Page 12 of Tangled up in You

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen her drink that much,” I say. “We may have pushed her too far.”

Simon releases a heavy breath. “I’ll go talk to her.”

“No!” Kent and I protest in unison. We share a look before I add, “Let’s give her space. If we press too hard, she’ll pull farther away. We’ve always wanted this, but she’s new to the idea.”

It’s no secret between us that we each wanted her for ourselves. We’re getting too old to pussyfoot around, so when the opportunity presented itself, we couldn’t pass it up. Simon made his move and we followed. Drunk or not, we knew what we wanted.

But we don’t know if this is what she wants.

While Melanie is known to let her hair down and get a little wild at times, that was twenty years ago, and even then she didn’t do anything as crazy as we did last night.

It’ll hurt like hell, but if Melanie wants to forget what happened, I’ll do the same. I’d rather have her in my life as a friend than not at all.

“Fine,” Simon grinds out. “I’m going home to shower and sleep off the rest of this hangover. Call me if she says anything.”

“I’m going to do the same.” I pat Kent on the back as I leave.

“Don’t forget the medicine on your way out,” Kent says, falling onto his bed with a sigh.

“I’ll get some at home. Enjoy your nap.”

Kent grumbles a response, but it’s incoherent with his face in the pillow. I part ways with Simon and head across the street, glancing back toward Melanie’s house. Simon is staring at it as well as he walks through her yard to his house next door.

I wish there was a way to make this easier. To show Melanie we’re serious. Seeing as we’ve been apart for two decades, it seems sudden, but I’ve never cared about anyone the way I care about her.

I think that’s why Kent, Simon, and I haven’t been able to completely settle down yet. We have our careers, but our love lives are a mess. As is Melanie’s. What if the reason we can’t find the one for us is because we were looking in the wrong places?

We’ve been searching for a connection outside our circle when we should’ve been looking within it.

With a sigh, I turn away from Melanie’s and continue on my way. Stepping into my house, I shiver at the change of temperature. It’s freezing outside, but inside, the heater is running strong.

I get undressed as I head to the bathroom. Living alone has its advantages. No one complains when I leave things lying around or freaks out when I wander about naked.

But there are times it’s lonely. I miss having someone to hold at night or someone to greet me when I get home. Maybe I should invest in a pet…

Digging the pain killers out of the bathroom cabinet, I take two and contemplate how much time I’d have to devote to another being. Even though my workload is less than it used to be since moving back home, I still have days I have to work overtime. That’s what would be so great about sharing Melanie. I’d never have to worry if she was getting enough attention and love. Simon and Kent would have my back. They’d pick up where I lacked, and vice versa.

Stepping into the shower, I relax under the stream of hot water and close my eyes. Memories of last night play in my mind. The way Melanie felt wrapped around my cock, her dark hair spilling over her shoulders as she rode me.

God, it was perfect. I’d give anything to experience it again. My cock hardens as I reminisce. Not wanting to turn into a horny teenage boy with no self-control, I finish washing and get the fuck out before I start jacking off.

I get dressed in my room, choosing comfort in the form of a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt. Moseying into the kitchen, I heat up a frozen breakfast sandwich in the microwave. I take my food and a glass of juice to the living room.

Sitting on the couch, I flip on the TV. A graph of the weather headed our way gives me pause. Currently, the conditionsoutside are calm. The ground is blanketed in snow and it’s cold as fuck, but there’s no breeze or snow falling.

That’s going to change later this evening. By tomorrow morning, the meteorologist is expecting our tiny town to be snowed in. This isn’t the first time it’s happened. Montana winters can be harsh, to say the least.

I should have paid better attention to the forecast. Instead, I’ve been concentrating on work and Kent’s party. Then on Melanie’s return.

I don’t have enough food here to survive a couple of days. I was planning to go shopping tomorrow. That’s not possible now. I need to go today.

I doubt Kent, Melanie, and Simon are prepared either. Getting to my feet, I grab my discarded jeans and pull out my phone to call Kent.

CHAPTER 7

KENT

My phone rings, waking me up for the second time this morning. I ignore it, but it keeps going off. With a groan, I stumble to my feet.

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