Page 146 of Pretend Girlfriend

Having three men do it at the same time, in front of each other? My brain didn’t know how to handle it.

“I don’t know what to say,” I replied slowly. “But I do know one thing. I’ve known it for a few weeks, I think, but was afraid to truly admit it until I heard you all say it.

“Landon: I love your dry humor, and the serious, analytical way you approach every subject.

“Theo, you’re the big teddy bear that never fails to make me smile after a long day. And I’ve had some long days working for the Judge recently. I love you.”

Finally, I turned to Austin. “Austin. Your intensity is something that thrills me every time we’re together, and even when we’re apart. And if not for you, I wouldn’t have had the courage to quit my job.”

“Not really courage,” Austin admitted. “More like drunkenness that I seized upon to dare you to quit.”

“Still, though. It was exactly what I needed, and I’ll always love you for it. And I love you regardless of that. I love all three of you, in some of the same ways, and other ways which are completely different.”

They took a moment to absorb what I had said. Letting the word love sink in. Austin smiled to himself. Theo blushed like a schoolgirl. Landon looked satisfied.

“So,” I said. “What are we going to do about this problem?”

“Who says we need to do anything?” Landon asked.

“Well,” I replied, “there’s three of you, and only one of me. Dating all of you at the same time was only supposed to be temporary until we figured it out.”

“Who cares?” Theo said decisively. “We all love you. You love all of us. I think we can make it work. I think we can share you.”

“Share me?” I said.

“Exactly the same as we’ve been doing,” Landon replied. “Some days you are with me, and others you’re with Theo or Austin.”

“Except that’s becoming a problem,” I pointed out. “Friday and Saturday nights are the best date nights based on my work schedule. But there are three of you. Austin’s schedule is pretty random, so sometimes it works out, but difficulties are already popping up.”

“Then we should stop hanging out individually,” Landon insisted. “We can go on dates in larger groups.”

“Won’t that be awkward?” I asked.

Austin gestured. “Doesn’t seem awkward to me.”

“It’s super not awkward right now,” Theo said. “The only awkward part was when you missed that power-up and we died because of it.”

“I haven’t played that game before,” Austin complained.

“Yeah, and it shows,” Theo responded.

Their banter was carefree rather than biting. Like brothers. Honestly, looking at all of them right now, things weren’t awkward.

“Besides,” Theo said, elbowing the man next to him. “Landon wants to try another threesome.”

“One he remembers this time,” Austin added.

An excited tingle ran up my spine. There it was, out in the open. Another threesome. I had been terrified that none of them wanted to do it again, but that was clearly not the case. I tried not to appear too excited.

“By my math, there’s one too many for a threesome,” I said. “Is someone going to leave?”

The three of them looked at each other.

“We could jump straight from a threesome to… a foursome,” Theo said.

“Thank God you suggested it,” Austin sighed. “I didn’t have the balls to bring it up.”

“So you’ll watch people have sex,” Landon said carefully, “but you’re afraid to broach the subject of group sex?”

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