10. Dash
DASH
Kane is pacing back and forth in the kitchen impatiently.
Normally it would be because he’s waiting for Benjamin to finish cooking breakfast but that’s definitely not it this morning.
He’s waiting for Abby to emerge from her room.
We all are.
Benjamin is cracking eggs and flipping bacon, but he also keeps glancing over his shoulder toward the stairs.
I wasn’t sure if he would be as into Abby as me and Kane—he isn’t impulsive normally—but he clearly is.
Me? I’m drinking a protein shake while I wait for the fresh food because I consume a lot of calories.
But I have myself positioned so that I have the perfect view of the top of the stairs.
That’s why I’m the first to see Abby.
I straighten up immediately, and smack Kane on the arm so he’ll quit his pacing.
Abby is dressed for work in a blouse with a bow and fitted pants and low heels.
Yesterday was pink.
Today’s theme is red with a splash of pink.
Red pants.
Red heels.
A red headband.
I don’t think of cherries or fire trucks.
Nope.
Immediately my mind fills with strawberries.
I swear I can even smell the fruity sweet scent of her shower gel as she descends the stairs.
The soft delicate blouse is pink and so is her ever-present water bottle.
“Morning,” I murmur, ripping my tongue off the roof of my mouth.
She gives me a smile. Maybe a slightly hesitant smile, but it’s a smile.
Kane bounds over to her and goes in for a hug. Abby hugs him back but it’s stiff.
She shoots a nervous glance over at Benjamin at the stove. He doesn’t look over his shoulder now, seemingly determined to focus on breakfast.
Interesting.
Last night everything felt so comfortable and natural.
Abby had been snug up between me and Kane, relaxed enough to fall asleep with our limbs all tangled up together.
It felt like we’ve always done that.
Like we always will.
But now…
Abby looks nervous and like she’s pulling back a little emotionally.
Not that I blame her.
This is a lot to process all at once.
All of our lives are changing forever and we all know it, whether we’re willing to state that out loud right now or not.
“I’ve got you,” I murmur, leaning down so she can hear me. I put my hand on the small of her back and guide her through the family room to the kitchen. She shoots me a grateful look and releases the tension in her shoulders.
Kane doesn’t look upset that Abby is leaning into me as he follows behind us.
He knows sometimes he’s a lot. He also has a single-minded focus of making sure Abby is happy.
“Coffee?” he does ask her, slipping a glass mug under the insanely expensive machine Benjamin owns.
“I’d love some, thanks.”
Benjamin finally turns and sweeps his gaze over her. “Do you have time for breakfast or do you need to get to work?”
It’s not cold. It’s just not…warm either.
I frown.
Did something happen between them last night when Benjamin took Abby to bed?
“I have time. Is it okay if someone drops me off at the office by eight-thirty?”
He nods. “Of course.”
Benjamin is already dressed in a suit and tie.
Normally, Kane and I would already be at the rink by now for practice, but Coach gave us the morning off since we have games four days in a row starting on Thursday.
I finish my protein shake and toss the carton in the trash.
Kane lifts Abby’s coffee mug. “Do you want cream and sugar, Lollipop?”
“Just cream.”
“Like a latte?”
Abby has loosened up and moves in beside Kane. Her arm brushes his, which makes me happy. Kane thrives on physical touch. This will make his morning.
“If you can,” she says.
“This machine can do anything. I’ll drink this one and make you something fancy.” He gives her a wink.
While Kane grabs a new mug for Abby, I plate everyone’s breakfast. I know Kane likes mostly bacon with a side of eggs and that Benjamin doesn’t eat bacon.
I like mine to come out even. Kane will sneak Linda a piece of his bacon and she will spend all of breakfast with her head in his lap waiting for another piece.
Given that Kane and I are on the road a lot, having a tight relationship like this with both each other and Benjamin makes all that time in a bus easier to deal with. We know we have a home to come back to and I love that.
When we get called up to the Racketeers we’ll be flying in a jet and staying in luxury hotel suites but right now it’s the bus and roadside budget motels. It makes me appreciate Benjamin’s house all that much more.
I’m thinking about that, and about fucking amazing it will be to come home and have our girl waiting here for us.
That’s why it catches me off guard when Benjamin speaks without warning.
“I kissed Abby last night.”
My head snaps up from my plate of eggs and I stare at Benjamin.
He kissed Abby?
I fucking knew something happened between them last night. I just assumed it was something negative.
Not a kiss.
Benjamin doesn’t look like he regrets it.
Abby’s cheeks are pink. Her gaze is fixated on her own plate of scrambled eggs. With the extra cheese Benjamin sprinkled on for her.
Because he kissed her.
I’m not sure how I feel about that.
On the one hand, I’m not surprised. We all want Abby as ours.
But I thought we were doing this together and instead, Benjamin went rogue and got the jump on me and Kane.
Kane obviously feels the same way as me.
“That’s not cool, bro,” he says to Benjamin, shoving his breakfast plate away like he’s lost his appetite.
“I didn’t mean to. It was an impulse when I took her to bed last night.” He glances over at Abby, who is still looking down, anxiously stabbing the eggs with her fork. “Abby is impossible to resist.”
“I agree with you,” Kane said. “Abby is definitely impossible to resist.”
Finally, our girl lifts her head, eyeing us all from under her long eyelashes. “I don’t want to cause problems between any of you,” she says quietly. “I can find somewhere else to stay tonight.”
Kane frowns. “Why would you do that?”
“I don’t want you fighting with each other.” Her voice is firm, determined. “You have a very special relationship with Benjamin. He’s your stepbrother. Dash is your best friend.”
“We’re not fighting,” Kane assures her. “Honestly.”
Abby shakes her head. “I would give anything to be close to my sister, but she barely speaks to me. I can’t be the reason any of you are upset with each other. I would hate myself if that happened.”
It’s my turn to frown. Why the hell doesn’t Abby’s sister speak to her? I can’t imagine Abby doing anything that would cause a rift with any friend or family member, let alone her own sister.
“It’s not like that,” Benjamin insists. “I’m coming clean about kissing you because I respect Kane and Dash and we need to figure this all out. That’s all. Nobody is upset.” He eyes the both of us. “Right?”
I’m not thrilled but I’m not angry.
I ignore the question though and put my hand on Abby’s forearm. She jumps ever so slightly at my touch. “What is it you want, Abby?”
She gives me an imploring look, biting her lip. She shakes her head just a little.
I don’t think she’s unsure of what she wants. She’s unsure about saying it out loud and hurting any of us.
I slide my fingers down to entwine with hers. Time to approach this from another angle.
“Do not feel bad about kissing Benjamin. Like he said, we’re not upset that you’re attracted to him. We want that for you. Hell, we welcome that for you. You deserve all the love and attention that all three of us can give you.”
“Exactly.” Kane nods.
“I don’t understand. I just know I can’t choose between you or cause any sort of rift.” She shrugs her shoulders and raises her hands helplessly.
“We don’t want you to choose,” Kane says, reaching across the table to claim Abby’s other hand. “We want to share you, Lollipop. That’s our proposal. Say yes.”
Benjamin gives a huff of impatience. “You didn’t have to just blurt it out like that.”
“Yes, I did,” Kane protests. “Neither of you making it clear and Abby is worried. So I cut through all the background noise and just laid it out straight.”
Abby glances from Kane to Benjamin to me.
Benjamin gives her a soft smile.
I nod. “This is what we want.”
Her gaze returns to Kane when he starts speaking.
“Abby girl, we all three laid eyes on you and we all want, hell need, to be with you. That’s it.
Plain and simple. So here’s our proposal—I am the optimist, the one who doesn’t beat around the bush, the fun with a capital F.
I can cheer you up when you’re sad. Dash is the guy who will notice every little detail about you and how you’re feeling, and you’ll swear he can read your mind because he’ll anticipate every single need or desire you have.
Benjamin is the fix-it guy that you can always count on, who would burn the world down for the woman he loves.
That’s what we’re offering you—three men. The total fucking package.”
Abby’s eyes are wide. “Can we do that?” she asks. “Will that really work?”
“Hell fucking yeah it will work.” Kane nods confidently.
My own gut tells me that we’ll do anything we have to to make this work.
“When you say share me do you mean…dating?” her cheeks pinken. Her voice drops to a mere whisper. “And…sex?”
“Yes,” we all say simultaneously.
Fuck yeah we mean sex. I cannot wait to taste every single inch of Abby.
She drops her fork with a loud clang.
Her phone buzzes and she absently glances at it. “Oh God, I have to go! I’m going to be late to work!” She shoves her chair back.
Kane gives a growl of frustration and shoves his own chair back, but I put my hand on his forearm.
We need to give her space.
Our offer is a lot to take in.
“Take my car,” I tell her, pulling my keys out of my pocket and handing them to her. “It’s in the garage.” I gesture toward the door in the mudroom. “We’ll see you later.”
“Thank you,” she says. She hesitates, biting her lip. “And thank you for your…proposal. I’ll consider it.”
With that very polite response she takes off in a jog for the garage.
Linda pokes her head out from under the table to stare at Abby retreating.
“I’m not sure that went well,” Benjamin says when the door slams behind her.
“She’s into it,” Kane says confidently. “You’ll see.”
I lean back in my chair, debating what our next move should be. “She is definitely into us but she’s worried. We just have to reassure her that we’re cool with all of us also being with her.”
“How do we do that?” Benjamin asks.
Kane shrugs and pulls his plate closer. He picks up his fork. “We all flirt with her in front of each other and show her we’re cool. Sounds fun as fuck, actually.”
Benjamin tugs at his tie. “It does,” he admits.
My whole body is tense with desire for Abby. I’m going to need a cold shower before practice.
“Oh, yeah,” I agree. “Fun is one way to put it.”