11. Leah
Leah
Should it feel wrong sitting here with Warren and Quincy? My cabin feels too empty without someone else here, and my mind is full of bullshit feelings. Talking out my frustrations always helps. While I’d rather do it with Parker, that’s not an option this time.
“I hate it.” My voice breaks as I lean on Quincy.
The two of them are slowly creeping into friendship territory, despite Parker’s hatred.
I don’t know what they ever did to him. Well, aside from the whole diner situation.
Still, that was all a misunderstanding. Parker and I can’t ever be a thing, so he has no reason to get territorial.
Even then, I’m not property, I’ll sleep with every single one of them if I want, nobody can stop me.
Except me, that’s working out so far.
Warren pulls my feet into his lap, massaging my arches. “You’re valid for feeling that way, but I’m sure they have their reasons for keeping things from you. Some of us have had hard lives.”
“Do you think I haven’t?”
“Hey,” Quincy speaks up. “He doesn’t mean it like that. We all have our issues. The reality of it is that none of us really know each other well. Don’t hold it against them.”
They’re right, which is annoying. Why can’t I be angry in peace? Damn these emotionally mature men. Sometimes a girl just wants to scream out her anger and be heard.
Warren’s gaze holds steady on my tense expression. He won’t say it, but I can tell there’s an eagerness to cheer me up behind his stoic persona. Quincy is much more transparent. If they weren’t still trying to show me they’re different, he’d probably have me under him already.
Not that I would mind one bit.
All this testosterone is wearing me down.
It’s only a matter of time until one—or two—of them break my restraint.
No part of me will feel bad about it when that day comes.
Will I still freak out? Oh yeah. It’ll be justified.
Sleeping with any of them will come with blowback, and I need to be prepared for that.
Until I am, nights like this will have to be enough. And breakfasts with Parker and Grady. Because at the end of the day, I’ll forgive them, I always do and probably always will. The pull I feel for them demands it. It’s inexplicable.
“They’re not bad guys, are they?” I sigh.
Warren squeezes my foot tighter. “No.” His response comes out through a clenched jaw.
Chuckling, I reply, “You seem rather upset about that.”
“It’s because he’s jealous,” Quincy teases.
“Like you aren’t? What I wouldn’t give to have you cook for us on the regular.” Warren groans.
Oh, he’s genuinely upset over missing out. It’s strangely endearing.
Quincy pulls me closer. “Yeah, you’re right. Fuck them, let us come over for breakfast in the mornings.”
I gasp, shoving him playfully. “Maybe I can rotate. One day I’ll get you all in the same room.”
They both go stiff, faces blanching.
I tilt my head. “What? You wouldn’t want that?”
Warren swallows hard. “It would never work… for many reasons.”
Fine, guess I can forget about that. Clearly, the tension is mutual.
Great.
“Well, I’m tired. You should probably get some sleep, too.” I stand, hugging them both good night.
They smell so delicious, so masculine, it’s hard to let them leave. Past Leah would drag them both to bed in a flash. The best way to forget my woes is to be fucked into blissful delirium, after all. Sadly, that’s not the answer now. It would only make things more complicated.
The silent pleas on their faces tell me they’re onto my deflection. Too bad. I’m over all this drama for the day.
“I promise I’m not upset with you guys. Okay? I just need to breathe.”
Quincy pulls me back against his chest. “You’re allowed alone time to process everything. Sleep well.” He rubs his chin on the top of my head.
My stupid stomach fills with flutters.
Warren straightens my hair, tucking loose strands behind my ear. “Sweet dreams.”
Why are they all so adoring when they want to be? How can I get them to like each other so I can enjoy all of their attention at once?
Right, as if that would ever happen. For now, I’m taking things one day at a time.
Tomorrow will be better because it can’t possibly be worse.