Chapter 51
fifty-one
It’s six fifty-eight.
I know this because I’ve checked the clock on the microwave approximately four thousand times in the last hour.
My house has never been this clean. I scrubbed the kitchen counters twice, fluffed every pillow on the couch, lit a vanilla candle on the coffee table, blew it out because it felt like I was trying too hard, then lit it again because the room still smelled like Clorox.
I’ve also changed my clothes at least three freaking times.
I finally managed to settle on a pair of soft grey leggings and an oversized cream sweater that slips off one shoulder. Casual, but comfortable. Definitely not the tiny black slip dress I put on and then immediately yanked over my head because who wears a slip dress to a casual dinner at home?
I mean, the last thing I want is to make it too obvious what I hope will happen tonight.
Just as I blow out a cleansing breath, the doorbell rings, making my heart ka-thump against my ribs.
“Just a sec!” I call out, wiping my sweaty palms on the front of my leggings.
Please, girl. Like that’s going to help.
One last glance in the hallway mirror, and I cross the room to open the door.
Brex is holding a takeout bag in one hand and a six-pack of craft beer in the other while Logan hovers behind him. My stomach does a weird flip-flop at the sight of Brex’s easy smile and Logan’s brooding intensity.
“Hey, Pretty.” Brex’s eyes sweep over me with a familiar heat I’ve become all too familiar with. “Hope you like Thai.”
“I do.” I step aside to let them in.
Logan nods, giving me a small quirk of his lips as he steps inside, brushing his shoulder against mine, the scent of his woodsy cologne lingering as he takes off his shoes.
Brex makes himself at home, heading straight for the kitchen while Logan stands awkwardly in the living room, hands shoved in his pockets.
“I’ll grab some plates,” I say, trailing behind Brex.
The kitchen is cozy with Brex’s broad frame taking up most of the space as he unpacks containers of pad Thai, green curry, and spring rolls. The spicy aroma isn’t the only thing making my mouth water.
“Smells good.” I didn’t realize how hungry I was until the scent hit my nose.
“Yeah, well, I know what you like,” Brex answers with a wink that makes my cheeks warm.
I move over to the cabinet, pulling down three plates and grabbing a handful of forks from the drawer, my hands annoyingly twitchy as I set everything on the kitchen island.
Brex glances over his shoulder at Logan, who’s still hovering like he’s not sure what to do. “You gonna help or what?”
Rubbing a hand over the back of his neck, Logan grumbles, “Yeah, yeah.”
He grabs the six-pack Brex set on the counter and cracks open three bottles, sliding one toward me, and then Brex, before taking a long pull from his own.
“So,” I say, because someone has to break the silence. “What did you want to talk about?”
“Figured we should eat before we talk,” Brex says, spooning pad Thai onto his plate. “Can’t have a serious conversation on an empty stomach.”
My stomach knots. “Serious conversation?”
Logan sets his beer down. “We need to figure some things out, Rey. About the three of us.”
The gravel in his tone makes my pulse skitter and my clit pulse. I grab my plate and start loading it up, mostly to keep myself from crawling across the kitchen island and latching my mouth onto his.
I had plenty of time to think while I was cleaning. I know they both want me. That they like to share. Maybe they want to share me? I mean, they’ve offered it before, but Logan shut Brex down real quick. Has he changed his mind?
My head is spinning with every possible scenario.
Normally, I lose my appetite when I get stressed out, but I’m too hungry to give a shit right now. Whatever it is, it can’t be all bad. Right?
We settle around the kitchen island, me on one side, the two of them on the other. The stools creak under their weight as they sit, and I tuck one leg under me, trying to act casual even though my insides feel like they’re doing some kind of interpretive dance.
We fall into a weird silence, Brex digging into his pad Thai as Logan frowns into his chicken curry.
“So,” Brex says around a mouthful of noodles. “How was your pole class yesterday, Pretty? Looked like you had a full house.”
I blink, caught off guard by the sudden shift from silence to small talk. “Uh, yeah. It was good. It was a beginners class, so we kept it pretty basic.”
“Basic, huh?” His eyes twinkle as he takes a swig of his beer. “From what I could see, there was nothing basic about it.”
My skin flushes and my heart rate picks up as he rakes his gaze over me.
“The way you did that thing where you spin around the pole and your legs go all…” He lifts a hand in the air, spreading his fingers in a way I can only assume is meant to simulate a split. “It was so hot.”
Logan sighs. “Dude.”
“What?” Brex holds up his hands in mock surrender. “Just making conversation.”
“Doesn’t mean you need to describe her entire routine,” Logan mutters, stabbing a piece of chicken.
I hide my smile behind a bite of broccoli. The tension between them is almost comical—Brex radiating positive energy while Logan broods like a thundercloud.
“Anyway,” Brex continues, undeterred, “About your lawyer friend Ari. I talked to Dex this morning, and he’s interested. Think you could send me her contact info? I’ll pass it along.”
“Sure.” I twist in my seat to grab my phone from the counter and pull up her number. “She’s really good. Top of her class at Yale. She’ll take good care of your brother.”
I pull up a picture and turn my phone so he can see.
“Yale, huh?” Brex leans in to take a look. “Smart and beautiful. She single?”
A sharp jolt of jealousy fills my veins. “Ari is married to her career,” I shrug. “But I’ll tell her you asked.”
“Jesus, Pretty. I’m not asking for myself. I’m asking for my brother. He could use a distraction.”
“Ari doesn’t get distracted when it comes to work. If he needs a great lawyer, she can be that. No way in hell she’d let some hot MMA fighter put her job in jeopardy.”
Surprise floods his expression. “You think Dex is hot?”
“What? No. I mean, I don’t know. I’m just saying if he looks anything like you…”
Brex’s lips morph into a cocky grin, and he leans back, crossing his arms over his chest. “So you think I’m hot, huh?”
I can’t help the smile that tugs at my lips. “Not what I said.”
“It’s exactly what you said,” he winks as he picks up his empty plate and carries it to the sink. “You two ‘bout done? I want to get this conversation out of the way.”
My stomach dips as I slide off my stool and gather the empty beer bottles.
Logan takes the leftovers and stores them in the fridge while Brex clears the dishes and puts them in the dishwasher.
When everything’s put away, I sit on the couch, tucking my legs underneath me.
Brex drops down next to me, while Logan takes the armchair across from us and leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. The tension in the air feels exactly like it does before a thunderstorm breaks through the clouds.
“So.” Nervous, I twist my fingers in the hem of my sweater. “What did you want to talk about?”
Brex turns to face me. “Logan and I… Well, we’ve been doing a lot of thinking. And the thing is...” He glances at Logan, who gives him a small nod of encouragement. “We both want to date you.”
My heart stutters. “What?”
Logan shifts in his seat. Pressing his palms together, his intense gaze locks onto mine. “What Brex is trying to say is that we want to date you. Both of us. Together.”
I blink, trying to process their words. “Like... a throuple?”
“Yeah.” Brex gives me a soft but serious smile. “Exactly.”
“But how would that even work?” I ask, my mind racing. “I mean, I’ve never...”
“Neither have we,” Logan admits, running a hand through his dark hair. “Not like this. Never more than one night.”
Brex takes my hand, tracing his thumb softly over my knuckles. “We’ve talked about what it would look like, how we’d make it work.”
“And we want to try.” Logan clears his throat. “If you’re willing.”
My eyes dart between them. The possibility of having both of them, of not having to choose, feels almost too good to be true.
“But what about your job?” I look at Logan, concern warring with the haze of desire. “Won’t people talk?”
“I spoke with Chief Harrison,” Logan says. “He’s fine with it.”
My eyebrows shoot up. “Really?”
“Yeah,” Brex grins. “Turns out he and his wife have been in a poly relationship for years. He gave Logan some solid advice.”
“Which is why we’re having this conversation,” Logan adds. “No more secrets, no more games. We all need to be on the same page.”
I take a deep breath. “I know Brex doesn’t give a shit what people think. But, Logan. You’ve made it more than clear…”
Resting his arms on his thighs, he leans in, pinning me with his broody gaze.
“You still think after what we did the other night, that I give a shit about what other people think? Yes, I care about my job. But I care about you too. That’s why I spoke to the chief.
Now I can have both. Just no PDA at work. ”
Brex brushes my hair away from my neck. “What do you say, Pretty?”
My mouth opens, but nothing comes out. The words are right there, tangled up on my tongue, but my brain is moving at about half speed, trying to process what these two amazing men are actually offering.
Logan, with his brooding intensity, the man who kissed me like he was drowning and was the only air left in the room. The same man who held me while I cried after a nightmare about my sister. Who fucked me against his desk like he’d been starving for me his entire life.
Brex, with his warmth and devil may care attitude. A man who makes me laugh even when I’m trying my damnedest to stay mad at him. Who whispers filthy things in my ear, making my knees buckle. Always looking at me like I’m the only woman in the room.
It’s not like I haven’t thought about it. The need has been there for weeks, maybe months, buried under layers of guilt and fear and the stupid, outdated notion that I’m supposed to pick just one. That wanting two people means I’m greedy or broken or somehow incapable of real love.
But I know that’s not true.
Wanting both of them is the most honest thing I’ve ever felt.
Soft fabric bunches between my fingers. Sweat beads in the space between my breasts.
Both are watching, waiting patiently for me to respond.
“Okay.”
Logan’s eyes widen, and he straightens in his seat as Brex sucks in a breath. “You sure?”
Tearing my gaze away from Logan’s, I look up at Brex, whose eyes are dancing with excitement. “Positive.”
“That’s our girl,” he grins down at me.
Our girl. Damn. I really like the sound of that.