Chapter Twenty
Dani
W aking up the next morning, it almost feels like a dream—nightmare might be more accurate.
Running a hand through my messy hair, I grab my phone off the bedside table.
Someone plugged it in for me, something I’m eternally grateful for.
I find a few messages from Maya letting me know she has errands she needs to run, and she’ll see me tonight.
Andrés sent a message a few hours ago letting me know he was heading to bed, but he hopes I have a good day.
The one that surprises me is the message from Victor asking me to come over for dinner. A glance at the clock tells me it’s already after one. I can’t remember the last time I slept this late, but my body clearly needed it.
I have no idea when Maya is going to be home, and it’s been a while since I’ve been able to hang out with Victor and Jason that’s not related to work. Plus, Victor is an amazing cook, and I’d be an idiot to turn down a home-cooked meal from him.
DANI
Sorry, I just woke up.
If the offer for dinner is still on the table, I’d love to join you.
VICTOR
Of course, it’s still on the table.
You could’ve messaged me at five o’clock tonight, and it still would’ve been on the table.
DANI
You’re too sweet.
VICTOR
Or I just really want to see you.
We both do, actually.
DANI
It really has been too long.
What time do you want me there?
VICTOR
How does five sound?
DANI
It sounds perfect. See you then!
VICTOR
See you then.
And Jason says hello.
DANI
Hi, Jason! See you tonight!
I set aside my phone, trying to decide what I’m going to do with the rest of my day. Yes, I have dinner plans in less than four hours, but it’s not going to take me that long to get ready.
I wrinkle my nose when I remember that I have to go back to my apartment and make a list of everything.
Fuck. That’s going to take forever.
As much as I don’t want to do it, I need to put on my big girl pants and get it over and done with.
First, I need to pee and take a shower, then find something to wear in Maya’s closet since all of mine were ripped to shreds. I guess shopping for a new wardrobe will have to go onto my to-do list as well.
Fuck my life.
One step at a time, I remind myself.
It won’t do me any good to start freaking out already. So, I climb out of bed and scurry over to the bathroom.
Forty-five minutes later, I’m dressed in one of Maya’s dresses that’s so short on me, it’s almost indecent, and standing outside my apartment with the day shift head of security, David.
“If you’re not ready to do this, you can do it later,” he assures me. “I know they want you to do it today, but they can’t force you to.”
I shake my head. “No, I want to get this over with so I can move on with my life. The one good thing is I keep a meticulous record of everything I own for insurance purposes, so all I have to do is go through the list. My friend let me borrow her tablet, which will also make it easier.”
For the next two hours or so, we sift through the remains of my belongings, checking off each item on my list. The one thing we don’t find is my underwear, and that freaks me the fuck out—even more than having my apartment broken into.
My stalker being a panty thief makes me think they want something sexual with me, and that’s not something I’m okay with.
I drop off the report at the police station, and then I head over to Victor and Jason’s house. It’s not until I park in their driveway that I realize they have no idea what happened last night.
I hadn’t wanted to bother them about it when it happened, but I probably should’ve told them this morning.
That’s going to put a damper on our evening.
Sighing, I climb out of the car and toss my bag over my shoulder. Before I shut the door, my phone dings, and I pull it out to find a text from Andrés.
ANDRéS
Good morning, mi reina.
DANI
It’s not morning, but good evening, Andrés.
ANDRéS
It’s my morning.
How’s your day?
DANI
I went by the apartment and brought the list over to the station.
They stole my panties.
ANDRéS
When I find out who did this, I’m going to kill them.
DANI
No, you’re not. But I appreciate the gesture.
ANDRéS
Do you want to come over?
DANI
I would, but I’m actually at Jason and Victor’s. They invited me over for dinner.
ANDRéS
I’m jealous.
Have fun, mi reina.
Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.
DANI
So I should say fuck dinner and jump in their bed?
ANDRéS
Sounds like a brilliant idea to me.
Pics or it didn’t happen.
DANI
I’ll text you later.
ANDRéS
Please do.
And I wasn’t joking about the pictures.
Shaking my head, I head up the walkway and knock on the front door.
Jason opens it with a big grin on his face. “You’re here!”
“Did you think I was going to bail on you?” I ask, allowing him to pull me into a hug.
“Of course not. I’m just glad you’re here. I missed you.”
I laugh. “You just saw me yesterday.”
“Well, sure, but that was for work.”
“Jason, let Dani go so she can come inside.” Victor appears with a smile. “I’m glad you could make it.”
“Me too. I realized I didn’t tell either of you about what happened last night.”
Both men’s smiles disappear as Jason tugs me inside, Victor shutting the door behind us.
Jason pulls me into the living room, waiting until we’re both on the couch before asking, “What happened?”
“My stalker broke into my apartment. They destroyed everything.”
Victor drops to sit on my other side, wrapping his arm around me and tugging me against him. “Fuck. Why didn’t you call us?”
“I called Maya and Andrés. I didn’t want to bother the two of you. You deserved a night of normalcy.”
“So do you,” Jason argues. “Please, if anything else happens, call us. I hate that we were sitting here all night not knowing you were going through something.”
He looks close to tears, so I grab his hand and give it a squeeze. “I’m okay, Jason, but I promise I’ll let you know if anything else comes up. I just didn’t want you to worry when there was nothing you could do.”
“You didn’t stay there last night, did you?” Victor asks, drawing my attention to him.
I shake my head. “No. Both Andrés and Maya offered to let me stay with them. I stayed with Maya since I don’t have any clothes, and I can kind of fit in hers.”
When I gesture at the almost indecent dress, both men’s eyes widen.
“You’re a bit taller than she is,” Victor agrees, his eyes running up the length of my legs. “But that dress looks amazing on you.”
“At least that’s something positive to come out of the situation.” I laugh. “Now, I’m starving, and I was promised food.”
Victor takes the change of topic easily, jumping to his feet. “You were, and it’s ready. It’s just being kept warm right now. Jason, why don’t the two of you get settled in the dining room, and I’ll bring the food in?”
“The dining room?” I ask with a raised brow at Jason as Victor hurries from the room. “Since when do you two use the dining room?”
He shrugs, his cheeks going pink. “Since tonight.”
There’s something irresistible about a man who blushes—at least to me. I have to fight myself to keep from leaning in and kissing him.
I’m with Andrés now, and I need to make sure they know that. Not that he would care if anything happened between the three of us—he would just be disappointed that he wasn’t involved. But I want to make sure that all my cards are on the table.
But that’s something to worry about later. For all I know, they’ve changed their mind about wanting a polyamorous relationship.
Jason leads me into the dining room, pulling out a chair at the head of the table for me, but I pause in the doorway. The lights are on a low setting with candles on the table I know they never use. Plus, there are cloth napkins on the table. I didn’t know they even owned cloth napkins.
What is going on right now?
“Dani?”
I blink at Jason before hurrying over and taking the seat. To say I’m in shock is putting things lightly.
After pushing in my chair, Jason takes the seat to my right. Victor joins us a few minutes later with three plates balanced in his hands.
When I go to jump up to help him, Jason lays his hand on mine. “He’s got it.”
As if to prove Jason’s words true, a plate is placed in front of me and another in front of Jason. Victor sets his plate in front of the chair to my left before sitting himself.
The food is beautifully plated, and it’s clear that Victor put a lot of effort into the steak, risotto, and asparagus. It’s not that he hasn’t put in effort in the past, but nothing like this.
“Okay, not to sound suspicious or like an ungrateful brat, but what the hell is going on?” I ask, glancing between the two of them.
Victor runs a hand through his hair as he meets a nervous Jason’s gaze. Neither man speaks for a moment, and as much as I want to demand answers, I wait for them to speak up.
“We were going to wait until after dinner to talk to you, and now that we know what you had to deal with last night, I’m not sure this is the right time,” Jason finally says, and I’m already shaking my head.
“Nope. We’re not doing that. What did you want to talk to me about? Because I can assure you, I won’t be able to eat until I know.”
Victor chuckles. “You are kind of an ungrateful brat, aren’t you?”
I just lift my eyebrows, not willing to let them distract me.
“Yeah, okay.” Victor glances at his plate before lifting his head to meet my gaze. “Jason and I have been talking, and we’re interested in you, Dani—as more than friends. We want a relationship with you.”
I’m a little shell-shocked by his words. They’re exactly what I want to hear, but I didn’t actually expect them. I thought when I brought it up, they’d let me down gently.
“I’m with Andrés,” I blurt out, giggling at the shock on both their faces, and that seems to break the tension in the air.
Victor chuckles. “That doesn’t change our minds.”
“In fact, it makes it easier,” Jason agrees. “We want you and Andrés. We’re not interested in that kind of relationship with Maya, but she’s family, and we know both you and Andrés want more with her.”
“Wow. You have been giving this a lot of thought.” I shake my head.
“I can’t speak for Maya, but this is everything I want and more.
Andrés actually approached me last night after the shoot to tell me how he feels about me.
And Maya. And the two of you. So, I feel pretty confident in saying that the two of us are in. But Maya…”
“Has commitment issues.” Jason nods. “We’re aware. Eventually, she has to stop running from what the two of you have. I don’t know what’s going on with her and Andrés, but he clearly cares for her.”
I chew my lip as I nod. “I think she cares for him too. He told me they had slept together a little over a year ago, and that’s when she started acting funny.
I love her, but I don’t think we can count on her accepting this.
As much as it would break my heart to lose her, I’m not willing to miss out on what the four of us could have because she’s afraid. ”
Jason grins. “That makes me so fucking happy. We should call Andrés and invite him over.”
“Or we can enjoy the night with Dani,” Victor says slowly, nodding toward our plates. “But first, we all need to eat.”
I pick up my fork, take a bite of the risotto, and moan. “Oh, fuck this is good. Yeah, we should definitely eat first.”
Both men are quiet, and when I look up, I see them both watching me with hunger in their eyes.
“Nope. We’re eating. Get to work. No shenanigans until we’ve eaten.”
Jason looks like he wants to argue, but Victor cuts into his steak and takes a bite—his eyes never leaving me.
Swallowing hard, I drop my eyes to my plate as I follow my own directions.
Because I have no doubt about what’s going to happen after we finish eating, and I want to make sure I have enough energy for it.