Page 23 of The Brothers Next Door

“I see. In a perfect world...” I couldn’t read his expression, but I could see the wheels in his head turning.

Oh fuck, I totally messed this all up. I groaned inwardly as I slumped back against the seat. At the beginning of the evening I had two awesome, sexy men and now I didn’t have either one. How the hell did things go sideways so quickly?

I’d been greedy and indecisive, that was why. I should have shut down this double date before it even got out of the gate. I’d met Nate first and that should have been where my allegiances lay.

~*~TT~*~

Nate

“Guys, I had a great night. Thank you so much.” She shifted from one foot to the other in the open doorway. The koala bear was settled inside on an arm chair. “I had a really good time.”

I stepped forward and gave her a hug and kiss on the cheek. It was a serious step backwards from the other day, but I needed to have a serious talk with Darrin and see where his head was on this situation. Darrin had been through a lot in the love department. If I couldn’t work something out with him, I’d regretfully pull myself out of the running for her affections, something I would never do for anyone else.

Bros before… well, you know where I’m going with this.

Darrin followed my lead and gave her a warm hug and kiss. “I’ll be seeing you.”

She nodded and entered her apartment, giving us one last look before closing the door behind her.

“We need to talk,” I said, placing a hand on my brother’s shoulder, and gave it a pat.

“Sure. I was thinking the same thing. Come on over and we’ll discuss it over a couple of beers.” We walked the short distance and entered his place, which was identical to mine just four floors directly above.

Following him into the kitchen, I waited until I had a beer in my hand and took a long swig before getting down to business. “So what are we going to do?” I asked, taking another drink, emptying nearly half the bottle.

“About?” He chuckled and led the way into the living room, where he flopped down onto the sofa, grabbed the remote control, and propped his feet up on the coffee table. He knew damned well what.

Laughing, I responded, “Layla.”

Darrin shrugged. “She’s your girl. I fucked up and kissed her when we were on the roller-coaster, I apologize for that.”

“Yeah, I know. She told me.”

“Oh, that’s why she was so quiet on the trip back?”

“She was giving me time to think and to be honest I’ve been a little unsure all evening about the situation.”

He cocked a brow at me, flipping through the channels no longer a priority. “You’re not into her? Seemed like you were.”

“I am.” I massaged the back of my neck, the tension within me building. “She’s a pretty amazing woman. She’s smart, beautiful, sweet...”

“She is.” He agreed and I could see in his eyes that he wanted her for himself. I could read my brother like an open book as he could me.

“Then you want her?” An idea had been forming in my mind and I needed to know Darrin’s mindset before bringing it up.

He looked directly at me. “You had her first. But if you weren’t interested in continuing seeing her, then as long as it doesn’t bother you, I’d like to ask her out again.”

Rubbing the scruff on my chin, I tried to think of a good way to broach the solution I had in mind. There was no way except to just come out and say it. “What would your thoughts be on sharing her?”

Darrin’s hand stopped in mid-air, with the beer bottle almost to his lips. “Excuse me?”

“Just hear me out.”

“Right.” He was giving me the look he usually gave me when he felt I was being a jackass. Usually I got that look from him just before I was about to do something terribly stupid.

“You could use getting out there again, Darrin.”

“With your woman?”

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