Chapter 30 Iris
iris
“Damn, Nash. Could you have gotten a nicer room?” Beau winced, as we walked into the suite Nash had booked for us.
“The rest were out of my price range, but if I could have afforded them, yeah, I would have,” Nash said, helping Beau.
“The sofa, I can’t move anymore,” Beau groaned.
“Come on, Beau, just a little more,” I said, pulling his other arm over my shoulder to help.
“Iris,” they growled.
“I’m fine,” I snapped. “Let’s just get him to bed.”
“Iris, no,” Beau sighed. “I don’t want to hurt you.
“Douglas Silva,” I clipped.
“Ugh, I hate that you know my real name,” Beau whined.
“I can’t believe your name is Douglas,” Nash chuckled.
“It never occurred to me that Beau was a stage name,” I said, walking us to the bedroom.
“No one wants to watch porn from a guy named Douglas.” Beau grimaced, shaking his head. “I do not have a moanable name.”
“Oh, Douglas!” I moaned, wincing because he was right, it wasn’t sexy.
“See, not sexy, but moaning, Beau,” he moaned, his own name. “That sounds sexy.”
“Well, shit. I’ve never wondered if my name was moanable,” Nash said, helping me strip Beau.
“Very moanable,” Beau and I said together, before we laughed and winced together.
Nash murmured something and I was pretty sure it was, 'stubborn pain in my ass’ but he grinned at us.
As we got Beau situated, exhaustion was seeping into my bones.
At this point, all I wanted was a shower, food, and to sleep for a day or two.
Someone’s phone rang, then someone else’s phone rang while we put Beau to bed.
“Shit, that’s probably Valencia,” Beau said, sitting up.
“Fuck. Jo is calling me,” Nash frowned at his phone. “Hello.”
I grabbed Beau’s phone from his pocket and passed it to him.
“Fuck, are you kidding me?” Nash growled. “How the fuck did someone find that out and it just happened last night.”
My gut felt uneasy like something bad was about to happen when my phone started to ring and Beau’s started to ring again too.
“No, you will wait until I speak with her,” Nash snapped. “It’s Beau’s choice, too.”
My brother Luke was calling me, and I had a feeling someone had said something about last night.
“Jo, wait,” Nash snapped, as he looked at me and Beau. “My father.”
My phone rang again as I looked at Beau, who had his brows furrowed looking at his phone.
“That’s bullshit,” Nash growled.
My heart beat faster, and my hands grew clammy thinking that something was terribly wrong. I didn’t answer my phone in time as it rang again with my brother, Theo’s, name. Fuck.
“I don’t give a shit, Jo. I will pay whatever I need to,” Nash said, running his hands through his hair. “I can’t guarantee it’s him.”
“What’s going on?” I asked softly.
Nash shook his head as I looked at Beau who was furiously typing on his phone. My phone rang again, Luke’s name popping up.
“Hello,” I answered.
“Thank god, are you ok? I’ve been trying to get ahold of you.”
“I’m fine,” I said, confused.
“Genevieve heard about Beau from Valencia and then she said you were with him and when I called the hospital, they said you left and—”
“I’m…I’m ok,” I said, feeling overwhelmed.
“Are you hurt?” he asked, as I heard someone talking in the background. “Valencia said Beau had a stalker and he showed up to his apartment, you guys were there, but she knew nothing else.”
“It was crazy, but can we talk about this later? We just got out and I’m overwhelmed and I desperately need a shower,” I said.
“Yeah, of course. I just wanted to make sure you were ok,” he said softly. “Can I see you while you are here? I won’t feel right until I know for sure you’re ok.”
My lip trembled. “Yeah, Luke. I want to see you too. Let me shower and nap, then I’ll call you.”
“Okay, Izzy. I love you,” he said.
“I love you too, bye,” I said, feeling so much love for Luke, it choked me up.
I debated calling Theo, my finger hovering over the call button.
“What’s wrong?” Beau asked.
I shook my head.
“I have bad news,” Nash said, kneeling in front of us.
My phone lit up with Theo’s name again.
“Fuck.” Nash ran his hand through his hair.
“What happened?” Beau asked.
“I…I don’t—” He looked up, his eyes full of doubt and sadness.
“Nash, what's going?” I leaned down, cupping his cheek.
“I want to say that I want you, both of you. I went to Sterling Ridge for my father and at first, I hated him for it, but it brought me to you guys,” he said, taking a deep breath, grabbing ahold of each of our hands.
“I thought I didn’t need anyone. I was happy to live alone and if I didn’t need anyone, then it was better for me. ”
“Nash, why are you saying this?” I asked, wondering if this was it?
“Is this it?” Beau pulled his hand out of Nash’s. “Just spit it out if it is, Nash.”
Nash looked bewildered. “What?”
Beau sighed. “I don’t need to be let down softly. I’ve known what this is from the beginning, temporary.”
I clenched my jaw to keep my emotions in check.
“What? That’s not what I’m saying,” Nash said, looking at both of us.
“I’m saying I love you. I want this to work.
I’ve never wanted anything more and I’m afraid that what I’m about to tell you is going to fuck this all up.
” Nash clenched his jaw, but I saw the quiver in his lip.
“I’m willing to do whatever it takes to make this right. I’m sorry.”
“Hey,” I said, cupping his cheek again, the words I love you on the tip of my tongue. “It’s ok, we will face this like we’ve been facing everything else.”
Nash exhaled harshly looking up at me and then Beau.
“Someone’s leaked photos of us and someone’s written an article about it.
It’s on a rodeo website, but Jo says someone else has picked it up and it’s only a matter of time before they hit publish and air our relationship,” Nash said, looking angry.
“I’m sorry. This was probably my father getting back at me for going against him.
I didn’t think he would do something like this and I’m sorry for everything, Iris.
I should have been better for you. I’m sorry, Beau.
You don’t deserve to be treated like this or have your choices aired all over the internet. I just…I just…I’m sor—”
I pressed my fingers against his lips.
“The sins of your father are not your own,” I said, not wanting to hear another sorry from him.
I looked over at Beau who was staring at Nash in disbelief. Or was it fear?
“I know, but his sins are affecting the people I love, so they are my own sins for not protecting you,” he said, his voice breaking at the end.
“Oh, Nash.” I launched myself at him, hating what his father was still doing to him. “I see you and what you’ve done for us. I’m still mad you didn’t tell me about the farm being sold, but you came back for me, and you came to Denver for us.”
“It still wasn’t enough.”
“Don’t say that.” Beau’s arms surrounded us. “You are enough.”
I turned my head to look at him. He had tears in his eyes, but he gave me a small smile. I leaned over to him, laying my forehead against his.
“Whatever happens, we will deal with this together, right?” I asked, needing reassurance.
Nash leaned back, pulling away. “I want this. I know we are married, Iris. We started this relationship as just having fun, but Beau feels like ours too. I never imagined being in love with one person much less two, but I’m all in.
I’ve always wanted somewhere to call home, somewhere safe, somewhere I could be myself and I’ve found that in you two. ”
“I never imagined I would be grateful to be married to you. It felt like something I wished for but would never happen. Then I met Beau and I never thought I would love two men, but here we are,” I said, grabbing their hands.
“I always envisioned what I thought love would be like when I found it and I’m so glad I was wrong. I love you both.”
“How the hell am I supposed to top that?” Beau chuckled. “I don’t know what the hell I did to deserve you and while I thought this was just for fun, I was an idiot for thinking my heart was safe from you guys. I’ve been scared; you’re married and at any moment you might be done—”
“Never.”
“You’re it for us.”
Nash and I said it together as we grabbed his hands.
“I love you Beau, this doesn’t work without you,” I said, crawling in his lap.
“We might be married, but you were the key to bring us together,” Nash said, kissing his cheek, leaning their heads together. “This is where Iris and I belong, with you.”
“Fuck, I’ve wanted this so much,” Beau whispered.
“You have us,” I said, squeezing him tighter.
We held each other on the floor as we let everything settle in.
“Come on, we need to go to sleep. We’ve been awake for too long and dealt with way too much,” I said, getting off Beau who winced as I got up. “Shit. I’m sorry, Beau.”
“Don’t be, I needed it,” he said, as Nash and I helped him up.
“I think we need a shower first,” Nash said, leading us to the very nice bathroom.
“Yes, I feel gross,” Beau said, trying to take off his shirt.
“Same, I’m ready to wash the day away,” I said, helping Beau take his shirt off.
Beau’s body was bruised badly from whatever had happened with his stalker. He had talked to the police alone, so Nash and I didn’t know what had happened, but from the looks of it, I don’t know if I wanted to know.
“I really hope they don’t let that fucker out of jail,” Nash growled.
“If they do, we won’t be here anyway,” Beau sighed. “I go where you go.”
“He would be stupid to come near Beau,” I said, helping Beau into the shower.
“I have my permit in Colorado and I’ll make sure that I’m current,” Nash said, getting in the shower behind us.
“Permit for what?” Beau’s eyebrows furrowed.
I chuckled. “He’s talking about carrying a gun and so do I.”
“Jesus Christ! Did I just fall in love with Bonnie and Clyde?” Beau smirked.
“It never hurts to be prepared,” Nash shrugged. “I’ll always protect what’s mine.”
Swoooooooon.
“I’m a pretty good shot too,” I said, grabbing some soap and washing Beau as he grew hard.