Page 33 of Broken Love

“I don’t get it?”

“They are way too good-looking for me,” she groans, and I laugh, drawing everyone’s attention over to us.

“Hi.” I lift my hand in a wave like I don’t belong when I know I do. “We were going to order dinner; any requests?” The awkward silence relieves the stress I’ve been carrying around all day as I watch Beau and mystery man react to Lux and then each other because her gaze darts between them like a startled kitten. “Pizza it is.” Nodding, I grab Lux and drag her to the bedroom I’m not sharing with Tanner and Tucker before closing the door.

We fall onto the mattress together, me in a fit of giggles because her blush is adorable and Lux screaming into a pillow. I wait until she’s finished before lifting the edge and peeking under to find her face flushed and her eyes sparkling.

“Feel better?” She sticks her tongue out at me. “Care to tell me the problem, then?”

“How do you do it? With Tanner and Tucker? Like…how?” She appears so confused.

I shrug as I sit up. “We’re still pretty new together. There’s still a lot to figure out with each other, but I think honesty is the key.” Without it, I don’t know what we’d do. “This week has brought us closer together. Tragedy has a way of doing that. Cutting through the bullshit and exposing our biggest fears and insecurities.”

Feeling her hand grasping mine, I glance over to see a look of sympathy in her eyes. “I am so sorry you guys lost him or her.” My throat closes, and I can only nod as I choke up at the remembered pain.

“I wouldn’t have gotten through it without the two of them,” I confess bluntly. “I’ve lost a lot in my life, and if I’d lost them too, I wouldn’t have survived in a million years.” Lux rests her head on my shoulder in silent support.

“Is there jealousy?” I recognize the concern in her tone.

“Not yet. Not that they’ve expressed around me. They’re definitely competitive, and if one is getting a kiss or hug or affection of any kind, then the other wants it, too. But they don’t fight to be the first to get any of those things, and they encourage me to offer it to the other.”

“How are they competitive then if there’s no jealousy?” I’m instantly tomato red and ready to be fried in the sun. “Ohhhh.” She grins at me when she realizes what I could mean.

“It’s, uhm…well…there’s no complaints.” I can’t hold back my smile even as I turn redder. Who knew it was possible?

“I think there would be jealousy with those two. They’ve worked together several times before. Beau is a strictly by-the-book kind of guy. He likes order and routine, while Gabe breaks the rules all the time. He likes to come and go with a bang.”

“You sound like you know from experience.” I make the comment but don’t expect Lux to turn as red as I was a moment ago.

“Sort of, but it was more to get under Beau’s skin.” Her teeth sink into her lip, and I see sadness enter her eyes at the memory.

Turning to face her fully, I grab both of Lux’s hands in mine and demand, “Spill.”

Blowing out a deep breath, she starts, “A few months ago, a missing woman was brought in, and I was her nurse. Beau was on her case, but Gabe was hired by the family to find her. He broke all kinds of rules that Beau couldn’t. They got into a huge fight right in the middle of the nurse’s station, and I stepped in to break it up.” I nod, encouraging her to keep going. “Beau wrapped a hand around my waist to hold me so I didn’t get knocked over. I think it was just reflex because he hadn’t realized he’d done it until he dragged me back from Gabe locking lips with me.”

“Sounds intense.” And enjoyable if not for the jealousy.

“It was. They don’t know this, but Gabe was my first-ever kiss, and boy, did he leave a mark. But then they fought again over Gabe kissing me and Beau’s possessive hold on me, until security literally kicked them out of the hospital. I didn’t hear from either of them again after that.” Her eyes move to the door I closed, and longing overtakes her pretty face.

“Did they know your name?” I’m hopeful it was a case of they couldn’t find her.

“Yeah, they knew.”

Dragging her in for a hug, I hold my little sister for a few minutes before drawing back and saying, “They need to be kickstarted into coming for you, then.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, you want them both, right?” Her head moves sheepishly up and down. “Then they need to get their asses in gear and on the same page. So how about a date?”

“Wait, what? A date? With who?” Her back straightens at my idea as I explain about a guy at work who is sweet, harmless, and I’m almost positive he’s gay but hasn’t come out yet. “I don’t want to lead him on. That feels cruel.”

“You wouldn’t. I think he has a crush on the guy working at the coffee cart downstairs; it might give them both the push they need as well. But just to be sure, we’ll let him know what the plan is, and if he doesn’t want to do it, then that’s okay too.”

“If you’re sure.”

“About ninety percent certain he’ll go along with it.” We order dinner and begin making plans for the middle of the following week.

Tanner

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