Page 70 of The Best Number

“Never,” Cassidy says. “Just warming up a little.” I head over to the couch and they each move to the side, making space for me in the middle.

“I think we need to talk first,” I tell them. Cassidy’s eyes widen like saucers.

“What’s wrong?” Panic fringes her tone.

“Nothing’s wrong, Mac. But you’ve both opened up and been honest with me. I want to share my past with you; all the messy, crazy parts. If we’re going to make a proper go of this, I want to be open.” I lean back, settling between them as I take a moment to think about what I need to tell them.

“I’ve always been a bit of a loner. My parents weren’t around and my grandmother raised me. She died a couple months short of my eighteenth.” Cassidy gasps, her hand gripping my thigh tightly. “There were some distant relatives, but I’d never spent time with them. No one knew who my dad was and my mum had gone off the rails with booze and drugs. Gran said we were well rid of her.

“When Gran died, I was expecting her to show up at the funeral. But she didn’t come, and I had no way to contact her. We lived close to the pub, and I worked in the kitchen since I was fourteen, washing up and cleaning. The couple that owned it, Sally and Pete, never had kids and they took me under their wing. They let me stay in their box room for free and still paid me for work. I did that for another year or so while I finished at college.”

I pause for a moment, gathering my thoughts. Jack slings his arm around my shoulders, giving me a squeeze of encouragement.

“Once I turned eighteen, I worked behind the bar for them. I went full time after college. Gran had a sister that died a couple of years after her. She owned a flat. And had left it to Gran in her will. It was completely unexpected, but it turns out Granhad made a will, leaving me the entirety of her estate. The flat eventually sold and I got a decent amount of money; more than I ever thought possible. I travelled for about a year, picking up bar work and learning as much as I could from every place I worked. When I got back, I took on shift supervisor and then management roles at bars and worked my way up. I locked most of the money away, earning a nice bit of interest over the years. Then, a few years ago, Sally and Pete got in touch. They needed help as they were getting older. They wanted someone to buy in. So I did. They eventually retired and had no qualms with me changing things up from the old traditional pub it used to be into a more modern bar.”

Cass gapes beside me. “The pub you worked at when you were fourteen is The Thirst Trap?”

I nod. “It used to be called The Greyhound. It’s the closest place I have to something like home,” I tell her with a sad smile. “That’s why I’ve been a workaholic over the years. I don’t want to let Sally and Pete down. They moved away to the coast when they retired, but they stay in touch and visit every now and again.” I smile fondly as I picture them strolling along the promenade, arm in arm. “They remind me of your parents, Jack. Just an older version.”

He leans over, kissing my cheek with a smile. “They sound awesome. I’m glad you had them after your gran died.”

“So yeah, that’s me. Had a few casual relationships over the years, with guys and girls, but nothing serious. When Jen talked me into the threesome, I was just looking to blow off steam. I couldn’t believe it when you walked in, Jack. I couldn’t take my eyes off you. And that night I became obsessed. I was so glad when you agreed to keep seeing me casually. I knew you were flighty. I didn’t want to do anything to scare you.”

Jack rests his head on my shoulder, swirling circle patterns on my knee as he listens. “I was attracted to you, Cassidy, that nightat the bar. It was the first time I thought about propositioning someone else since I met Jack. Then I saw you coming in here the next morning. I knew straight away Jack liked you. And as you guys got closer, I was convinced you would end up together, and I’d be left to the side.” I sigh, remembering that feeling that everything was about to change.

“I couldn’t believe it when the threesome idea came up. I had to give it a go and see what happened. And you know the rest.” I close my eyes, resting my head on the back of the couch.

“Wow, so you loved me since you met me?” Jack asks. I open my eyes to look at him. He’s looking far too smug.

“Not loved. Not right from the start. But it didn’t take long. Apparently, I couldn’t resist your bratty nature,” I tell him with a grimace.

“Huh. I’ll just keep being a brat at every opportunity, then.” He winks, eliciting a growl that rises from deep in my belly.

Cassidy laughs. “Jack, you’re incorrigible.”

“And, apparently, irresistible.”

Chapter thirty-two

Cassidy

Four weeks later

Tom and I are in New York. We tried to keep it as a surprise from Jack until we arrived, but couldn’t do it.

The weight has been lifted. Yes, it was tough dropping Jack off at Heathrow, knowing it would be another month before we saw him. Tom and I had gone straight back to my place and found a deal for four nights in NYC. Then realised it would be disappointing to not all fly back to the UK together. Which is when we’d realised we had to let Jack in on our plans. With the excitement of our upcoming trip, Jack’s return to the UK, and my book release, the last few weeks have sped by.

And now we are here, drinking in the sights of New York City and bringing our Jack home. It’s Jack’s last day on his projecttoday. He has leaving drinks with the team at 4 pm and then we are all spending one more night here in a fancy hotel before flying back to the UK tomorrow. Tom and I are invited along to drinks, but we decided to pop in just at the end, giving Jack time to spend with his team socially before he heads home.

Brad, his boss, was sad that Jack was unable to stay another nine months, so they’ve come up with a plan. He didn’t have to hand in his notice and will be working mostly from the UK. He’ll need to head to New York every couple of months for a week to spend time with the rest of the team.I’m so glad it worked out.It seems to be the best of both worlds. He gets to live with Tom and me, but also gets the opportunity to keep working with this team and keep building on his original project.

We’ve not done anything about finding a new place yet. But I have told my landlord I’m not extending my lease. I can squeeze into Jack's place for now, and once we are all back on British ground, our search can begin.

I’m sitting at the dressing table in our massive hotel room. I’ve been doing my makeup, ready to meet Jack and his team. I reach across to grab my hairbrush, trying to work out what to do with my hair when Tom steps up behind me. He’s wearing just a towel, his chest damp from the shower. As our eyes meet in the mirror’s reflection, he steals the hairbrush away.

Fuck, my boyfriend’s hot. And so is the other one, too.I can’t stop the giggle that comes out. Tom quirks an eyebrow, lifting his chin slightly, waiting to be let in on the joke.

“Just realising what a lucky girl I am.”

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