Page 47 of Four Times Taken

"Wow, having the chillest dude on the planet as my best friend is a stroke of luck. Anyone else might have lost it," I mused, trying to grasp his calm demeanor. I was shocked at the contrast between his reaction and how I would feel in his place – betrayed and resentful.

My curiosity was piqued by his vague words. Was he uncertain about us, or about her?

"What do you mean?" I asked, pouring my coffee, before we're interrupted.

"Oh. I thought I heard voices." Matt dragged his bare feet across the carpet, scratching his short, brown hair. His anchor tattoo was visible on his bare chest, and his sleeping shorts swung around his knees. "What are you doing back so early? Thought you spent the night at Lily's," Matt said, glancing at Eric as he ventured to the fridge for a bottle of water. How was he not freaking out right now?

"No. She said she needed some alone time." Eric studied the drink swirling in his mug.

Matt paused mid-drink, gulping down the water settled in his mouth, and removed the bottle from his lips. "You don't think it has anything to do with yesterday, do you?" His cheeks flushed.

Oh, so he did remember.

Eric nodded and took a sip from his mug before answering. "It might. And I feel so damn awful about it."

My heart sank. For all my jealousy, I didn't want to see Eric in pain and blaming himself. I reached over and gripped his shoulder. "It's not your fault. We're the ones who should've been more respectful."

He shook his head. "That's not it."

"What is it, then?" Matt asked, looking at me like, 'why the hell is he so calm right now?' He pulled his eyes away when Eric turned to look between us.

"It's best if I say what I have to say to all three of you." He sighed.

My body tensed, my pulse hammering in my chest. "Leave us in suspense, will you?" My laugh was mirthless as the unknown became a beast.

Somberness hung over all four of us as we gathered in the room. A group discussion? It's kinda like he's rounding us up to denounce us as his friends altogether. Every moment of selfish lust I've had since setting eyes on Lily lingered in the silence. I'm about ready to fall on my knees and beg him for his forgiveness when he finally speaks.

"So, it's no secret I heard all of you yesterday, and I've been battling with how I'm supposed to react since. I'm disgusted..." he began. My stomach turned. We all dropped our heads, shame thickening our skulls. "with myself," he continued.

Ethan, Matt, and I looked at each other. "We've already been over this. We're the ones who should be apologizing," I insisted.

He put a hand up, nodding. "Please. Let me finish. You're my best friends, the only people I can talk to about this. Which is awkward to say the least. I don't want you to think I don't love Lily..."

Crossing my arms across my chest, I narrowed my eyes as the other guys moved closer to him.

"Where are you going with this?" Ethan asked, taking a seat next to him.

"Don't get so excited," Eric scowled.

"I'm sorry. I'm not," Ethan said, raising his hands.

"I love Lily. I always have, and I always will. That will never change," he affirmed.

"So, what's the problem then?" Matt asked.

Eric gulped. "It's just... If I love her as much as I believe I do, I should be more upset with you guys for getting hard over Lily, shouldn't I?" he spoke into his chest.

"Uh. What are you trying to say, Eric?" I stepped closer.

He looked up and around at us, recalling our presence. What he said next took my breath away. "I don't hate the thought of sharing her with you," he confessed. The room grew brighter at that as I balked at him, hardly able to contain my excitement. Without understanding what any of this meant, Ethan's heart nearly jumped out of his mouth, and Matt's lips twitched into a smile. The three of us were speechless.

Eric's face reddened with his confession as he awaited our judgment. "But she'd never go for that. You don't share the woman you love with other men. You do that with someone you don't care that much about. Why, though? Both women would be equally as valuable." He dropped his head in his hands. "But she wouldn't see it that way. She'd think that I love her less or something."

"That's why you called me," I said, getting my mouth to work again and verifying my suspicions.

He hung his head. "Yeah."

Whew. All the weight of resentment that had been resting on my shoulders fell away. All for nothing, I could've lost my best friend if he were a different man. Sinking down next to him, I wrapped my arm around his shoulders.

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