Chapter 7
CHAPTER 7
T he early morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the tangled sheets. I blinked awake, momentarily disoriented by the unfamiliar surroundings. As the fog of sleep cleared, memories of the previous night came rushing back, bringing with them a flood of conflicting emotions.
I was nestled between Aiden and Finn, their warm bodies bracketing mine. Aiden’s arm was draped across my waist, while Finn’s breath tickled the back of my neck. The intimacy of our embrace was both comforting and terrifying.
What am I doing?
Carefully, I extricated myself from their embrace, trying not to wake them. I needed space to think, to process the whirlwind of our supposed courtship—not to mention the fact they’d apparently been flirting with me for months—perhaps even years.
Locating my coveralls from where they’d been discarded on the floor, I slipped them on and crept out of the bedroom.
The house was quiet as I made my way to the kitchen. I found the kettle and set about brewing a pot of loose leaf tea, the familiar routine giving me something to focus on besides the tumult in my mind.
What am I doing? This isn’t me. What happens if it goes tits up? I’ll be left with a broken heart.
The doubts multiplied as I leaned against the counter, waiting for the water to boil.
What if this was just a one-time thing for them? What if they regretted it in the harsh light of day? What if I wasn’t enough for both of them? And even if they did want me, how would this work? Could I be with two men? It might be a tradition in our town, but I certainly hadn’t been with more than one person at a time.
I wasn’t sure how to function in a one-to-one relationship, let around a triad.
The kettle whistled, startling me out of my spiraling thoughts.
I poured myself a mug and moved to sit at the kitchen table, wrapping my hands around the warm ceramic.
“You’re thinking too loud.”
I jumped at the sound of Finn’s voice, nearly spilling my drink. He stood in the doorway, wearing only a pair of sweatpants, his hair adorably mussed from sleep.
“Sorry,” I mumbled, dropping my gaze to my mug. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”
He crossed the room and poured himself a cup, adding a splash of milk before joining me at the table.
“You didn’t. I always wake up early. Bakers hours, Aiden calls them.” He studied me for a moment. “Want to tell me what’s going on in that beautiful head of yours?”
I bit my lip, unsure how to voice the maelstrom of doubts swirling in my mind. “I... I’m not sure where to start.”
Finn reached out, gently taking one of my hands in his. “How about at the beginning? What’s the first thought that crossed your mind when you woke up this morning?”
I took a deep breath, steeling myself. “Panic,” I admitted softly. “I panicked.”
His thumb traced soothing circles on the back of my hand. “Why?”
“Because...” I struggled to find the words. “Because this is everything I’ve ever wanted, and I’m terrified it’s not real. That I’ll wake up and it will all have been a dream, or that you and Aiden will realize you’ve made a mistake.”
Finn’s expression softened. “Oh, Riley. Is that what you think? That we’d regret being with you?”
I shrugged, feeling small and vulnerable. “It’s not exactly a conventional situation, is it? And I’m... well, I’m me. Grease-stained mechanic Riley, who’s been one of the guys for so long I’m not sure I know how to be anything else.”
“You’re right, it’s not conventional,” Finn agreed. “But that doesn’t make it any less real or meaningful. And as for you being ‘just one of the guys’...” He shook his head. “Riley, you’ve never been ‘just’ anything to us. You’re extraordinary.”
His words warmed something inside me, but the doubts still lingered.
“But how would this work? I don’t want to come between you and Aiden.”
“Good morning, beautiful people,” Aiden’s cheerful voice interrupted us as he sauntered into the kitchen. He dropped a kiss on top of my head before moving to pour himself some tea. “What’d I miss?”
Finn gave my hand a gentle squeeze. “Riley’s having doubts about us.”
Aiden’s eyebrows shot up as he turned to face us. “Doubts? About what?”
I sighed, running a hand through my tangled hair. “About... everything. How this would work, what people would say, whether I’m enough for both of you.”
Aiden pulled out a chair and sat down, his expression serious. “Okay, let’s tackle this one thing at a time. First off, how this would work is pretty simple – we’d be together, all three of us. Equal partners in this relationship.”
“But what about the practical stuff?” I pressed. “Where would we live? How would we handle finances? What about if one of us wants kids someday but the others don’t?”
“Those are all valid questions,” Finn said calmly. “And they’re things we’d figure out together, as a unit. We don’t have to have all the answers right now, Riley. We can take it one day at a time.”
Aiden nodded in agreement. “Exactly. As for where we’d live, well.’ He waved a hand around his head. “This house has plenty of room. Or we could look for a new place together if you’d prefer. Finances, we’d work out a system that’s fair to everyone. And kids? That’s a conversation for further down the line, but Finn and I stand firmly on the pro-side of the equation.”
I glanced at Finn who nodded his agreement. I absorbed their words, feeling some of the tension in my chest ease. But there was still one nagging doubt.
“What about what people will say? You’ll have to go off the island at some point—and neither of you are from here. Your families might have something to say about this.”
Aiden snorted. “You know I haven’t spoken to my parents since the inheritance was announced.”
“And mine couldn’t give a shit, so long as I’m happy,” Finn said, raising his mug to his lips. “You’re protesting for the sake of protesting, Ry.”
“No, I’m not,” I muttered petulantly.
Finn leaned forward. “Look at me.”
I met his gaze reluctantly.
“The only people whose opinions matter in this relationship are the three of us. Yes, people might talk. They always do. But we’re not doing anything wrong or illegal. We’re three consenting adults who care about each other. Anyone who has a problem with that can fuck off.”
A startled laugh escaped me. Aiden grinned, reaching out to ruffle my hair. “There’s our girl. Look, Ry, we get that this is a big change. It’s okay to be scared. Hell, we’re a little scared too. But we want this – want you – more than we’re afraid of what might go wrong.”
“Really?” I asked, hating how small my voice sounded.
“Really,” Finn confirmed. “We’ve wanted this for a long time, Riley. We just didn’t think you felt the same way.”
I swallowed, still trying to reconcile my desires with my new reality.
“I need some time,” I said, uncertain as to why exactly I needed it but wanting it all the same. “I’m not saying no. I want this but….” I tried to find the words.
“It’s a lot.” Aiden topped up my cup. “You take all the time you need, Ry. We’re not going anywhere.”
I raised my mug, breathing in the familiar scent of tea. The doubts I had were mine and mine alone—and I needed to battle those demons.
“Oh shit,” Aiden said suddenly, jerking upright. “What time is it?”
I glanced at the clock on the wall. “Just past seven, why?”
“Crap,” he groaned. “We’ve got that breakfast thing for the singles in less than an hour.”
Reality came crashing back, reminding me of the world beyond this kitchen. “Oh God, the singles weekend. I completely forgot.”
Finn chuckled, pressing a kiss to my temple. “Duty calls, I’m afraid. But how about we have dinner tonight, just the three of us? The pub is closed, and we can talk more about... everything.”
I nodded, feeling a mix of reluctance and anticipation. “That sounds good.”
“Great,” Aiden said, already moving towards the door. “I’ll grab a quick shower. Finn, you need a hand with food prep?”
Finn shook his head. “I prepped yesterday. It’s pastries, fruit, cereals. All we need to do is assemble and warm some of it up.”
“Do you need me?”
Finn shook his head again. We should be able to handle it.”
I stood, stretching out the kinks in my back. “In which case, I’ll head home.”
Finn watched me. “You don’t want to shower here? I’m sure we could find you something to wear.”
The offer was tempting, but I needed a bit of space to clear my head. “Thanks, but I think I’ll pass. I’ve got clean clothes at the cottage.”
He nodded. “Alright. We’ll see you tonight.”
I moved towards the door, then hesitated. Gathering my courage, I turned back and crossed the kitchen to where Finn stood. Rising on my tiptoes, I pressed a soft kiss to his lips.
“Thank you,” I murmured. “For everything.”
His smile was soft and warm. “Anytime, Riley. Always.”
Feeling bold, I poked my head into the bathroom where Aiden was showering. “See you at breakfast, handsome!”
His delighted laugh followed me out of the house.
The morning air was crisp as I made my way back to my cottage. Deciding to take a quick walk around the town rather than go straight home, I wandered down the cobble stone street, listening to the birds and the quiet murmurings of a town just beginning to wake.
My feet led me towards my favorite place—my workshop. Inside those walls, I was in control. I had confidence in who I was, what I could do, who I could be.
I rounded the corner and to my surprise, I saw lights on inside, despite the early hour. Curiosity piqued, I pushed open the door, the familiar smell of oil and metal enveloping me.
“Dad?” I called out, spotting him bent over the engine of old Mr. Johnson’s truck.
He straightened, wiping his hands on a rag as he turned to face me. “Riley? What are you doing here?”
Had amazing, mindblowing, incredible sex with two gorgeous men who want me and now I’m battling imposter syndrome and contemplating running away because the fantasy was great but the reality is scary and overwhelming?
I shrugged, moving further into the shop. “Couldn’t sleep. Thought I’d take a walk.”
He studied me for a moment, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Everything alright, sweetheart?”
I hesitated, unsure how to answer. Dad and I had always been close, especially after Mom died, but we’d never really talked about relationships or love. It had always felt like a taboo subject, too painful for us to broach.
“I... I don’t know,” I admitted.
Dad pointed at the bench. “Grab that lamp and come hold it while I work. Damned eyes are getting old.”
I did as told, positioning myself to give him the best light.
He bent back over the engine, muttering to himself as he examined the pipes.
“You going to tell me about it?” he asked.
“No. Maybe? No.”
He snorted, leaning further into engine bay. “Shit or get off the pot, Ry.”
I took a deep breath, steeling myself. “It’s about Aiden and Finn.”
His head came up, his eyebrows rising. “Oh?”
Heat flooded my cheeks. “We... something happened last night. Between the three of us.”
Understanding dawned on his face. “Ah. I see.”
We stood in silence for a moment, the only sound the ticking of the old clock on the wall.
“Are you happy?” Dad asked finally.
I examined his face, noting his shock of thinning white hair and the additional wrinkles that time had carved into his face.
For decades it had been just the two of us, now I had a chance to double our family—and I wasn’t sure how he’d react.
I nodded slowly. “I think so. But I’m also terrified.”
“Of what?”
I swallowed hard against the lump that had formed in my throat. “I know I shouldn’t—but the thought of losing them…. I know what I lost when Mum died. But you? It was like your light blinked out.”
Dad stiffened beside me, and I immediately regretted my words. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean?—“
“No,” he interrupted gently. “No, you’re right to be scared. Losing your mother... it nearly destroyed me.”
I blinked, surprised by his candor. We’d never talked about Mom’s death, not like this.
“But you know what?” he continued, his voice soft. “If I had the choice, knowing how it would end, knowing the pain that would come. I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat.”
I turned to look at him, seeing the mixture of pain and love in his eyes. “Really?”
He nodded. “Really. The years I had with your mother were the happiest of my life. The pain of losing her was... indescribable. But the joy of loving her? That was worth everything.”
I felt a tear slip down my cheek. “I’ve been so afraid to take a chance,” I admitted.
Dad wrapped an arm around my shoulders, pulling me close. “Oh, sweetheart. I’m so sorry. I never meant for my grief to hold you back from finding love.”
I leaned into him, letting out a shaky breath. “It’s not your fault, Dad. I just... I didn’t know how to open myself up.” I chuckled dryly. “I’m not exactly known as the warm-fuzzy type.”
“You get that from me.” He squeezed me tight. “We’re echidnas, you and I. Spikey little beasts who just want someone to love what sits under all those prickles.”
He was quiet for a moment, his hand rubbing soothing circles on my back.
“Natalie would be so disappointed in me if she knew I’d never taken another chance at love.”
I pulled back slightly to look at him. “She would?”
Dad nodded, a wistful smile on his face. “Aye. She always said life was too short not to grab happiness with both hands when you found it. She’d be furious with me for shutting myself away all these years.”
I felt a weight I hadn’t even realized I’d been carrying lift from my shoulders. “So... you think I should take a chance? With Aiden and Finn?”
“I think,” Dad said slowly, “that if they make you happy, and you care about them, then yes. You should absolutely take that chance.” He squeezed my shoulder gently. “Love is precious, Riley. And it’s rare to find it once, let alone twice. If you’ve found two people who love you and who you love in return, don’t let fear hold you back.”
I took a deep breath, closing my eyes as a calm settle over me.
Don’t let fear hold you back.
Opening my eyes, I grinned at him. “Thanks, Dad. I... I needed to hear that.”
He pressed a kiss to the top of my head. “Anytime, sweetheart. That’s what I’m here for.”
We stood in comfortable silence for a few minutes, the familiar sounds and smells of the workshop surrounding us.
“You know,” Dad said eventually, a mischievous glint in his eye. “If you’re planning on staying I could use some help with this?—”
I jumped away, waggling a finger at him. “Not today, old man. It’s the weekend. You and I shouldn’t be working.”
He grumbled something beneath this breath, his lips pulling into a wry smile. “Should I expect that if my daughter is shacking up with the local publican’s I might be offered a free glass of ale?”
I chuckled, slowly walking backward towards the door. “I might be able to sneak you one every now and then.”
He waved me off, already turning back to Mr. Johnson’s truck. “Go on, get out of here. And Riley?”
I paused at the door, looking back at him.
“I’m proud of you, kiddo. And I know your mother would be too.”
With a heart full of love and newfound courage, I stepped out into the morning sunshine, tilting my face toward the sky.
This was my home. And it was time to claim what was mine.