Chapter 30 - Gage
Luna’s buzzing around like a little bee, topping up drinks and food trays.
I don’t think she’s settled in one place for more than a minute or two since the guests started arriving.
This is a huge step for her, entertaining like this.
It’s the first time the house has been filled with people since the funeral.
She’s come so far in the last two years and I think she’s ready for more.
At least I hope so. I know I’m ready for more.
I want to tell her how I feel, how I want us to be more.
I want to show her just how much love I can give her if she’s open to it.
Torrin, Julian, and Reid come over and sit on the built-in bench on the lower deck with me, and I watch as each one of them tracks her as she moves between guests.
I look away from them as my fingers tighten on the beer bottle in my hand.
There needs to be a conversation about that between all of us before I even think about approaching Luna for more.
None of us has voiced our feelings for her to each other but I know there’s some there for them too.
We need to clear the air about it. It makes me nervous because it's a conversation that could change things between all of us, but I’m willing to chance that if it means we can all start moving on.
“Thad! Wow, it’s great to see you again. Thanks so much for coming. What have you been up to?”
We all hear Luna ask from the upper deck above us.
I crane my neck back and spot her chatting with two guys I don’t know.
She has a few friends here from work and school.
I frown when one of them leans in and wraps a hand around her waist and slides it dangerously close to me rearranging his face territory.
I tense up, ready to stand and go up there when Jules calls out to her.
“Hey, Cin! Looks like we’re almost out of deviled eggs. Is there more inside?”
She looks over the railing at us in surprise and then glances at the food table with a frown before nodding and turning to the two guys. “Good to see you guys again. We’ll catch up later.” She dashes away and disappears into the house.
I let the tension ease from my shoulders, glancing over to Julian. My brows rise at the cold look he’s spearing the guy above us with. Before I can ask if he knows them, I catch part of their conversation.
“…popped her cherry on prom night. Not the best I’ve ever had, that’s for sure.”
“Damn, man, she’s hot. Nice! Did you guys date for a while?”
The guy she called Thad scoffs, “Nah, hit and quit it.”
Jules is up and moving in a blink. He crosses the deck and hops up on the bench seat across from us and leans on the upper railing so he’s next to them. I can’t see his face, but the ice in his voice has a shiver running down my back.
“Yeah, she hit him and quit him, alright. Especially when I picked her up from the Marriott that night and showed her how a real man is supposed to make a woman feel.” He chuckles darkly.
“What was it she said? Something about you fumbling at her breasts and then a quick five pumps before you finished? Yeah, that sounds about right. Not really something you’d want to brag about, though, is it?
” He pauses for a few seconds and I can just imagine the death stare he’s hitting the guy with.
“BBQ’s over. Use the side gate, don’t pass go, and don’t collect a goodbye from her on your way out. ”
When the guy looks like he’s going to argue, Torrin, Reid, and I all stand up and take two steps closer. The move catches his friend’s attention, making him blanch and reach for Thad’s arm.
“Let’s go, man.”
He yanks Thad off the deck and down the stairs past us. All of us turn, keeping our eyes on the fucker until they disappear around the side of the house.
“Oh! Where’s Thad going? I didn’t have a chance to chat with him and his friend.”
Luna’s disappointed voice comes from behind us, so we all turn to look. Jules is the one to answer her.
“Huh, he said something about needing to change his pants. I think he’s finally regretting wearing pleats.”
Her eyes go big before she presses her lips together and shoots him a pointed glare but I can see she’s trying not to laugh. She turns away with a shake of her head and tosses over her shoulder at him, “You’re such a dick,” In an amused tone.
As soon as she joins another group and starts chatting, I whip my head to Julian and growl, “What the fuck did that mean?” When he just raises a brow at me, I take a hard step toward him. “Explain yourself. All of it!”
He rolls his eyes but then turns them in her direction. His lips quirk up when she laughs at something my grandfather says.
“Oh, fine. It was her prom night. She texted me and asked to be picked up that night from the hotel and didn't want Atlas to know. She was upset or… disappointed is more like it. She gave her virginity to that loser and it was a real letdown. So, I kissed her until she was dizzy and told her not to let another man put his hands on her unless he made her feel that way.” He finally looks back at me, smirking at my angry expression. “Relax, that’s all it was, a kiss. I took her to get food and dropped her off at home.”
My hands ache from the tight fists I’ve balled them into. “You kissed her. Kissed Luna?”
Reid doesn’t say a word but his lips start to curl into a shit-eating grin.
“You knew about this?”
His grin gets bigger. “Um, no, but…”
“But what?”
He tilts his head at Julian. “Kissing her, it was amazing, wasn’t it?”
Jules crosses his arms and some of the rigid control he keeps himself under cracks as he looks in her direction again with the slightest smile. Reid has a hint of a blush darkening his face when he nods as if in agreement.
I grit my teeth and ask, “You’ve kissed her too?”
His eyes go unfocused like he’s remembering it. “Yeah. The night we played capture the flag with her. It was incredible.”
I shake my head in disbelief and I groan. “Wait a minute! Was that why we lost the game? You had the flag that night!”
He laughs and nods. “So worth it.”
I throw my hands up. “Both of you have kissed her? Unbelievable!”
Torrin makes a choked noise, causing me to slowly turn my head to glare at him.
“You have got to be fucking kidding me,” I growl out.
He shrugs his shoulders. “Yeah, well, actually she kissed me and it was amazing, but so fucking sad at the same time. It was just after the funeral. She was beyond drunk and she was hurting. The night she got drunk at the Batting Cage.”
Some of my urge to punch something eases off but still…
“So, you’re telling me all you fuckers have kissed her? I’m the only one who hasn’t?”
Julian smirks at me. “Hmm, looks like our girl is already building that harem she likes to read about. Better jump on board or you might miss the train, brother.”
Torrin’s mouth drops open in surprise and I clench my teeth.
I looked up that reverse harem thing last night on my phone.
The idea of sharing the woman I love is ridiculous.
I turn my head and look over at Luna. It's like she can feel my gaze and she turns to meet my stare. Her eyes warm and then move to the other guys. I don’t miss the love she has in that look for all of us, and it makes my heart sink.
She loves all of us. She would have to choose one of us, and no matter how much I want her, I don’t know if she would choose me.
I swallow hard and turn to look at Julian.
He’s already looking back like he was waiting for me to figure that out.
His gaze is hard with a challenge. He arches one eyebrow and quietly says, “Choo-choo.”