20. James
20
JAMES
T he four of us sit in Bianca’s cozy living room, sipping wine and exchanging stories. The atmosphere is warm, but there's an underlying tension that none of us have acknowledged yet.
Alex sets his glass down and leans back, looking at Bianca. “So, Bia, what really happened back then? Why did you ghost us?”
She shifts uncomfortably, eyes darting between the three of us. “I was scared.”
Liam scoffs, leaning forward. “Scared? We were all scared, but we didn’t run.”
Bianca sighs and places her glass on the coffee table. “It wasn’t just that, it was a bunch of things. I was scared, worried the long-distance thing wouldn’t work…” Her words trail off as if she’s unsure if she wants to say the rest.
There's a tightness in my chest as her words hang in the air. Alex and Liam exchange a look, both of them visibly stiffening.
“Is that all?” Alex asks quietly.
Bianca shakes her head, braids swaying gently with the motion. “No. My mom... she didn’t approve of us, it led to a big argument.”
Liam raises an eyebrow. “Your mom?”
“My mom,” Bianca begins, her voice barely above a whisper. “She was heavily against me dating three men.”
Liam’s eyebrow arches. “Heavily?”
“She made it clear that it was unacceptable,” Bianca continues, her gaze fixed on the wine glass in front of her. “Her disapproval only added to my fear.”
Alex leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “So, you ghosted us because of your mom?”
Bianca chews her lip, eyes flicking between the three of us. “It wasn’t just that. I was scared of what would happen once you all left. Long distance with one person is hard enough, but with three? It felt impossible.”
I feel a pang of sympathy mixed with irritation. “You could have talked to us about it.”
“I know,” she says, her voice small. “I was young and scared.”
Liam huffs, crossing his arms over his chest. “We were all young and scared, Bia.”
Bianca swallows hard and finally looks up at us. “And my mom is in town visiting. She’s been here for a while now.”
Alex’s eyes widen. “Wait, she’s here? In San Diego?”
Bianca nods, her fingers twisting together in her lap. “Yes. She came to see me but I think it’s really just a mini vacation for herself. Anyways, it’s been hard trying to keep this from her. I don't know what would happen between us if she found out.”
I lean back against the couch, processing this new information. “You’re afraid she’ll disapprove again?”
“She will disapprove,” Bianca says firmly. “She hasn’t changed her stance on this kind of relationship.”
Liam shakes his head slowly. “So, you’ve been sneaking around behind your mom’s back?”
Bianca sighs heavily, running a hand through her braids. “It’s been so hard trying to keep her from finding out. I didn’t plan for any of this to happen again, but now that it has...”
Alex cuts in gently, a rare seriousness in his tone. “You can’t keep hiding forever.”
Bianca’s eyes are pleading as she looks at each of us in turn. “I know.”
I clear my throat, the words I’ve been holding back for years threatening to spill out. The wine has loosened my tongue just enough. “You know, since we’re sharing... I owe you guys an explanation too.”
Alex and Liam look at me, curiosity mixed with something softer, almost forgiving.
“The reason I left you both behind,” I begin, my voice steady, “was because it was too damn hard without Bianca.”
Liam’s eyes narrow slightly, but he doesn’t interrupt. Alex leans back, crossing his arms as if bracing for a storm.
“After she ghosted us, everything felt off,” I continue. “Being around you guys reminded me of her, of what we lost. I couldn’t handle it.”
Liam nods slowly, his eyes losing some of their sharpness. “I get that,” he says finally. “It was hard for all of us.”
Bianca’s eyes are wide as she looks at me, like she’s seeing me for the first time. I shrug, trying to play it off like it’s no big deal even though my chest feels lighter having said it out loud.
Alex clears his throat, breaking the silence. “You know, James, there’s something we need to talk about.”
I look up, curiosity piqued. “Yeah? What’s that?”
Liam exchanges a glance with Alex before turning to me. “We still want you to join our company.”
My eyebrows shoot up. “Join your company? After all this time?”
Alex nods, a small smile playing on his lips. “Yeah, man. You should have been with us from the start.”
I lean back, trying to process their words. The idea of working with them again is both exhilarating and terrifying. “You’re serious?”
“Dead serious,” Liam says firmly. “We’ve got a good thing going, but we’re missing a piece.”
“You,” Alex adds, his tone sincere.
I run a hand through my hair, the familiar weight of it grounding me. “What makes you think it’ll work this time?”
Liam leans forward, eyes locked on mine. “Because we’re not the same idiots we were back then. We’ve grown up.”
“And because,” Alex chimes in, “we know what we want now. And we want you on our team.”
Bianca looks between us, her eyes shining with something like hope. “It sounds like a great opportunity.”
I take a deep breath, the weight of the decision settling on my shoulders. The thought of working with Alex and Liam again is tempting, more than I’d like to admit.
“So, what do you say?” Liam asks, his gaze never wavering.
I let out a slow breath, nodding as I make my decision. “Alright. Let’s do it.”
Alex’s face breaks into a grin as he claps me on the shoulder. “That’s what I’m talking about!”
Liam smirks, leaning back in his chair with an air of satisfaction. “Welcome aboard.”
Bianca’s smile is radiant as she reaches out to squeeze my hand. “This is going to be amazing.”
The excitement in the room is palpable as we begin discussing the details. My mind races with possibilities and plans for our future together—both professionally and personally.
As we talk, I can’t help the sense of anticipation building inside me. This is more than just a business decision; it’s a chance to rebuild something I thought was lost forever.
And as I look at Bianca and my old friends-turned-business partners, I know one thing for sure: this time, we’re going to make it work. For the first time in years, I feel like I’m exactly where I belong.
I look at Bianca, then at Alex and Liam. “I need this to work,” I admit, the weight of my words settling in the room. “I can’t go through losing you all again.”
Bianca’s eyes soften, and she reaches out to squeeze my hand. “I want it to work too, James. More than anything.”
Liam clears his throat, his blue eyes intense. “We all want this to work,” he says firmly. “But we need to be honest with each other. No more secrets.”
Alex nods in agreement. “Yeah, we’re in this together, all or nothing.”
Bianca’s gaze flickers between us, a mixture of hope and determination in her eyes. “Then let’s make it work,” she says softly.
Without thinking, I lean in and capture her lips with mine. The taste of wine mingles with the sweetness of her mouth, and I lose myself in the familiar sensation. Her hands find their way into my hair, pulling me closer.
A moment later, I feel Alex’s presence beside us. He gently nudges me aside, his lips replacing mine on Bianca’s. Her soft moan sends a thrill through me as I watch them kiss.
Liam steps up next, his hands framing her face as he claims her mouth with a hunger that matches my own. My body hums with anticipation as I watch them together.
Bianca’s hands roam over our bodies, pulling us closer as she moves from one kiss to the next. The heat between us is palpable, each touch and kiss igniting a fire that has been smoldering for years.
Alex’s hand slides down Bianca’s back, resting on her hip as he deepens their kiss. I take the opportunity to press my lips to her neck, savoring the soft skin beneath my mouth. She shivers against me, her fingers tightening in my hair.
Liam pulls back slightly, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he looks at us with a mixture of desire and determination. “We’ve got this,” he murmurs, his voice rough with emotion.
Bianca’s eyes flutter open, meeting mine with an intensity that takes my breath away. “Yes,” she whispers. “We do.”
With renewed fervor, we continue our shared exploration of each other. Hands move over familiar curves and planes, rediscovering the bodies we once knew so well.
As Alex kisses her deeply once more, I trail my lips down her shoulder and across her collarbone, reveling in the way she responds to each touch. Liam's fingers tangle in her braids as he presses kisses along her jawline.
The room is filled with the sounds of our shared passion—soft moans and gasps mingling with whispered words of affirmation and desire.
I steal another kiss from Bianca's lips before letting Liam take his turn again. We move together seamlessly, each of us taking turns worshiping her body while respecting the unspoken boundaries that exist between us.
As our kisses grow more heated and urgent, it becomes clear that this is just the beginning of something new—something powerful and undeniable that binds us all together once more.