Epilogue
T his is it. Our first outing as a throuple—or whatever Jace calls it. I’m still not convinced it’s actually a term, but whatever. The three of us are solid, and that’s all that matters.
To be honest, while I’m ready to take this step, I don’t love the idea of going out the day after we got outed.
I’d rather enjoy our new relationship just the three of us, because there’s no one else I want to see right now.
But that would be perceived as hiding, which will only fuel baseless rumors.
Stuff like one of us was cheating on the other, which couldn’t be further from the truth.
That’s why we decided to face things head on.
The Underground isn’t overly crowded when we arrive, so we find a booth in the corner—not hiding exactly—but not putting ourselves on display, either.
We all sit on one side, saving the other for Axel and Lennon, who are going to join us in a show of support.
That’s not really necessary, but I appreciate it all the same, even if it did take coming out of the closet to get Lennon to take an unplanned night off.
Sandwiched between Jace and Kane I’m actually feeling calm, despite being acutely aware of the not-so-subtle glances boring into the back of my head.
“Nervous?” Jace clasps my thigh under the table .
“Only in the sense that some people might be offended I didn’t come out sooner.
” Small towns are a lot like family in the sense that they always want to know what’s going on, and can feel slighted when they don’t.
I’m really hoping Ryder’s experience with Chase means he won’t fall into that category.
“You think they’ll object?” Kane lays his hand on my arm.
“Not to me liking men, no. To dating two men at once… I think they’ll have trouble wrapping their heads around it at first, which I think is pretty natural considering I did the same thing.” I chew on my lip as I try to imagine how the night will go.
A pitcher and several glasses banging on the table pulls me out of my head. “How are the local celebrities doing?” Axel shoots Jace a playful wink.
“Don’t be a dick.” Jace flips him off.
“I’m not.” Axel holds his hands up innocently. “You three are the talk of the town, how are you handling it?”
“The talk is behind our backs.” I jerk my head over my shoulder. “You tell us how we should handle it.”
Lennon cocks his head to the side thoughtfully. “Well, half the people are saying they knew all along…”
“No surprise there,” I mutter. “Nona likes to believe she knows everything, and I’m sure her friends are claiming the same.
” I don’t know if it’s an age thing or a female thing, but the elderly lady who owns the local market likes to mother everyone, which also means she thinks she’s all-knowing. It’s both harmless and annoying.
Lennon shoots me a wry smile. “Exactly. The other half are surprised they didn’t pick up on it since you never really had a girlfriend or whored yourself out like Cade used to and Deacon still does.
And everyone, including the two of us,” he gestures between himself and Axel, “want to know if they make beds big enough for three people. ”
Kane chokes on a sip of beer and Jace chuckles while I wipe a hand down my face.
“Seriously, do they? I bet Leni and I could make good use of a bed that big.” Lennon rolls his eyes at his boyfriend. “What?” Axel shrugs innocently. “Tell me you wouldn’t have fun breaking that in.”
That earns him a swat on the arm, and unfortunately, I don’t miss the flare of heat in his gaze that comes with it.
We sip our beers and make small talk for the next hour or so, mostly about the work projects we all have going on.
Since we all consider our jobs to be more like play, it's less of a bitchfest and more of a brag session. I’m so engrossed, I totally forget about this being our big reveal until I hear Deacon’s voice echoing through the room as he orders a round of shots.
“When are they ever gonna get tired of that game?” Lennon groans.
“It is pretty funny.” Jace faces me, waggling his eyebrows. “How come you didn’t try to pick me up with some sexy shots the first time I came through town?”
“Because I tried to pick you up with an offer for a massage instead, which you didn’t take me up on by the way.”
“I would’ve if we’d stayed in town.” He bites the corner of his lip suggestively. “Did you buy Kane a sexy shot?”
“Actually, I picked him up.” Kane gives Jace a little half-shrug when he gapes at him.
“You both picked me up in that bar. Best two nights of my life, until you both moved here permanently.” I sip my beer while astonished looks zing around the table.
“Wait – are you saying we picked you up back-to-back? As in the three of us narrowly missed each other in Utah?” Jace’s mouth drops open.
I press my lips in a straight line to hold in my grin .
Kane leans forward to see Jace. “Did you know he was that easy?”
Jace looks me up and down slyly. “Manwhore. Are we sure we want to claim this guy as ours, Kane?”
He taps a finger on the corner of his lip as he pretends to mull that over. “I’m sure.” He leans in to give me a shy kiss on the lips.
“Okay, fine. Me, too.” Jace tugs my head towards him and presses his lips to mine, soft and reassuring. Before we break away a hand slams down on the table, shaking the glasses and causing us to jump apart.
“So, it’s true?” Ryder half-shouts, half-slurs. “What other secrets are you keeping from me, Blake? You’re the one who broke Chase’s heart and forced him to move away, aren’t you?”
My jaw hangs open as I blink my eyes, trying like hell to make sense of what he’s saying. “What?”
“Admit it. You preyed on him then screwed him over. He moved away so he wouldn’t have to see you everywhere.”
Holding my hands up in surrender, I hold Ryder’s cloudy gaze. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, Ryder. I’ve never been with Chase. He was like a brother…”
“Don’t you say that,” he sneers. “He was my brother, not yours. And you drove him away. It took years, Blake. Years for him to get over you. But he did. He found someone and he was finally happy. I backed out of that trip so he could take his new boyfriend. Now he’s dead.
He never would have moved from Katah Vista if you hadn’t screwed him over. ” He thrusts a shaky finger in my face.
I know how messed up Ryder’s been since his brother died in that plane crash, so part of me just wants to ignore this rant and chalk it up to his drunken grief. The other part of me wants to defend myself against his totally insane accusations.
“I didn’t hook up with Chase, man. I wouldn’t. I’m sorry he got his heart broken, but don’t put that on me because I like dudes. ”
“Then why didn’t you help him? You’re just like him and you didn’t help him. He felt so alone. You should’ve been there.” Ryder’s voice loses some of its heat as he starts to ramble.
“I would’ve if I’d known, Ryder.”
“How could you not know?”
My hand cramps from how tight I’m fisting it. “Just because I like guys doesn’t mean I have some special skill at picking out other guys who feel the same way, especially if they want to keep that private.”
“What’s up, bro?” Deacon slings an arm around Ryder’s shoulder, eyes searching the stunned faces around the table for a clue about what’s going on.
“If it wasn’t you then who was it? Who broke him and drove him away from his home? If you’ve been gay this whole time it had to be you.”
Deacon’s playful expression turns somber, as he leans his head toward Ryder and talks to him in a level tone. “Ryder, think about this man. Blake wasn’t with your brother. He isn’t who you’re mad at.”
“He has to be,” Ryder slurs. “He has to be.” He points a finger at me before spinning from Deacon’s hold and bolting for the door.
Once Ryder’s gone, all eyes turn to me. “I had no idea Chase left because of a broken heart, and I have no idea who he might’ve dated. If I’d known, I would’ve tried to help him.”
Lennon reaches across the table and takes my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “You don’t have to explain anything Blake. We all know Ryder’s in a weird place right now. He’s angry at everyone, mostly himself, and is lashing out.”
“I knew he was struggling.” I drop my head in shame. “I should’ve been there for him, but I was too wrapped up in my own stuff.”
Regardless of the things happening in my life, I should’ve been more aware of this.
His brother is dead, for God’s sake, and instead of helping him through that I’ve been living my life to the fullest, working my dream job and falling in love twice over.
I may not have been the one to drive Chase away, but I can’t blame Ryder for being pissed at me now.
“We all knew he was struggling, I just don’t think any of us realized how bad.” Deacon glances toward the door Ryder disappeared out of. “Drowning his feelings seemed natural given the circumstances, but maybe…” He ducks his head and rubs it awkwardly.
“Should I go after him?” I look around the table for input.
“It’s probably best if I do that. No offense.” Deacon offers me a weak smile.
“None taken.” I exhale heavily. “Go.”
No one’s in the mood to hang out after Ryder’s outburst, so we thank Axel and Lennon for the night and make our way back to my place. Our place.
“So,” Kane drawls as he gets comfortable sandwiched between me and Jace on the mattress. “ Do they make beds for three?”
God, I love him for trying to lighten things up. “Are you feeling crowded in my California King?”
“Not at the moment. But I’ve only stayed over once and that’s not enough time to form an opinion. I guess I could always sleep at my place if you two are bed hogs.”
Jace shoots upright, staring down at Kane with a pained expression. “You’re gonna keep your place? I was sorta thinking you’d move in with us.”
Kane’s plump little lips form a surprised ‘o.’ “It’s not too soon for that? I mean, we only just made things official.”