Page 49 of The Truth of Our Secrets

“Okaaay,” she draws it out, inviting me to say more.

“There are things from his past I need to know and until then, I’d prefer you’re not alone with him. At work, in public, or with me is all fine but not alone until I have all the facts.” It’s my best and only offer. If she denies this, I haven’t a clue what I’ll do.

“You can ask him. He’s pretty honest.” Her fingernails run over my forearm.

“This is something that needs independent verification.” I can check police records and reports to get the answers I need.

“As long as it doesn’t take you years,” she agrees, and I’m so relieved my body sags into the bed.

“Hey,” she says, kissing me. “I love you. I’m not replacing you. You know that right? This is about making us stronger and happier by giving us what we need, not tearing us apart.”

“I do.” We sink into a lazy kiss. That’s what she thinks now. But the truth can be a double-edged sword that could set us free or kill us.

If Emmet did something terribly violent as a teen, I’ll never trust him around her. She could hate me for the truth or not telling her sooner.

I don’t have the answers.

“We’ll take it real slow. No sleepover or sex right away. Just date him.” We’re still so close that my lips move against her mouth and I swallow her dreamy sigh. “If he agrees,” I amend. “Don’t start planning a future based on hope not reality.”

She pouts her lips. “Fine. I promise to keep the wild fantasies under control.”

“That’s my girl,” I tease and tickle her waist. “But go ahead and act out some fantasies on me.”

She rolls on top of me and slowly strips off her top. “What kind of fantasy are you hoping for?”

“Baby Girl, everything with you is a fantasy, so you tell me what you want and I’ll make you come until you beg me to stop.”

Chapter nineteen

Emmet

Once again, I’m in the last place I expect, Madyson and Jayce’s apartment. This time, Jayce texted, inviting me to dinner. To say it was a surprise is an understatement. Madyson has us cooking together again.

Their kitchen is a tight fit for the three of us, so we’re constantly bumping into each other.

It’s obvious that Jayce rarely helps her because he’s dead terrible. She thinks she’s being sly about putting us to work together, but we both roll our eyes behind her back.

I don’t mind. I make a game out of things, and Jayce is always up for the challenge. Whether it’s how fast we cut things or whocan find something in the kitchen the fastest. He’s salty when he loses the finding things challenge. It’s hilarious that he’s completely clueless about where things are in his own kitchen.

Being here is better than thinking about them nonstop. I’ve never thought about being in an actual relationship with two other people. I mean, I’ve fantasized about sex with multiple people, but that isn’t reality.

I’m cautiously curious. My body’s on board with whatever they want me for, but I’m not built for casual. I don’t need a promise ring or that kind of shit, but I’m against starting this without the possibility of more.

If I agree, there needs to be the potential for something long term, more than clear boundaries of where it can’t go. That’s the line I’ve made in my head, but sometimes my mouth says things so my body gets what it wants.

Madyson’s statement about being touch starved struck me. It’s something that’s so obvious now, but how do you name something like that? The only person I touched on a regular basis was my little sister to comfort her. But once she got into her teens, she refused that type of support.

Some people like touching other people. It’s casual and meaningless.

It’s never meaningless to me. I’m concerned I’ll get used to being touched and it’ll hurt even worse when it’s gone. Those areproblems for the future. I’m clueless about what they’re offering. This could be the letdown dinner.

They could say, “Hey, we think you’re hot, but you’re clearly too young and obviously broke. You don’t have your shit together, so we talked and you’re out. Sorry.”

My dick will be pissed if they give me the brush-off. He’s tired of my hand. Talk about touch starved. The memory of their kisses makes me so hard that I had to rub one out before I got here. It’s like I’m a kid figuring out what my dick can do all over again. The fucker takes no time to recover and I have to think about my mountain of debt to get it to behave.

An hour later, we’re sitting around their tiny table, enjoying dinner.

“What’s new at Unframed Art?” Madyson asks innocently. She has to work out her differences with Alec. I won’t be a go between. That’s not why I’m here.

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