Page 27 of Unforgettable

“We’ve talked through all of this, Amanda,” Josh said. “What’s most important to us, in the end, is what you want. If you choose one of us, great, or if you don’t, then fine. We’ve both come to terms with the fact that it may not be us, but we’re tired of waiting around for an opportunity. We’re making the opportunity for ourselves.”

I huffed and scrubbed my hands through my hair, pulling the hair tie and letting it fall around my shoulders. It was a failed attempt at relieving some of the pressure growing in my head. It was on the tip of my tongue to repeat my earlier denial without any further argument, but I couldn’t do it. They were so serious, watching me and trying to gauge my reaction or read my thoughts through the subtle changes in my facial expressions.

Their patience was admirable as we stood in silence. Neither of them showed any signs of agitation at my long pause. They weren’t bouncing their legs or glancing at the clock. They didn’t clear their throats or sneak looks at each other—they merely waited.

They waited, and I ran through every scenario. If I told them yes, it would mean our friendships would likely change forever. It could have caused animosity and grudges that may have never gone away, and there was also the terrifying possibility that I would get my heart broken. Or that I could even break one, or both, of their hearts.

I also knew the two men in front of me better than I may have ever known anyone. Through most of my adult life, they had both been there. And I had watched woman after woman, relationship after hookup after one-night stand, not change a damn thing. Neither of them was keen on commitment, which had never bothered me before. That was until I became the woman they were pursuing. Our night at the lake house and then thenightsat the wedding were one thing.

And I didn’t think highly enough of myself to believe I would be the woman to change that pattern for either of them.

But even with all of the reasons why I shouldn’t do it, I found myself asking, “What are the rules?”

“At least two dates with each of us. We already know each other, it’s just a matter of figuring out if there’s more there,” Reed said.

“Yes, but what else?”

“For the first date, let’s say no more than two hundred fifty dollars,” Josh proposed, and I immediately looked at Reed, knowing full well that his budget would have been at least double that amount if it were any other date. With a family that came from money, he had more disposable income and a small trust fund he’d had full access to after his twenty-fifth birthday.

As I suspected, Reed’s eyes went wide for a moment, but he ultimately nodded in agreement.

“Second date, no more than a hundred,” Reed said. Josh agreed that time.

“I want to pay for half.”

“No.”

“Absolutely not.”

“Why not? It’s the twenty-first century, and I can pay for half of it if I want to.”

Josh grabbed a water bottle out of the fridge, handed one to Reed and then slid one across the island to me. “You’re right,” he said after finishing half of it in one gulp. “But this was our idea, so we should pay. Let us pay.”

“Fine,” I conceded, already preparing to argue about it during each date.

“Anything else?” Reed asked.

“We should probably discuss… umm… sex,” Josh said.

I groaned and sank farther into the barstool, covering my face with my hands.

“What do you mean?” I heard Reed ask Josh, but I didn’t engage in the conversation. Instead, I wanted to see where the two of them would take it.

“It should be allowed, you know, if it happens,” Josh clarified, and I couldn’t help the laugh that escaped between my fingers that were still covering my face. Both of them watched me, Reed crunching his empty water bottle between his hands while Josh fidgeted with the plastic cap between his fingers.

“I think that’s a game-time decision. If it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t, then it doesn’t.”

“Agreed. And is there anything specific you want to do or don’t want to do? Do you have anything to add?” Reed asked.

“She hasn’t even technically agreed,” Josh pointed out.

“Just don’t take me to a museum after hours and then to a Hollywood bowl where you give me a pair of diamond earrings you bought with your college money. I would also say you shouldn’t let your best friend pose as our driver for the evening, but you don’t have any other female best friends besides, I guess, Hazel, so that shouldn’t be an issue.”

“Yeah, but you’d look good wearing my future,” Josh said with a smile which I easily returned.Some Kind of Wonderfulwas one of my favorite movies.

“So, that’s a yes?” Reed asked.

“No.”

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