50 RHEA
I drag my suitcase into the guest room, my muscles protesting every step. My body feels like it’s been through a meat grinder— in the best way possible. Never in a million years did I think I’d be here, dating three men at once, but here I am. And honestly? I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I pull it out, glancing at the screen. It’s a number I don’t recognize, but it’s local. I swipe to answer.
“Hello?”
“Hi, is this Rhea Spry?” The voice on the other end is crisp, professional.
“Yeah, that’s me.” I lean against the wall, crossing my free arm over my chest.
“This is Dr. King from the sports clinic. We’re trying to finalize the details for your start date. When would be a good time to arrange your flight?” I blink. The sports clinic. The job. Reality. It’s like a splash of cold water. I’d almost forgotten.
“Uh, yeah,” I stammer, running a hand through my hair. “I’m kind of in the middle of something right now. Family emergency.
Can I call you back?”
“Of course,” she says smoothly. “Just let us know as soon as possible. We’re excited to have you on board.”
“Thanks,” I mutter, ending the call.
I slide down the wall until I’m sitting on the floor, my phone clutched in my hand.
The room is quiet, the weight of the past few weeks pressing down on me.
The underground fights, the danger, the men—Corey, Julian, Tobias.
It’s been a whirlwind, and I’ve been riding the high, but now reality’s knocking, and it’s loud.
I stare at the wall, my mind racing. The sports clinic is everything I’ve worked for. It’s stability, a career, a future. But now? I’m not even sure what I want. The life I’ve stumbled into here is messy, chaotic, and unpredictable, but it’s also exhilarating. And the men?
They’re something else entirely. They’re not just a fling or a distraction. They’re real, complicated, and they’ve carved out a place in my life I didn’t know I had room for.
I let out a long breath, resting my head against the wall. This isn’t just about a job anymore. It’s about choices. About who I am and who I want to be. And for the first time in a long time, I’m not sure I have the answers.
I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself, but the tears spill over anyway. I wipe at my cheeks, but it’s no use. The weight of everything—the job, the men, the life I’ve stumbled into—hits me all at once. I need to talk to them. Now.
I head downstairs, my socked feet barely making a sound on the hardwood.
The living room is bathed in the soft glow of the TV, the sound turned down low.
Corey’s lounged in the armchair, one leg draped over the armrest like he owns the damn world.
Julian’s sprawled on the couch, his head resting on Tobias’ thigh, who’s sitting upright, scrolling on his phone.
They look up when I walk in, and Julian’s the first to react. He sits up, his blue eyes narrowing as he takes in my tear-streaked face.
“Whoa, whoa, what’s going on?” Tobias sets his phone down, his hazel eyes locking onto me.
“Rhea?” Corey’s out of the chair in a heartbeat, crossing the room to me.
“Hey,” he says softly, his hands on my shoulders. “Talk to us.” The dam breaks. “I just got a call,” I choke out, my voice wobbling. “From the sports clinic. They’re finalizing my start date. I
—I forgot about it. I forgot about everything. I was so caught up in all of this, in you guys, that I just… forgot.” Corey’s face tightens, but he doesn’t say anything. Julian sits up straighter, running a hand through his hair. Tobias just watches me, his expression unreadable.
“I don’t know what to do,” I admit, the words tumbling out. “I don’t know how to choose between the life I thought I wanted and the life I’m living now. And I don’t want to hurt any of you, but I?—”
“Rhea,” Corey interrupts, his voice steady. “Look at me.” I do. His dark eyes are intense, but there’s a softness there too.
“You don’t have to choose. Not like this. We love you. All of us. And we’ll support you, no matter what that looks like.”
“Yeah,” Julian jumps in, his tone lighter but no less serious. “If it means buying a jet so you can commute, or moving two states over, we’ll figure it out. We’re not letting you go.” Tobias nods, his deep voice rumbling. “Our dreams involve you.
Always have. So we’ll make adjustments. Whatever it takes.” I stare at them, my heart beating loudly. They mean it. Every word. And for the first time, I realize how much I’ve come to rely on them. How much I need them.
“But Betty’s,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper.
“You’re just getting it off the ground. It’s your dream.”
Corey’s lips curve into a small smile. “Our dream’s bigger than a bar, Rhea. It’s you. It’s us. Everything else? We’ll figure it out.”
The tears come again, but this time, they’re mixed with a laugh.
I step forward, wrapping my arms around Corey’s waist.
He holds me tight, and I feel Julian and Tobias close in, their warmth surrounding me.
“Thank you,” I whisper, my voice breaking.
“Always,” Corey murmurs into my hair.
I pull back, wiping at my cheeks. “I need to make a call,” I say, heading for the stairs.
“Rhea,” Julian calls after me, his tone teasing but soft. “Don’t forget we’re right here, okay?” I nod, giving them a small smile before hurrying upstairs. I sit on the edge of the bed, pulling out my phone. My hands are shaking as I dial the number.
“Dr. King,” I say when she answers. “There’s been a change of plans.”