“You two ready for this?” he asks.
“Ready as I’ll ever be,” I say, shoving my hands in my pockets. “You?”
Corey shrugs. “No idea. But we’ll find out soon enough.”
Donovan claps him on the shoulder. “Let’s get this over with. The suspense is killing me.”
44
ABBIE
Imust be wearing a rut in the floor as I pace. Back and forth. Back and forth. My heart hammers against my ribs like it's trying to escape.
"This isn't you, Abbie," I mutter to myself. "Good girls don't invite three men over for... whatever this is."
But Chandler's words echo in my head. Safe. Boring. Following all the rules like a good little girl. Maybe he was right - I did play everything too safe. Too careful. Too predictable.
Now here I am, waiting for not one but three gorgeous men to show up at my door. My skin tingles just thinking about them. Corey with his commanding presence. Seth's knee-weakening smile. Donovan's hungry stare that turns me to goo.
I check my phone again. No new messages since I sent that group text. But they're coming. All three of them. I can feel it.
A strange lightness fills my chest, bubbling up into something that feels like laughter. Is this what freedom feels like? Breaking all the rules I've lived by?
I catch my reflection in the hallway mirror. Flushed cheeks. Bright eyes. I barely recognize myself - this isn't the same girl who let Chandler dictate her worth for years.
The doorbell rings and I freeze mid-step. They're here. All of them, probably standing right outside my door right now. My heart kicks into overdrive.
I try to calm my nerves, smoothing down my dress. The old me would have talked herself out of this by now. Found some reason why this was a terrible idea.
But I'm done being that girl. Done playing it safe. Done following everyone else's rules but my own.
My hand reaches for the doorknob, steadier than I expected. Whatever happens next, at least I'm choosing it for myself.
The door swings open and my heart drops into my stomach. They're all here - Corey in a crisp button-down that makes my mouth water, Seth looking delicious in dark jeans and a sweater, and Donovan... God, Donovan in a leather jacket that makes me want to climb him like a tree.
"Come in," I manage, stepping aside. Their cologne mingles in the air as they file past - woodsy, spicy, masculine scents that make my head spin.
"Nice place," Seth says, but his eyes are fixed on me instead of the apartment.
I gesture to the couch. "Make yourselves comfortable." My voice comes out steadier than I feel. "Drinks?"
"Please," Corey says, settling onto one end of the sofa. The other two arrange themselves, leaving a conspicuous space between them.
I escape to the kitchen, grateful for a moment to collect myself. My hands shake as I grab some glasses and the bottle of tequila I'd bought specially for tonight. Liquid courage - I'm definitely going to need it.
When I return with the shots, Seth's eyebrows lift. "Tequila, huh? You're not messing around."
"Figured we could all use something strong," I say, setting everything on the coffee table. The glasses clink against each other as I pour, betraying my nerves.
I pass out the shots, very aware of how their fingers brush mine with each handoff. The contact sends little electric shocks up my arm.
"To new beginnings?" Corey suggests, raising his glass.
We all drink. The tequila burns going down, but it's nothing compared to the heat in their eyes as they watch me over their glasses.
I set my empty shot down with more force than necessary. "So. We should probably talk about... this." I gesture vaguely between the four of us. "So how would this... work exactly? Is there like a schedule or something?"
"Nothing that formal," Corey says, leaning forward. "We want you to be comfortable. Set the pace."