Page 117 of Prickly Pair
Austin still had to figure out how to handle his burnout. I was worried about him, per usual, and I just wanted to see him let some things go. This week alone, he’d been all over town, constantly on the move. He only ever stopped when he was with us.
Matthew had a rough week. The good news was that we’d called and talked early this morning about everything, and he’d requested the same thing Nick had. I’d apologized, but then we ended up talking through what to do next timePhilcame around. Matthew even suggested I take self-defense classes, so this had clearly scared him more than I’d even realized. Then we’d ended up talking about his work, and I didn’t know how hehandled it. I was glad he was a doctor, of course, but I wanted to support him more. Somehow, some way.
Then there was Nick. Perhaps the deepest fear I had was that he’d eventually think moving back to Whynot was a mistake. He’d worked so hard to change his life and become someone who wasn’t trapped by a small town, so to come back . . . What if he woke up one morning a year from now and realized he didn’t want to stay?
It would tear me apart.
I wanted him to stay. I wanted Austin and Matthew to be happy.
The oven timer went off and I sighed, glancing at my arm. It was all but healed, although the line was still red and shiny. I’d have that scar forever, but there was a sort of fondness for it that had bloomed knowing that was the moment they’d all crashed into my life.
And maybe, if I was lucky, I’d get my happy ending with the three sexy, gorgeous, funny, sweet men I’d fallen for.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Nick
The doorbell rang, and Lucky jumped up his cat tree, already annoyed we were having guests. He’d warm up, though, especially once he saw who was here.
I’d promised to show off all my sex equipment and the house forever ago, but we were only just getting around to it. It was good, though, because it’d taken me a while to make the place look more like a home.
Honestly, it was still empty.
The problem was, it was a big house. Too big for just me and Lucky.Butit’d be nice for me and three other people one day, maybe . . . Hopefully.
Even Austin had agreed to come over, which I took as a win. Yes, yes, we hated each other—but maybe he’d change his tune once he saw the space.
As good in bed as I was, I still felt nervous any time it came close to real emotional intimacy. I didn’t know how to do this part of the whole dating thing. For years, I’d fallen in and out of relationships that lasted a few months here, a few months there. But even with the tension between Austin and I, it felt like we were building something. The schematics kept changing, yeah,but I had hope that we were laying the foundation for something beautiful.
“Okay,” I exhaled. “I can do this.”
I opened the front door, and all my nerves were smoothed by Evie and Matthew’s smiling faces. Even Austin’s scowl brought me joy.
“Hi,” I said. “Come in before you melt on my doorstep.”
“I need to meet the baby,” Evie said. She leaned up on her tip toes and kissed me before rushing inside, eager to find Lucky.
“He was on his cat tree,” I called.
A few seconds later I heard her cooing and chuckled. Matthew winked at me as he came in, and Austin lingered—always fucking stiff and awkward. Eventually, he’d relax. Especially once we started going . . .
I shut the door and locked it, watching as they shucked their boots off. Why was I so fucking jittery?
“Do you want water?” I asked. “Or sparkling water? Or tea?”
Matthew raised a brow at me but didn’t comment on my nerves. “Water is just fine.”
“I’d take sparkling water,” Austin mumbled. “Hopefully Lucky doesn’t kill me.”
I laughed. “Well, don’t be a dick, and he’ll warm up to you.”
Matthew chuckled and grabbed Austin’s hand. “Come on. He’ll like you this time, I’m sure.”
I winked at Austin, becausewhy not?Winks all around. All the flirting with the guy I sort of hated and sort of didn’t hate. He blushed as Matthew dragged him toward the sounds Evie was making in the living room, and I stood there, soaking it all up.
I really wanted a family. That hit me hard. And I wanted them to be my family. Really, really fucking bad.
I’d never had one. Not really. My mother did her best, and while I still had a lot of pain from my childhood, I still didn’t blame her completely. But she was out of my life now, and I’dbeen alone for so long. It’d just been me and Lucky since he clawed his way into my life.
