Page 33 of Big Catch
A knot clogs my throat, making it near impossible to talk.
“Oh, sweetie,” she says. “I hope you didn’t go and fall for them. Those two, they’re not looking for long term.”
As her words ping around inside my brain, all my insecurities come rushing to the surface. God, what a fool I’ve been to think they might want me around longer, might want to invest in something deeper.
Jennie snaps her fingers. “As soon as you step out that door, they’ll be back in my bed, or with the next flavor of the month that rents a room.”
Apprehension surges inside me, but I quickly pull myself together, refusing to let Jennie see me come undone.
“Where are they, anyway?” she asks.
They’ve been making themselves scarce.
As she glances around, I take in the nervous look in her eyes, the way her lashes are blinking rapidly, her chest rising and falling. Oh my God. Jennie isn’t here looking for the guys. She’s here because she’s threatened by me. Why?
I take a moment to chew on that. Maybe the guys do want me around longer. Maybe she senses that, and is trying to scare me off.
“Well, I’m not gone yet,” I say. “So, if you’ll excuse me, I think I’ll go find my men and see what kind of trouble we can all get ourselves into.”
Jennie’s mouth drops open, and I walk past her, pretending to be much more confident than I feel. I need to know where I stand, and I need to know before I get on a plane and it’s too late. This started out as a two-week fling. I knew the score going in and wasn’t supposed to fall for these incredible men. I pray to God they want more, but if not, then I have to find a way to be happy with the two weeks I did have, and the way I changed beneath their caring hands.
I make my way upstairs, my legs trembling as I approach Ty’s bedroom. Curse words reach my ears as I close the distance. I stop outside the slightly ajar door and go still when I hear my name. I look through the crack to see Bray pacing the floor and running his hands through his hair. Oh, God! They’re fighting because of me. The last thing I ever wanted to do was come between friends. I listen as they talk, their voices deep, insistent. My heart thunders, and I’m about to burst in when something Bray says stops me.
“I see the way she looks at you,” Bray says. “It’s you she wants, so that’s why I’ve been backing off.”
“No, Bray. It’s you. That’s why I’ve been backing off. Christ, even if it were me she wanted, you know what’s mine is yours, right?”
“Same, Ty, but we can’t keep living as a trio. She’s the kind of girl who will want a family, kids. This will all just get complicated.”
“Then we’ll uncomplicate it, and she can have what she wants with both of us,” he says, his voice rising.
I’ve never seen Ty so adamant.
“I don’t think that’s what she’d want long term. Besides, she comes from a strict family. I can’t imagine they would ever go for that.”
“Fuck her family.”
“Ty, it’s not that easy for her.” Bray paces the floor and fists his hair. “I want her to be happy, and I know you’ll make her happy.”
“You fucking love her, too, Bray. You think I’m just going to keep her all to myself when I know how you feel? Not fucking likely.”
“I can’t keep her to myself, either, knowing how you feel.”
“Then we’re a trio. Simple as that,” he states, like it’s the end of the discussion.
“Fuck, Ty. It’s not as simple as that. We have her reputation to think about, and I wouldn’t want to do anything to come between her and her family. You know what family means to me.”
I push the door open hard. It hits the wall with a loud bang, and two sets of eyes turn my way. I plant my hands on my hips, enraged at what I’ve heard—but so freaking happy, I feel like I could soar to the moon.
“Aly,” Bray says, coming toward me, but I hold my hand up to stop him.
“Don’t.”
“Listen, we didn’t—” Ty begins, but when I turn my glare on him he clamps his mouth shut.
“What makes you both think you know what’s best for me?” When neither speaks, I narrow my eyes and glare at Bray. “Didn’t you once tell me that I should make my own decisions? Do what makes me happy?”
“Yes, but—”
