a bun and squeezed it before releasing the strands to swing wildly against his chin. “Fuck! How could I have been so stupid?”
Niall jumped up and put a hand on Jax’s arm. Jax shook it off like he’d been scalded.
“Jax, I promise nothing has happened. Not since you and I met. And nothing will.”
His placating tone pissed Jax off even more.
“What the fuck, Niall?! Ronan and Teal are your exes, and you said nothing? You’ve just been going to their house every day, feeling your fuckingfeelingsfor them you can’t make go away? Shit. You were over there tonight.”
“Jax, you need to take a breath. Please.” They stood at the foot of the bed, naked other than boxer briefs. Jax’s nostrils flared.
“Don’t tell me to fucking breathe, Niall! I had a right to know you used to fuck around with your bosses.”
“It’s in the past!”
“Do they know? That you still care? That your heart just ‘got bigger’ and they’re still in it? Do they wish you were still sleeping with them?”
A guilty look crossed Niall’s face and Jax blanched. “They fucking do! Shit. You’ve known this whole time your bosses still want to sleep with you, and you kept working for them? Never told me?”
Niall paced a few steps around the bedroom. “Jax, I’m trying to be as honest with you as I can be here. You can yell at me all you want. I get it. But the fact remains that nothing is going to happen with them! Do I think Ronan and Teal still want me? Yes, that’s the vibe I get. But they’ve never pushed for it and have completely respected my decision to end that part of our relationship. You’ve met them. You know they’re good guys. They won’t cross any lines.”
“Do you realize what you’re saying? You’re still attracted to them. They’re still attracted to you. And I’m what? An obstacle keeping you apart?”
“No! Never say that. I’m exactly where I want to be.” Niall stepped closer to Jax. “You are the person I want to be with. I came home tonight knowing it was past time to be honest withyou about my history with Ronan and Teal. And since now I know you’ve been feeling something weird all along, I’m even more glad I told you. Even if you’re yelling at me. Because now it’s out in the open, and we can deal with it.”
Jax lifted his palms. “I honestly do not know what to do with this information. No idea where we’re supposed to go from here.”
“Babe, I love you. I’m sorry I can’t make this go down easier. But I want to be with you.” Niall scraped a hand over his face. “I see now it was selfish to keep my job. I don’t know if not being in their vicinity will diminish the feelings, but it certainly can’t hurt. And you need to know that you’re my priority.”
Jax sat down defeatedly on the bed. He knew how much Niall loved his position, loved being part of the household for one of the most famous omegas in the state. And he was offering to leave his job. Jax felt the weight of his emotions as the reality of their situation sank in.
