Chapter 22
Faye
The last two weeks had been perfect, and not just because I had gotten to spend more time with my guys.
My time in Portland had been filled with lazy mornings, coffee by the fireplace, game nights that went well past midnight, movie marathons with us sprawled across the couch, and dinners where no one cared what I wore or how I smiled.
I hadn’t needed to be on.
I had just been me, the real version not many people knew.
I had woken up between Jase and Dylan more mornings than not. We’d stolen kisses in the kitchen when no one was looking. A few times, I’d caught one of them watching the other with an expression so soft and full of affection that it made my chest ache.
And their family had been great too.
Chase and Gage had made me feel welcome immediately, while Cammie’s enthusiasm for literally everything had made it impossible not to share in her excitement about all her college firsts.
There had been dinners that turned into light-hearted debates, laughter that carried through the house, and no one had treated me like a celebrity or a pawn.
I’d been a girlfriend and treated like a part of the family.
That was what made leaving hard.
Now we were in D.C., driving through the gates of the White House as my regimented life snapped back into place.
My calendar was already full of appearances, fittings, charity events, and donor dinners.
In two days, Jase and Dylan would head to San Diego to spend time with their mom before flying to Florida for spring training.
Our little bubble was about to burst.
And I wasn’t ready.
Secret Service agents ushered us inside. No matter how many times I walked the halls of the White House, I never felt completely at ease.
Jase’s hand brushed mine. He didn’t lace our fingers together, but the brief touch calmed me a little. Dylan walked on my other side, and I wished the three of us didn’t have to keep our relationship secret.
“Never thought I’d be hanging out in the White House,” Jase said as he took in our surroundings. “This is wild.”
Dylan tugged at the collar of his shirt. “Suddenly, talking to the president feels a little intimidating.”
“You’ve met my parents before.”
“Yeah.” Jase nodded. “But we weren’t dating you then. I’ve seen how our dads act when Cammie brings home a boyfriend, and they aren’t the president.”
“But she’s a teenager. I’m twenty-four. Don’t you think it’s a little different?”
Dylan shrugged. “I guess we’ll see.”
We were led into one of The Residence’s sitting rooms, where my parents were already waiting.
“Hey, sweetie.” My dad stood from his chair, opened his arms, and I walked into his hug.
Mom followed, kissing my cheek.
Jase and Dylan hovered nearby until my dad waved them closer. “Dylan, Jase, it’s good to see you again.”
“Thank you for having us, Mr. President.” Dylan shook my father’s hand, followed quickly by Jase.
Dad snorted. “Please call us Patrick and Mary.”
Mom nodded, offering each of them her hand. “We insist. In here, we’re just a regular family.”
A small giggle escaped me. Even before my dad became president, our family had always had a bit of that stuffy political vibe, but I appreciated their effort to make my boyfriends feel at ease.
The three of us sat on the couch across from my parents’ chairs, and my mom offered us coffee, which we accepted.
“We met your dads a while back when Fallon and Tyler were in the same fraternity. How are they all doing?” Dad asked.
“Everyone’s great,” Jase replied. “My dad’s getting ready for the upcoming baseball season, and Gage is still teaching high school history.”
“And how are Tyler and Hayden? I’m sure they’re busy getting ready for their little one,” Mom added.
“They are. We’re all excited to meet their baby,” Dylan replied.
Mom smiled. “Do they know whether the baby is a boy or a girl?”
Both guys laughed.
“I’m not sure. If they know, they haven’t told us. For some reason, they’re keeping that a secret.” Jase grinned.
The conversation shifted to baseball, and whatever concerns I had about my boyfriends meeting my parents faded, and I was able to sit back and relax.
Of course, that didn’t last long.
Dad set his coffee cup down and looked between the three of us. “I’m glad you were able to come here. I’ll admit it was quite a shock when Faye told us she was dating both of you.”
Jase straightened beside me, and I heard Dylan take a deep breath.
“We aren’t judging,” Mom added quickly. “We raised a strong, capable woman, and we trust her judgment. The news was just unexpected.”
Dylan nodded. “I’m sure it was, but I promise we both care very much for your daughter.”
Jase nodded. “We aren’t treating this as something casual either. We’re all in.”
Somehow, both of these men had stolen my heart, and I was as committed to us as they were.
We continued chatting for a while, but I checked the time and ended the conversation. “As much as I would rather stay here tonight, we really need to get ready for the gala.”
“Okay,” Dad replied. “How long will you three be in D.C.? Maybe we can get together again before you leave.”
“That would be great, but Jase and I leave the day after tomorrow,” Dylan explained.
Jase added, “We’re flying to San Diego to visit my mom for a couple of weeks before heading to spring training.”
“That’s wonderful. I’m sure she’s very excited to see you.” Mom turned to Dylan. “Are you going to see your mother too?”
Maybe I was becoming more in tune with the guys than I realized, because I immediately noticed a slight shift in the air.
It dawned on me in all our time together, I had never heard Dylan mention his mom.
He talked about Jase’s mom often, but I knew nothing about the woman who had given birth to him.
“We don’t have a relationship,” he said casually. “She wasn’t very present when I was younger. When my dads came out, and Tyler was honest with her about who he is, she spouted off some pretty horrible things. I decided at that point I wasn’t going to keep someone in my life who was full of hate.”
Mom placed her hand on Dylan’s arm. “I apologize for bringing it up.”
He shook his head. “I came to terms with it a while ago. Honestly, I have a great family who loves me no matter what. She’s the one who’s missing out.”
Dad nodded. “Absolutely.”
As we stood to leave, my mom pulled me into a hug and whispered, “You seem happy.”
I smiled against her shoulder. “I really am.”
An hour later, I stood in my bedroom, smoothing the fabric of my sage-colored trumpet gown as I stared at my reflection.
It had been a while since I’d attended an event with a date. Now I had two, though only a handful of people knew that. Still, I knew there would be photographers eager to capture pictures of Jase and me together, even without confirmation that we were a couple.
Across the hall, I could faintly hear Jase and Dylan laughing about something as they got ready in a guest room.
The staff had arranged the room assignments; however, just like in Portland, I knew we’d end up in the same bed. But it wasn’t something I felt like explaining to my parents.
I was adjusting my earrings when someone knocked at the door. “Come in.”
The door swung open, and I balked.
“Surprise!” Fallon grinned.
I blinked. “What are you doing here?”
“You’ve been avoiding me,” he accused, stepping inside as if it were his room, not mine. “Hid out in Portland for two weeks. Barely answered my texts. So I came to you.”
Rhett hovered behind him, looking far too entertained by all this. “Hi, Faye.”
I groaned and hugged them both. “I was busy.”
“Uh-huh. Busy dating baseball players and pretending dropping that bomb wasn’t a big deal.”
“Why is my dating life a big deal?” I shot back.
He gave me a look. “Two guys. Two younger guys. Two guys who I’ve had a front-row seat to their partying ways.”
“So you came all the way here to question me about it? You realize that sounds unhinged, right?”
That earned a snort from Rhett.
“Actually, I was invited to this event, remember?”
“Yeah, and you told me you weren’t coming.”
“I changed my mind.” Fallon studied my face for a moment longer than necessary, his teasing expression slipping into something more serious. “Can’t a guy check on his sister? I wanted to make sure everything was all right.”
I sighed. “Of course, you can check on me, but I really am good.”
He nodded. “Okay.”
Footsteps echoed in the hall, and Jase and Dylan appeared in the doorway. They were both in tuxes, and my brain short-circuited for a second.
Wow.
Jase’s jacket fit him as if it had been tailored specifically to show off his muscular shoulders and arms, and Dylan’s bow tie gave him a classically handsome vibe. Both of them looked like characters straight out of a Bond movie.
And I couldn’t stop staring.
“I think she might be drooling.” Rhett chuckled.
“I am not.” I touched the corner of my lips to be sure.
Fallon laughed. “Your eyes were nearly popping out of your head.”
“I’m allowed,” I said. “They’re both ridiculously attractive.”
Jase grinned. “Thanks, Princess.”
Fallon’s attention shifted to them, and he stuck out his hand to Dylan. “If either of you hurt her, it won’t matter that your brother is my best friend. I’ll ruin both of you.”
“Fallon …” I warned, but everyone ignored me.
Dylan didn’t flinch. Instead, he met Fallon’s gaze. “We’re not here to mess around.”
Jase nodded and shook Fallon’s hand and Rhett’s as well. “And we won’t do anything that could harm her.”
Fallon crossed his arms. “I’ve known you two since you were a couple of partying idiots who thought tequila was a food group. Now you’re dating my baby sister.”
“I’m standing right here,” I reminded him.
He shot me a look. “And? I need to make sure these two know I’m serious.”
Jase’s voice was calm as he spoke. “We get that you’re protective, but this isn’t something that just happened. We care about your sister very much.”