Page 69 of Tagging Bases

“Sorry,” I say, blushing because I’m the most ridiculous person in the world. “I guess I’m kinda confused as to why I’m here. I mean, I know we’ve hung out before, but this”—I gesture to the room at large—“is unexpected.”

Daniel reaches for the remote and clicks off the TV, plunging the room into sudden silence. He turns to face me. My heart hammers in my chest as I meet his gaze.

His brow furrows in concern. “God, Harrison. You’re trembling.”

“It’s the rain,” I tell him. Partially, it’s also my nerves.

He chuckles softly and places a hand on my shoulder. “Charlie, get him a towel.”

“On it!” Charlie leaps out of the recliner, runs down the hall, and returns with the fluffiest green blanket. He drapes it around my shoulders like a cloak and settles back into his seat.

“Thanks,” I say.

He winks. I blush some more.

“We have something we want to discuss with you,” Daniel says, recapturing my attention.

I nod slowly, then lick my lips. “Okay. What’s up?”

Daniel glances over at Charlie, who gives him an encouraging nod. “Harrison, the truth is, ever since we all kissed on New Year’s Eve, Charlie and I haven’t been able to get you out of our minds.”

My eyes widen in surprise. My breath catches in my throat. My heart stops beating.

Did I hear him right? They’ve been thinking about…me?

Daniel continues talking, and it doesn’t escape my notice that his thumb has taken up rubbing circles on my shoulder. “And after a lot of talking, we realized something. We’ve developed feelings for you. Real, genuine, heart-pounding feelings. The kind that keeps us up at night, wondering what it would be like to kiss you again.”

I’m stunned into silence. All I’ve ever wanted was for someone to like me. I’ve imagined it more times than I couldcount, but never in my wildest dreams did I think it would happen.

Charlie leans forward in his chair, his feet falling to the floor, and rests his elbows on his knees. “It’s true, man. We’re crazy about you. We’re crazy about each other.” He gestures between himself and Daniel. “That night unlocked something in both of us.”

I clear my throat a hundred times before speaking. “What are you saying? What do you…what do you want?”

Daniel takes my hand in his. “We want to be with you, Harrison. We want to explore these feelings and see where they lead. We want to do it together, the three of us.”

My eyes grow large and flit between the two of them. He’s not suggesting what I think he is, is he?

As if reading my mind, Daniel smiles and nods. Charlie mimics his movements.

In unison, they say, “We want to be a throuple.”

We ordertakeout and watchStand by Meon one of the back channels. Daniel said it was to give me time to process their proposition. And boy, do I need it. Time. Lots and lots of it.

Because…are they serious? A throuple? With Charlie and Daniel?

The idea is rousingly thrilling and publicly terrifying. Part of me wants to pinch myself to make sure I’m not dreaming. That I’m not still in my loft, listening to the pitter-patter of the raindrops hitting the windowpane. Another part wants to run for the hills, wholly convinced I’ll end up getting hurt.

But as I sit there, in a pair of sweats from Daniel and a hoodie from Charlie, wrapped in a blanket like a burrito, I realize that this is an opportunity I can’t pass up.

This is a chance to explore the depths of my feelings for these two incredible men.

“Okay,” I say during a commercial. “Let’s do this. Let’s be a throuple.”

The words are barely out of my mouth before Charlie whoops and launches himself at me, tackling me back against the couch in a bear hug. Daniel laughs and joins in, his strong arms encircling us both.

We stay like that well past the end of the commercial break, giddy with the newness of it all. When we finally break apart, I’m flushed and breathless from the endless possibilities spinning in my head.

“How do we do this?” I ask, looking between them. “I’ve never been in a throuple before. Hell, I’ve barely been in a relationship, period.”