Page 134 of Succumbed

“You didn’t think,” Shane snarls. “Period, Dec! You didn’t fucking think! You think Linc and I weren’t in our heads on that flight, wondering how the next few hours were going to go? You think we hadn’t talked about how we wanted to approach her about something more than just the three months she negotiated at the beginning?”

“You did?” Dec looks at me.

I spread my hands, palms up. “Of course we did. In case you missed it, we’re in love with her. Not like we’re just gonna shrug and say bye because an arbitrary clock ran out.”

“You didn’t talk to me.”

“You haven’t exactly been forthcoming about where you stand,” Shane deadpans. “And you’ve treated her like shit for three months. Explain to me how that puts our relationships on the same level?”

Hurt flashes in Dec’s eyes, but Shane punches the bag again before he can say anything.

“It’s not about you, asshole! Of course we want you involved. We fucking invited you in. We’ve opened the goddamn door for you and put out a red carpet, but you’ve never told us if you’re in! And you’ve certainly never fucking talked to her about it!”

Dec’s mouth opens and closes soundlessly. If I wasn’t so stressed out by all the yelling, I would laugh. The glimpse of humor dries up, however, when Dec’s gaze falls.

“You’re right,” he says, his voice small. “Fuck, Shane, you’re right.”

He scrubs his hands over his face, then leans forward to prop his elbows on his knees. “I was scared on that plane. Scared of losing what I got a glimpse of with Lex, with both of you. And worried as fuck about you two getting hurt.”

“Not your call,” I say.

They both turn to me, Dec with a frown and Shane a picture of exasperated rage.

“It’s not your call, Dec. Worry about you, okay?” I glance between them, heart pinching. “I can’t watch more of this, so I’m gonna go.”

I can hear Dec get to his feet as I start up the stairs, but Shane must stop him because I don’t hear any footsteps behind me. As I reach the kitchen, I pull my phone from my pocket.

Me: still up for that run?

Lex: Yes, please

Me: usual route?

I tap my foot as I wait, hoping she says yes. She canceled on me a couple of times over the last week, and she asked me to meet her in different locations more than once. I suspect she’s keeping her distance, but after what happened on the flight, I don’t blame her.

Lex: Yeah. It’s already been a day.

Me: we could stay in instead

Me: i have some ideas for how to relax you

Lex: Cute. I’ll see you at 6:15?

Me: so is that a no on the sensual massage, or…?

Lex: See you soon, Linc.

She hearts my massage text. I take it as a good sign. Before Dec shot all our plans to hell in a blaze of fiery glory, I wanted to tell Lex how I felt on our first run back from Paris. My brother dropped a bomb on us all, though, and the opportunity hasn’t presented itself. Yet. Good things come to those who wait, right?

Chapter 40

Shane

“Hey Miles.”

Lex’s assistant looks up with a wide grin above his purple bowtie. “Mr. Kelly! How was Paris? I’ll be honest, I was expecting the boss to be a bit more…relaxed when she got back. Everything go as planned?”

“For the hundredth time, it’s Shane. And Paris was perfect.” I pause, jaw ticking. “The flight home could’ve been smoother.”

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