Page 100 of Light My Fire

Jackson throws a look of censure his way. “She asked you not to text her.”

“I didn’t text her. I called her. She picked up so obviously she wanted to talk to me.” He sounds smug.

If I was a dick, I’d point out that she probably would have picked up for me and Jackson too but I don’t because Wyatt can say he’s not jealous all damn day, but he is. That’s why he lost it in the kitchen when he walked in on me with her. Yes, he thought I was being too rough with Brooke, but he was also upset that she was into me, too.

“So if she’s in town, why are you at Eddie’s with us?” Jackson asks. “I would have thought you’d just go straight to her.”

“Because she said she can’t date just one of us.”

There is a pause while we all digest that.

“So…”

“She wants to dateallof us?” Jackson asks. “I can get behind that if it means I get to spend some time with Brooke.”

“I think we should just tell her she can date Wyatt.” I drain my beer in two big swallows.

This doesn’t change anything.

“We should do what’s best for Brooke,” I add firmly.

Jackson looks reluctant. “I don’t think we should decide for Brooke what is best for her. That’s her call.”

“Okay, then this is best for me,” I say. “I don’t want to date her.”

I’m lying and they both know it.

But I need to protect Brooke. I failed at the cabin. I never should have touched her. Because now I want more and I know in the end, I’ll only hurt her.

“I think the best thing is if we all talk to her together,” Wyatt says. “I can date her solo, or we can all date her. I’ll do whatever it takes to spend more time with her. She’s the one for me.”

His words are simple, determined.

It must be nice to be so confident that you know what you want and it will all work out.

I felt that way once upon a time.

Before I had the rug pulled out from under me.

I rub my forehead. I’m getting a damn headache. “She said she doesn’t want to talk to me.”

“She said that to me too,” Wyatt said. “Then she agreed to see me. So I think what’s happening here is she’s attracted to all of us and is just not sure what to do about any of it. We should present a united front and make it clear she can have whatever she wants.”

I’m going to fucking regret this.

But I’m going to regret it more if I don’t do this.

That’s pretty damn clear, given the way I’ve been feeling the last two weeks.

“Okay. Tell her to meet us here.”

“I have a better idea,” Jackson says. “I’ll invite her over to my place to see the puppies. Then we can all talk to her.”

“You’re going to ambush her?” I ask. “That’s fucking rude.”

“It will show us all where we stand,” Wyatt points out.

“It’s not an ambush,” Jackson says. “She likes seeing us all together. She likes knowing we’re all cool with whatever. Which we are. Right?”

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