Page 61 of My Brother's Teammates

“Should probably ask Charlie what she wants.” Roman’s now-calm voice is drowned out by Jace and Mateo’s grunts at each other as Jace pushes off the wall, and Mateo pushes him back against it.

He’s right. They should ask me what I want, but if they did, I wouldn’t know because I’m so confused about everything I’m feeling.

Part of me wants to see where it goes with each of them, with all of them, but the bigger, more responsible part of me thinks it’s fruitless to pursue anything with any of them because their relationship with Harrison came first, it’s more important, and the team…

“I kissed her first.” Roman’s smugness isn’t lost on the other two.

“Meaning?” Mateo spins to face him, and in that moment, Jace gets free.

Roman hops off the sofa, turning and pointing a finger at his friends. “I dunno. Maybe it doesn’t mean anything. Maybe it means something.” Roman’s eyes flick to where Mateo’s wetting his lips and for a moment… is that… lust in Roman’s eyes?

I might need to sit with this for a minute. Roman wants Mateo too?

So when Teo said I could have them both… he meant he could have us both, too.

Fuck. I rub my temples. This is all giving me a pounding headache.

“I’ve known her longest.” Jace’s voice sounds so fucking petty, I can’t help but giggle.

These three should just whip them out and measure them, for fuck’s sake.

“Means nothing when you’ve been the douchiest.” Mateo’s smirk is the straw that broke the angry camel’s back. Jace takes a swing just as Roman grabs Mateo by the back of the shirt and hauls him out of reach.

That’s it. I’m done.

“Are you three quite finished discussing my vagina without me?”

You could hear a pin drop. Roman’s climbed onto the arm of the couch, and he’s got Teo restrained from behind, his arm clamped over Teo’s chest like a seatbelt.

Jace’s fist is paused next to Mateo’s chin like something from a fucking cartoon, and all three faces slowly turn in my direction.

Their faces turn redder and redder as I click the door closed behind me and make my way into the apartment.

“What? Cat suddenly got your tongues? You were just telling half the fucking neighborhood our business. Where’s the notebook? The contract? Are we drawing up a coochie-custody agreement between the three of you or what?”

I level them all with my best Mom-Stare. I’ve seen it my whole life, so I figure if I get even half of the cool rage that Mom conveys to Harrison, Jace, and me in my stare to these adolescents, I’ll be winning.

When no one replies but they all stand staring at me with bright red faces, shuffling their feet, or shifting their weight, I keep going. “So, how’s it gonna go? Jace gets me Monday and Tuesday, Mateo gets Wednesday and Thursday, Roman has Friday and Saturday, then Sunday’s my day off?” I tap my chin, pacing back and forth.

The sheer absurdity of the situation isn’t lost on me. And yes, I know I was contemplating being with the three of them mere seconds ago, but I should be part of the discussion. Especially if they actually give a shit about what I want.

“No, no that won’t work, I’ll need my day off in the middle of…” I wave my palm at them in circular motions. “All of this, right? Right.”

“Charlie, I—” Mateo finds his balls first, but I hold up my hand again, this time like a stop sign.

“No!” My yell is louder than I expected it to be. “I wasn’t invited to this little Snatch Summit y’all have going on, so I’m just gonna…” I point past them to the hallway that leads to my room.

“It’s not like that, Charlotte.” Jace is barely containing himself. His teeth are gritted, his jaw is flexing, and the way his muscles are poised, it’s clear he’s in no mood for this conversation.

“It’s not?” I look at my nails. “Could have fooled me. It sounded to me like you guys were all about to discuss plans to,” —I pause for dramatic effect—“deal with me.”

Roman visibly withers at my words, doing his best goldfish impression with his bobbing mouth.

“Muff Meeting? Foo-Foo Forum? Kitty Caucus? Any of those better suited to your sensibilities, Jace?”

After a long, heavy moment that could snap between the four of us at any second, I clap my hands, making everyone jump.

“Beaver Rally it is.”

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