Page 53 of Knot in Bloom
“You asked us to stay,” he says. “We got you settled in here, then camped out in your living room—very platonically—to make sure you were okay.”
“In my tiny living room.”
“Levi took the chair, I had the pull-out couch, Caleb squeezed onto the floor.” His smile is rueful. “None of us got much sleep, but we weren’t leaving.”
The simple statement makes my throat tight with emotion. “You really stayed.”
“Of course we stayed.”
I take a careful sip of coffee—it’s perfect, of course—and try to piece together everything that happened. “Did I really dare myself to kiss all of you?”
“You did. And it was perfect.” Reid reaches over to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. “No regrets here, if you’re worried about that.”
“I should probably apologize for getting so drunk and making you all?—”
“Sadie.” His voice turns firm. “Don’t apologize for trusting us enough to let your guard down. Don’t apologize for having a good time. And definitely don’t apologize for being human.”
The kindness in his voice makes tears prick my eyes. “I don’t usually drink that much.”
“We know. That’s why we took care of you.”
Reid grins. “We were hoping...” He pauses, looking uncertain for the first time. “We were hoping you might want to spend the day with us. All of us, or individually, whatever feels right.”
The offer hangs between us, loaded with possibility. A whole day. With all of them.
“What did you have in mind?”
“Well,” Reid says, choosing his words carefully, “I thought maybe we could start with breakfast. There’s this place in Pine Valley—quiet, good food.”
“You want to take me on a breakfast date.”
“I want to spend time with you.”
I consider this, sipping my coffee and studying his face. He’s patient, letting me process without pushing. “What about Levi and Caleb?”
“Levi mentioned lunch with you.” Reid’s smile turns warm. “And Caleb thought maybe dinner later, if you’re up for it.”
Three dates. In one day. With three different men who somehow all want the same thing—me, happy and taken care of.
“That sounds...” I try to find words that encompass how overwhelming and wonderful and terrifying this feels. “That sounds perfect.”
Reid’s relief is visible. “Yeah?”
“Yeah. But first I need a shower and actual clothes and maybe some aspirin.”
“Take your time. We’re not going anywhere.”
He stands to leave, then pauses at the doorway. “Sadie? Last night wasn’t just alcohol talking. For any of us. I want you to know that.”
After he leaves, I sit in my bed holding my coffee and trying to process everything. Three men who want to date me. Who stayed all night in uncomfortable positions just to make sure I was safe. Who are making me breakfast and planning a whole day of... what? Courtship?
The traditional term feels right somehow. That’s what this is—a courtship. All of them courting me, but together instead of in competition.
The shower helps clear my head, though my body’s still humming with awareness of what happened last night. The memory of Levi’s hands in my hair, Caleb’s lips on my palm, Reid’s arms around me. The way they all looked at me when I took off my sweater.
The way I felt completely safe, even drunk and vulnerable.
I dress carefully—jeans and a soft blue sweater that brings out my eyes. Not trying too hard, but not hiding either. When I emerge from my bedroom, I can hear all three of them in my kitchen.
