Page 30 of Double Trouble
Putting the phone face-down on my knee, I turned Penelope’s way. “It’s the twins. Is it ok if…”
She waved her hand, cozying up deeper into the couch. “As long as they bring food they’re welcome.”
I sighed with relief. Truthfully, I could use the backup. Normally, I was up for however much comforting Penelope needed, but this time, low on sleep from the past few action-packed nights, I just didn’t have the stamina.
Back on the phone, I said, “It’s a maybe. As long as you two understand that I have to comfort my friend.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Jake said. “We’ll bring some food and drinks, and – hang on, how did you know Owen was here with me?”
“He’s texting me.”
“Bastard.” A pause. “So that’s a yes then?”
“That’s a see you later,” I said, hanging up.
Once I hung up, I could feel Penelope’s lightly mocking eyes on me. “You are going to have one good night, Cinny.”
“We are going to have a good night,” I corrected her. “They’re food and drinks and…”
I trailed off as Penelope spread herself onto the couch, her eyes fluttering closed. “Totally. I’ll just rest until they get here.”
By the time the twins arrived, Penelope was fast asleep, while I’d had a bit more wine in a misguided attempt to calm my nerves.
Opening the door and seeing them there, side by side, the two sexy, smiling men I couldn’t seem to get enough of, I could only smile woozily.
“Happy to see us?” Jake said, leaning in for a cheek kiss.
“Hey,” Owen said, wrapping me in a bear hug. The touch of his hand sent tingles down my spine.
“What,” Jake was saying, further inside. “The guest of honor is out cold?”
“She’s had a rough day,” I said. “Her date ended up walking out in the middle.”
“Ah.”
“Because his ex-called him up,” I continued.
“Oh damn,” Jake said. “That definitely calls for drinks.” His gaze stopped on the mostly-finished wine bottle then went to me with understanding. “Looks like you ladies are already on it.”
I felt like a minnow before a shark as he gazed down at me, barely concealed hunger in his eyes.
“Yeah, well we were already on it before you called,” I said.
Owen unloaded the food and a six-pack in the fridge and came to stand next to me.
We looked down at a sleeping Penelope and laughed.
“Poor thing,” Owen said.
“Yeah,” Jake agreed.
Not knowing what else to do, I walked over to the loveseat across from where Penelope was softly snoring.
“We could watch a movie,” Jake suggested, sitting beside me.
“Ok,” I said, and he reached over to power up the TV.
There was a bit of argument over which Netflix movie to choose, but we all agreed on The Shining and settled in. Both Jake and Owen’s legs were touching mine on either side and the wine had reduced my mind to one fuzzy, throbbing want to touch them and for them to touch me.
And then Jake’s arm settled around my shoulders. I glanced at Owen.
20
Jake
Sneaking my arm around Cin made me feel like high school all over again. Me and Jenn, my first girlfriend. Except this time, I wasn’t sweating bullets because this was my first girlfriend ever, although it was another first –the first girl I really liked. Or at least thought I did.
This was all new ground for me – in the best and worst ways.
When I further shifted my arm a bit, though, what I didn’t count on was brushing against Owen’s shoulder. He tossed me a sidelong grin. “If you just wanted to cuddle, baby bro, you just had to ask.”
I rolled my eyes. “Now wouldn’t be a bad time for a bathroom break, if you know what I mean.”
The past few minutes of having Cin so touchably close had been nothing short of excruciating. Now that my arm was around her, all I’d have to do is turn her face toward mine and kiss her.
Cin shushed us. “I’m trying to watch the movie.”
It was still early on in the movie, where Jack Nicholson was still eerie, but not yet terrifying. Although Cin was crazy if she thought I could concentrate on a movie when she was pressed up so tightly to me.
Suddenly, Owen’s arm was snaked around Cin as well. I tried not to show my irritation that he was touching her. Though I knew we had decided to try and share Cin, I really just wanted some time alone with her at the moment. But as the minutes ticked on, and Owen showed no signs of going away, it occurred to me, that if he really was as ok with us as he claimed, he wouldn’t mind a little mid-movie macking between Cin and I.
So, all there was to do was palm her cheekbone how I’d been aching to and turn her face to mine. That first brush of lips was a shock.
