Page 52 of The Triple Play

And as a hand came up to cup my cheek, I knew damn well he wasn’t asleep either.

“Hi,” I whispered.

The quietest, breathiest chuckle answered me. Definitely Cole. “Hi,” he said softly. “You okay?”

I nodded, turning my head into his hand. “Yeah. I need to pee, though.”

He snorted, his chest rumbling beneath me as he tried to hold back his laughter. “Don’t think you’re going to make it out without waking one of them.”

I groaned my frustration softly and let my head fall back onto his chest, his hand tucking into my hair and holding me gently. “Why are you awake?”

“You were moving.” Cole played with my hair, twirling it around his fingers, his touch so intensely soothing. “Kind of hard not to wake me when your whole body is on top of me.”

My cheeks heated, and I was suddenly extremely grateful for the darkness. I was still completely naked, and so was he, nothing but the blankets over me to cover us. “Sorry,” I murmured. “I can… I can try to move off you.”

“No,” he whispered. “I like it.”

“But I need to pee.”

He chuckled again, his head lifting just enough to press a kiss to the top of my head. “Right. If you’re going to wake one of them, wake Xav,” he said softly. “He’s surprisingly chill with it usually. Colton, though…”

I swallowed. “I can’t even tell who’s on which side.”

“Xav’s on your left. My right.”

I shifted on top of him, moving to my left, and Cole’s hand left me, letting me go easily. I heard the dull thud of a hand tapping gently against skin, and Xavi stirred, his arm instinctually wrapping around my body and pulling me into him, his light snoring stopping.

“Xav,” Cole whispered.

“What?”

“Annie needs the bathroom. Let her out.”

Xavi groaned softly, pulling back the blankets on his side and slowly sitting up, his arm around me pulling me upright with him. “Come on, then,” he murmured, sliding a hand under my knees and tucking me into his chest.

I barely processed it before he stood up, holding my full weight like I was a damn bride. But I didn’t protest — just wrapped my arms around his neck and let him carry me.

I didn’t know if it was because of what had happened tonight, because I was feeling closer to all three of them, or even if it was just because of the weight that had been lifted off of my shoulders now that I knew I didn’t need to choose, but even in the dead of night with Xavi’s arms holding me up and his nose nuzzling against my neck, with Cole and Colton waiting in bed for us, with the lingering scent of all three of them on me… I’d never felt more like myself in my life.

And for the love of god, I wanted to keep that.

Chapter20

Cole

Soft, golden light leaked through the thin crack in the curtains that Colton had tugged shut last night as I stirred awake. There was an arm against my back, and a small, warm body tucked into my chest, my body resting fully on my right. My arm was completely numb, and as my bleary eyes adjusted to what was in front of me, the reason for that was clear — not only was Annie resting her head on my bicep, but Xavi was perfectly content on my wrist.

I didn’t fully remember Xavi and her coming back in last night after Annie had woken up on my chest, whispering adorably about needing the bathroom. I had the vague recollection of blankets shifting and her body curling up against my side, but the rest was a blur.

The scent of the three of them hung in the air, Xavi’s and Colton’s so far in the background from their familiarity, but Annie’s overpowered the rest. She smelled like cherries and something deeper, darker, heartier — like fresh brewed black tea. I tucked my nose into the top of her head, careful not to wake her, and breathed her in for a moment, letting the heaviness of last night sink into my bones, letting myself feel the weight of it all. What we were doing. What we weretrying.

She’d taken up that new spot between us like she belonged there. And maybe she did. Hell, maybethatwas the wildest part of all of this.

But even as I held her, I couldn’t help but notice Xav. He looked more peaceful than I’d seen him in months—granted, I didn’t often see himthiszonked—but even the hint of darker-colored skin beneath his eyes seemed to have lightened just a tad.

I held still for a moment longer, taking a deep breath, then painstakingly slowly slid my arm out from under Xavi and Annie, the blood rushing back in and leaving me with pins and needles. Annie twitched a little, and I held my breath, watching as Xavi tucked her into him tighter. But Colton was out like a log behind me.

I felt like a kid at a sleepover slipping beneath the covers and crawling my way backward down the bed, trying not to wake them, and when I finally emerged out the other end triumphant, I couldn't help but take in the scene. Three bodies, Colton further off from the rest, and an empty spot where I’d been. It beckoned me back, but I took a deep breath and grabbed my discarded clothes from the floor, knowing damn well I’d only end up with a headache if I stayed in bed.

---