Page 16 of Save a Horse

Jasper murmurs against my skin, “Fucking beautiful,”

“It could be prettier.” I shrug. “Next year, you should invest in a few garlands, and maybe different size bulbs for variety.”

“I wasn’t talking about the tree, sweetheart.”

I don’t have a chance to scold him for being cheesy as fuck because an obnoxious ringing bell pulls our attention to the stairs. Mitch appears in his Santa suit, shirtless beneath the coat. I smother my smile, unable to stop a few chuckles from escaping.

Mitch stretches his arms wide, does a turn for show, then asks, “What do you think? Trees will be flying off the ranch!”

“Are you seriously wearing that without a shirt?” Jasper grumbles. “This is supposed to be a family event.” The grump is back, and I couldn’t be happier. Cranky Jasper I can handle. Romantic Jasper is lethal.

“Oh, come on! I’m just having a bit of fun.” Mitch lifts me, swinging me in a circle. Setting me down, I can’t help admiring his perfectly sculpted pecs beneath my fingertips. “See, Aces is ready to sit on my lap.”

A pang of jealousy pierces me at the thought of another woman touching him, sitting on his lap, him touching anyone but me. “He’s right, you should put a shirt on. Let’s not give the wives of Coal’s Lake a reason to leave their husbands.”

“Fine,” he playfully scoffs, rolling his eyes. “But you’re sitting on my lap later…naked.”

Jasper

Ilove and hate that Amy was right—I should’ve trusted her from the beginning. Dozens of families came out to see Santa, and many stayed to buy gift baskets. Some left with a tree, enough that I’ll need to wake up early to chop a few more for tomorrow. I’ve always wanted the ranch to be more than a tree farm, and in a single night, she’s made that dream come true.

With the crowds thinning out, my gaze lands on Amy, as it has for most of the night. She’s talking with Axl and Beth, who couldn’t be more in love. For years, Axl pined after Beth, stuck in the friend zone, until one day they chose each other. As happy as I am for them, seeing any couple so happy twists my heart. Next to them is Tristan, who also found his happily ever after last Christmas with his high school best friend, Myles. Everyone around us found their someone—their forever. I just met Amy, but could she be “the one.” She fucking feels like it.

Mitch and I have shared everything our whole lives—sometimes women—but there’s something different about sharingAmy with him. She fits in here, which shouldn’t come as a surprise with her family selling seasonal items. Except, she’s leaving tomorrow night. If Amy stayed, would she choose between us? I don’t know if my friendship with Mitch could survive it. What if they got married and had kids? Where would that leave me?

Hot chocolate in hand, my friend Jaxon makes his way over. “This is amazing! Sorry Greta couldn’t come. She wanted to, but um…” He looks over at Mitch and winces. “Well, you know.”

I nod with a small laugh. “She’s welcome here any time. You two are with Beth’s ex, so I’m sure there are weirder things than her coming tonight.” I shrug. “How does that work; the three of you?”

“It just…does. We’ve been inseparable since I picked them up at the airport this summer.” He sips his cocoa, which even from here has the distinct aroma of cinnamon whisky added. Either Axl or Beth spiked it. “I get home from work, and I start dinner, waiting to eat until Troy gets home. Troy meets me for lunch most days, sometimes with Greta, sometimes without. In the mornings, Greta makes sure we have our overnight oats which Troy and I promptly toss on the way to work…” Jaxon’s smile is so damn bright, it could light up a stadium. “We take care of each other. I don’t know how I got so lucky to wake up next to two people I love more than anything in the world.”

With everything going on with Mitch and Amy, I can’t help asking, “Are you going to get married?”

“Maybe, but it’s still new. We jumped in with two feet. Once we moved in together, we took out a calendar andmade sure each week we date each other separately and together—I go out with Troy once a week, Greta once a week, they go out just the two of them, and we make time for the three of us. That way Greta doesn’t get jealous of Troy, I don’t get jealous of Greta… I know it’s not conventional, but it works for our relationship. If don’t know if we would ever get married. If we did, it would only be two of us on paper, and I don’t think any of us wants that. I love them too much to choose between them, and I know they feel the same about me.”

Could Mitch and I really share Amy? If we offered, would she stay?

Mitch claps his hand on my shoulder, scaring the hell out of me. “All of the kids are gone; are you cool if I ditch the beard?”

“Yeah, go for it,” I chuckle, shaking my head.

His eyes blow wide when he realises Jaxon is the one I’ve been talking to. “Oh, hey, sorry ‘bout…” He rubs the back of his neck.

Jaxon lets out a full laugh. “It isn’t like she cheated on me with you! The two of you hooked up before we were together. But I suppose it makes us pussy brothers or something?”

“What?” I sputter as Mitch grumbles, “Fucking small towns.”

Over the next half hour, we sell two more trees and a few more pre-made gift baskets. Once everyone’s gone, I do a final sweep and lock up the cut trees. I stop in my tracks as it hits me: I never invited Mitch and Amy to stay for thenight. Earlier could’ve been a coincidence, and there’s a chance Amy has made plans to stay with Mitch tonight, or even brave Axl’s. It doesn’t make me jealous that she wouldn’t want to stay, I’m…

I’m fucking sad.

I want Amy to stay, not just for the night, and to have what Jaxon has. The only difference is I have zero desire to fuck my best friend. But waking up to Amy moaning around my cock while Mitch fucks her from behind? I’m hard thinking about it and… Fuck, she belongs with us.

As I lock the front entry, Mitch and Amy are laughing as they tidy up the register and a small display beside it. The click of the door cuts off their conversation as they both turn to look my way. My heart stops and fear creeps in again. I take off my hat, coat, and boots, leaving them at the door. Turning to face them, Amy comes barreling towards me and leaps into my arms. I grip her thighs, keeping her legs wrapped firmly around me. Unease and doubt temporarily leave me as she takes my face in her hands and kisses me.

“How do you take your coffee, sweetheart?” I whisper against her lips, needing to know something—anything—about her. She stills in my arms, and I explain, “In the morning, when I make you breakfast, I need to know how you want your coffee. Sweet with cream? Black like my soul? Or…”

“Your soul isn’t black.” Amy lets out an exaggerated sigh as I slide her down my body. “It’s ivory at best. But I prefer tea over coffee; Earl Grey with a splash of milk.”

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