Page 112 of Drop Three

Kodi nods. “And me. We were group texting him.”

That must have been why he was gone for so long while I was waiting in the shower alone.

I feel my heart break all over again. I don’t know why I didn’t think this was even a possibility.

“What did you guys talk about?” I’m trying to give her and Cal the benefit of the doubt, but it’s really fucking hard right now.

Tears start to well up in her hazel eyes. “Cal may have told Bodhi he expected you to return from Fiji unharmed and that he trusted him. That’s why he chose Bodhi as his best man.”

“What else, Kodi?”Fuck. This hurts.

“He said he would kill Bodhi if something similar to what happened with Luke happened to you again.”

“So, in summary, he essentially told Bodhi to not go anywhere near me or he’d kill him and never forgive him?” I ask her.

Kodi nods. “Basically. But maybe you should talk to Callaway to hear it from him. I can’t speak for his intention.”

I don’t know how to feel right now. Callaway and I have always respected each other’s boundaries. We never interfere. Although I was less than thrilled about him getting together with my best friend, I eventually came around to accepting and supporting it.

I’d like to think Cal said the things he did to Bodhi unintentionally, thinking the idea of Bodhi and I together was never an option to begin with.

Maybe he meant other men or people in general—not necessarily Bodhi.

But Cal’s not an idiot. I know he saw how close Bodhi and I got this last year. Bodhi was there for me when no one else was, but I would never blame Cal for his absence. He tried to talk to me, but I dismissed him, not wanting to taint how happy he was with my best friend.

He deserved to be unapologetically happy.

“I see.” I don’t know what else to say.

“Navs, I’m so sorry. If I had known what was going on with you and Bodhi, I would have told Callaway to leave you guys alone,” Kodi pleads.

I get it. He’s her husband. He should come first.

I shake my head, fighting like hell to not let the tears fall. “It’s not your fault, Kodi. I never told you because I didn’t think his feelings were reciprocated, until they were. At least, they were until he denied them and tore my heart open.”

“God, this is so messed up,” Tenley exclaims.

Penelope finally decides to speak, turning her attention to me. “Can I say something, Navy?”

I nod and peer into her bright blue eyes. They’re so different from her brother’s but equally beautiful.

Penelope takes a deep breath. “I know we only met this morning, but I need you to trust me when I say this. When our mom left us four years ago, Bodhi was in a rough place. Then the accident happened and all he had was my dad and me…and Cal. That’s it. Cal showed up for him in a lot of ways, and that’s his story to tell, but he was limited with people in his corner. I’d like to think he reacted out of panic and regrets it now. Maybe that felt like the only option at the time…in order to keep you both.”

God. She’s probably right.

Bodhi has gone through more than most people have in their lives and I’d imagine he reacted on impulse and fear. Fear of not only losing Cal, but me too. He was my friend before he became the man I fell for.

“You’re probably right,” I tell her.

“Do you love him?” Kodi asks me.

Do I love Bodhi?Unequivocally.

From the moment he helped me move my stuff from Luke’s door.

He sees me for me. Zero expectations. Zero stipulations. He takes me as I am, never trying to mold me into who he thinks I should be.

My heart sings when he’s near and weeps when he’s away.

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