Chapter 41
Colsen
The glare that Briggs levels at me as he storms out of the living room should be alarming, but I’ve been on the receiving end of his wrath far too many times over the past two years to let it bother me.
However, the hand that clenches my arm in a death grip and drags me to a quiet corner away from everyone else is slightly worrisome.
I’ve barely got my footing when Royce spins to face me, his eyes flinty and jaw set with determination.
He’s several inches shorter than my six-foot height, but the tense set of his posture lets me know I won’t be leaving until he’s said what he needs to.
“What’s going on with you and Andi? You were distant from her yesterday afternoon at the construction site, and I haven’t seen the two of you speak once today.”
“What?” I feign ignorance, shuffling my feet nervously.
“Nothing is going on. We’re fine.” We’re so far from fine it’s ridiculous, but I have no interest in hashing out my relationship, or lack thereof, with my boss-turned-friend.
When Royce raises a knowing brow, I concede and state, “It’s complicated,” hoping it’s enough to get him off my back.
He rolls his eyes, doing an excellent impersonation of a teenager, and lets out a scoff.
“Cut the shit, Col. I’m old, not stupid. The four of you are in love with the same woman. Not that complicated,” he deadpans, causing my jaw to drop cartoonishly. His accuracy floors me, but Royce has always been observant, which is why his company has flourished as well as it has.
“What about four men dating a singular woman isn’t complicated to you?” I hiss, glancing around to see if we’re making a spectacle of ourselves. It seems that everyone’s occupied for the time being, but Briggs and Andi are still noticeably absent.
I hate that the first place my mind ventures to is what the two of them are doing right now.
Is his mouth busy tasting her delectable body?
At this very second, are his fingers deep inside her pussy?
I shake my head, hands fisting at my sides as I attempt to banish the images that train of thought conjures.
It’s futile, because ever since that day in the bathroom, the sound of her climax is ingrained in my psyche.
I hear it in my goddamn sleep, desperate to crawl to her, on my hands and knees, and beg for a taste that I don’t deserve.
Not after the way I’ve put space between us, knowing it’s causing her pain but at a loss for a better solution.
“It’s 2025, Col. We aren’t living in the olden days where you’ll be ostracized and cast out of the community.
Who gives a flyin’ fuck if your relationship skirts the bounds of normalcy?
I don’t. Rita doesn’t. The people who actually matter only care about your happiness.
But above even your happiness, I care about Andi’s.
What that girl has been through would have grown men rockin’ in a corner, but she’s not just surviving what they did to her; she’s flourishing.
I’d be remiss not to admit that a lot of her growth has been aided by the four of you.
Anyone with eyes can see how spellbound the lot of you are.
” A fond smile graces his lips, but before I can say anything on the matter, he continues speaking.
“You’re my son, Col,” he voices quietly, the emotion behind the statement bleeding through his tone.
I suck in a strangled breath, not expecting to hear those words or the effect they’d have on me.
“We might not share blood, but I’ve considered you mine since the moment you wandered into my office, in need of a steady job and someone to give a damn.
Well, you got both. And everything I have is going to be yours one day. ”
“Royce,” I choke out, barely comprehending what he’s saying, the blood whooshing in my ears overpowering everything else.
“Don’t bother trying to talk me out of it.
It’s already a done deal.” He smiles proudly, likely enjoying that he’s shocked the hell out of me.
“But none of that matters if you don’t have the woman you love by your side.
” He glances at Rita, his own longing reflected in the way he watches her.
“And for the record, I already consider Hudson and that baby my grandkids. I’d like to be called PopPop.
So if you could fix this, I’d greatly appreciate it.
I’d hate to have to write you out of the will.
” He smirks, smacking me on the back as he walks away, his composure slotting into place and showing no sign of the emotional moment we just shared.
I take several deep breaths, steadying my nerves before striding towards the dining table.
Even without staring at her blatantly, I’m aware of Andi the second I’m within touching distance of her.
Hudson is cradled in her arms, her hand stroking his back as he sleeps peacefully through the noise.
As we do every year, Rita has us go around the table and list what we’re thankful for.
I give the same response as the guys, but even to my own ears, it sounds hollow.
Like I’m repeating what I’m expected to say.
It’s the absolute truth; I’m eternally grateful that Andi’s a part of my life, but I don’t know how to move past this hurdle we’re facing.
I don’t think I have the ability to partake in the type of relationship she wants, but the thought of losing her feels like a slow and miserable death.
When it’s Andi’s turn, and she begins speaking, my chest grows tight from hearing what she’s willing to give up for me.
Am I giving her the same consideration? Or am I being a selfish asshole who can’t see past his own trauma?
I don’t know. I don’t know a fucking thing anymore, and that’s the problem.
I can’t even think about those unbidden words that left her lips earlier.
The fact that I just stood there, looking like a deer in headlights, makes me want to beat my own ass.
Briggs’ stare is practically burning a hole in my forehead, but I keep my focus on my plate and eat in silence, thinking over everything that Royce said and the few talks I’ve shared with Dayton recently.
He, of all people, should understand my hesitation and where my hang-ups are coming from.
After we’ve eaten our fill and Dayton turns on the football game, I track Andi’s movements as she curls up on the couch with Hudson.
It doesn’t take long for her eyes to grow heavy, and her breaths even out a moment later, despite the competing sounds happening all around her.
It soothes something inside of me to know that she’s comfortable enough to fall asleep here, knowing she’s safe after having to constantly look over her shoulder for so long.
I stand and make my way closer, grabbing a blanket and draping it around her.
She’s so fucking beautiful it hurts to be this close and not reach out and touch her.
Royce comes to a stop beside me, dropping a kiss to the top of Andi’s head.
“Think about what I said, Col,” he insists, pulling me in for a hug.
“Rita and I are gonna head out. We need to go by The Village and make sure no one’s in need of any help.
” The heart of this man never ceases to amaze me.
They say goodbye to the others, keeping their voices down so Andi and Hudson aren’t disturbed.
Once it’s just the four of us, as well as Mia, Raiden motions to the rooftop, indicating he wants to speak with everyone.
My sigh is audible, knowing the conversation we’ve been avoiding is finally about to happen, but I’m no more prepared than I was a few weeks ago.
The cold is biting when I exit onto the terrace, but it helps my mind stay alert, which is the only reason I’m able to dodge the fist that Briggs aims directly at my face.
“What the fuck, asshole?” I grunt, shoving him away from me as Dayton pins his arms behind his back.
“If you ever make her cry again, I’ll beat the shit out of you, Col. Raiden can cuff me and haul my ass to jail, but if I’m leaving in the back of a cop car, I can promise you that you’ll be leaving in the back of an ambulance,” Briggs snarls, his chest heaving with righteous anger.
“You made her cry?” Dayton questions, the menace in his voice unmistakable.
My heart thuds painfully inside my chest, wanting nothing more than to go to my girl.
To wrap my arms around her and whisper a thousand apologies for how I’ve been behaving.
To tell her I love her, too. But my heart and head are locked in a battle of wills, and I don’t know how to reconcile the two.
The guys all look at me with varying degrees of anger, while Mia stands to the side, taking stock of the situation.
“Let’s pause the dick measuring for the time being,” she states, her heels clicking across the concrete pavers as she moves to take a seat by the firepit, then turns it on so we aren’t freezing our asses off.
“Some new information has come to light that we need to discuss.” My brows furrow in confusion, wondering if I’ve missed a chapter that introduced Mia’s involvement.
Seeing how lost we all look, Raiden begins explaining.