32. Stella
CHAPTER 32
STELLA
W hy are they making this more difficult than it needs to be?
When I planned to tell them I didn’t want to date them, I figured they’d say something along the lines of, “Okay, it’s been fun, see you around.” Maybe we could be friends, since we’re neighbors, but surely they don’t need to persuade me to keep seeing them when they have so many other women available.
Wyatt, who’s been mostly quiet, suddenly reaches for my hand, unfolding it from where I have it tucked next to my side. “Stella, you’re special. Dating you has nothing to do with anyone else, certainly not our fans. They don’t even really know who we are.”
His words send my heart fluttering, even though I know very well that it could be a line. Maybe he says this to all the women. Makes each of us think we know the real them.
Cam takes my other hand, and I regret that I didn’t keep more distance between us, or better yet, have this conversation by text, because their touch is making my head light. “You know you had a great time when you were out. We’re still getting to know each other, but I don’t see why it couldn’t develop into something serious. Why not give us a chance?”
“Let’s go out again, Stella,” Wyatt says, squeezing my hand. “Let’s see where things go.”
Would it be easier to resist them if they weren’t so incredibly handsome? And if they hadn’t given me so many orgasms?
I’m trying to protect myself from heartbreak, but my body is starting to ache for them just because they’re holding my hands.
“What do you say? Another date to get to know us better?” Cam’s eyes are sparkling with an irresistible warmth that melts almost all that’s left of my resolve.
I could go out with them again, even knowing that I’m one of many. It’s obvious that I need more experience dating, and what better way to get experience than with my two affable neighbors? Maybe I need to get comfortable going out, and then I could date other men, too. After all, I missed out on several years of dating while I was raising Jessie, so I may as well have fun.
Somewhere deep in the back of my mind, a little voice tells me that I’m manufacturing reasons to keep seeing these guys, but I tell that voice to be quiet.
Instead, I listen to Cam when he says, “You know you want to,” and to Wyatt, when he brings the back of my hand to his lips and presses a kiss there, his beautiful blue-green eyes on mine the entire time. It’s a potent reminder of how good those lips can make me feel.
Goldfish lets out a short bark, reminding us of his presence. His tail is still wagging as he trots in circles between our legs.
“Goldfish thinks you should go out with us again, too,” Cam says.
“I guess I can’t argue with Goldfish.”
I’m rewarded with two wide smiles and then two kisses, each brief but tantalizing.
“Let us know what night you’re available,” Cam says, and then my handsome neighbors disappear the way they came.
* * *
We end up going out again two nights later.
I don’t want to lie to Jessie about what I’m doing, but I don’t want her to know I’m dating the men either, because she might think something could come of it. Instead, I tell her that Cam and Wyatt are helping me with a work project, something that sounds so boring she doesn’t bother to ask any questions.
In reality, the night is anything but boring. After delicious wood-fired pizza at a trendy eatery, they take me to an arcade, where I spend nearly two hours feeling like a kid again.
I lose track of all the games we play, but there’s auto racing, air hockey, and several times when I barely notice what game we’re playing at all, because one or the other of the men has their arms around me at a machine. Those are the best games.
After an epic skee-ball tournament, we take our game credits to the redemption shop and pick out silly souvenirs.
“I feel guilty coming to these fun places without Jessie,” I tell them as we walk out to the car, both of their arms around me in the dark parking lot.
“I’d love to come again with Jessie along,” Wyatt says, “but it’s also nice having time alone with you.”
There is something refreshing about going out and having fun without having to worry about Jessie’s enjoyment of an experience. It’s probably something I should have prioritized earlier on for myself, but I never realized it was something I needed until now.
After Wyatt’s mention of alone time, I’m fully expecting that they’ll drive me back to their house for “dessert,” but instead, Cam turns down my street and pulls into my driveway.
“The date’s over?” I’m unable to hide my surprise.
He puts the car in park and turns to face me, taking my hand. “We are very much looking forward to another night like the one we shared last time, but we worry that it might have been too much too fast.”
“We want you to know that this is serious,” Wyatt says. “We’re not just fooling around.”
I feel like leaning fully into the kid I got to be at the arcade tonight and showing my disappointment by pouting, but instead, I tell them I understand. Because I do.
Maybe it was too much the other night, as amazing as it was. I’m frustrated, because I want more from them, but I appreciate their restraint. Maybe this means they do see me differently than the other women they date, but I try not to overthink it.
When they walk me to my door, I don’t think about anything at all, except how good their kisses taste and feel, and how I can’t wait to see them again.