Chapter 22 #3
“Picking something cute for you to wear.” He throws my closet door open.
I stand there, gaping. “I like everything you wear, but I’m thinking a dress or a skirt.” He pulls out a pink dress that stops just above my knees and ties around my neck. “It will be easier to play.” He winks, handing it to me.
“Really?” Reid drolls. “Could you sound any more like an Alpha pig?”
“Hey,” Damien growls. “Just because you don’t live with our Omega and don’t have access to her full time like I do, doesn’t mean you can take your anger out on me.”
“Enough,” I warn the three of them, as I toss the dress on the bed, then let my towel drop to the floor. All three of them shut right up as they stare at my body with hunger.
I’m filled with smugness, loving the attention they’re giving me. I take my time getting dressed, letting them have the view for as long as they can.
Once the dress is on, I climb on the bed and start to brush my hair. “So,” I look at the three of them. “How do we do this?”
“What do you mean?” Reid asks.
“You're my Alphas.”
“Yes,” Carson says.
“But you two live somewhere else while he lives here.” I point to Damien, who looks far too pleased as he stands there, arms crossed with a grin on his face.
“You could move back to Nashville,” Carson suggests. “It’s pretty much your home by now.”
“No,” Damien growls. “I just got her. I’m not letting her go.”
“No one's asking you to let her go. But two of the three of us live in Nashville. It makes sense for her to move in with us, and you come visit.”
“All of her things are here.” Damien steps forward.
“She can move them.” Reid steps towards him.
“Enough!” I shout, and all three heads snap my way. “Clearly, none of you will agree, so I'm going to make the decision. I’m going to stay here until the hockey season is done. We’re going to continue what we were doing before. I come visit you, you come visit me.”
“So he’s going to see you more often?” Carson says. “That’s not fair.”
“I can’t be in two places at once, and I’m not going to ask him to stay away if we’re in the same house. When I go to your place, it will only be the three of us. You’ll get me all to yourself, sometimes for up to two weeks at a time.”
“Weeks?!” Damien asks. “I can’t be without you for two weeks.”
“You’ve been without her for years. I think you’ll live,” Carson snorts.
I shoot him a murderous look as the room goes quiet.
“Sorry, man.” His face falls. “That was harsh.”
“It’s only for a few months. We can make it work temporarily, and it’s not like I have a regular job. I can work from anywhere if I buy a gaming laptop.”
“Work...” Damien says. “You still plan on working?”
“Yes,” my brows furrow. “Why wouldn’t I?”
“Because you have three Alphas who make millions. You don’t need to ever work again in your life,” Carson says.
“I might not need to work, but I want to. I like streaming, and I like gaming. It’s fun. And I’m proud of how far I’ve come.”
“I don’t like the idea of our Omega being so cute and sexy on camera where all the pervy Alphas can see you.” Reid narrows his eyes.
“Yeah, what he said,” Damien says, snapping his fingers and pointing to Reid.
“So, when you thought I was just PastelPrincess, and not Addie, your Omega, you were fine with it? But now you’re not?” I raise a brow.
“Yeah, pretty much.” Carson nods.
“Well, it’s a good thing you don’t get a say.” I cross my arms. “I’m playing games online, not posing naked or doing porn.” I roll my eyes.
“I mean, if you wanna do that for just the three of us, I don’t think we’d mind.” Carson grins.
“Oh my god.” I groan, flopping myself backwards on the bed. “Why does it feel like I’m talking more to Death, Waffle, and Grim right now?”
“Kind of feels like it.” Reid chuckles.
“And why do I kind of love it?” I sit up on my elbows. The guys look at one another. “This is what I want. The three guys who were my best friends for years and who are not my Alphas. Not rivals, not enemies. Not anymore. It ends here. Today. Bye-bye.”
“Agreed,” Reid says, looking at Damien. “What do you say?”
“I can do that,” he nods. "Doesn't mean I’m not going to be a shit stirrer." He grins.
“Of course.” Carson sighs. Just like Death. I wouldn't expect anything less.
“So we’re good?” Reid asks me.
“Not even close.” I grin. “But, we will be. You all lied to me. I think I need some spoiling, some Alpha smothering, and lots and lots of sex. I mean, it’s only fair, right?”
The three of them chuckle. “Sounds fair to me,” Carson says.
“We really are sorry,” Reid says.
“I know.” I smile.
“And I’m so fucking sorry, Cupcake,” Damien says.
I turn to him. While his deception hurts the most, I can’t stay mad at him. We all make mistakes, and he didn’t do it to be mean. He hurt for years. Isn’t that enough punishment?
“I know,” I tell him. “No more secrets, though, okay? We don’t keep anything from one another anymore.
“Of course,” he nods. “Never again.”
“I hate to do this, I really do, but Carson and I have to get to the airport. Our PR manager and coach are losing their shit. We have a game in a few days and practice tonight.”
Sadness sinks in, and I frown.
“I know, Little One.” Carson pulls me off the bed and into his arms. “But we’ll see each other next weekend.”
“Next weekend?” I ask, cocking my head to the side.
“New Year's Eve. You’re both coming to our place to ring in the new year.”
“Oh my god.” My eyes widen. “Christmas. It’s like, what? In two days? How the hell have I forgotten?”
“A lot is going on,” Damien says.
My mom and Damien’s dad never really celebrated Christmas with us. We’d go to parties, but the house was always empty of decorations.
The only thing I ever had was a little gift left on my pillow every Christmas morning. I always knew they were from Damien, even though he’s never admitted it.
It wasn’t until I met Cae that I actually got to really experience a true Christmas. We would go all out every year, just the two of us and our Charlie Brown Christmas tree. We loved it.
“Okay then,” I smile wide. “See you next weekend.”
Watching my Alphas drive away in an Uber, I feel a sense of loss. Damien wraps his arms around me, holding me tight, being exactly what I need right now.
“You’re going to be okay,” he murmurs, gently kissing the top of my head. “I got you.”
Sinking back into his touch, I feel a bit of peace knowing he’s right.
“You know, I can’t think of a better early Christmas present,” I say, turning in his arms.
“What do you mean?” he asks, grabbing my ass and making me giggle.
“Finding out that not only are my three best guy friends my Alphas, but one is the man I’ve wanted for so long, is exactly what I wanted. I don’t have to lose anyone.”
“Yeah,” he smiles. “Best Christmas ever. Sorry, it took me so long to come to my senses.”
“It’s okay. We’re all stupid sometimes.” I grin widely.
“No one is more stupid than me.”
“I meeeannn,” I hum. “You said it, not me.”
“You little shit,” he tickles me, and I start laughing hysterically.
“Mercy, mercy!” I gasp for air. “You're going to make me piss myself.”
“Oh, sounds kind of hot, actually,” he chuckles.
“Ugh, you’re so gross.” I slap his chest, still smiling.
We start to head inside, but pause when we see Alfred. Oh fuck. Shit. How long has he been here? How could I forget about him?
No. No, don’t tell me he heard Damien fucking me?
“Congratulations, you two.” He smiles at Damien and me. “I knew you two belonged together. Shame it took so long, though. Don’t worry, I won’t tell your father,” he tells Damein.
“Thank you, Alfred. For everything."
“No problem, sir. If you don’t mind, though, I’m going to make myself more scarce when it’s just the two of you alone."
“Of course.” Damien nods.
“Well, if there's nothing you need from me, I’ll be heading home for the night.”
“Goodnight,” Damien says as Alfred walks toward the back of the property.
“Oh god,” I bury my face in Damien’s chest. “He totally heard us fucking earlier, didn’t he?”
“Oh yeah.” Damien laughs.
“It’s not funny!” I groan.
“It’s fucking hilarious.”
I think we’re going to have to agree to disagree on this one.