Page 51 of Falling for Them

“Probably not. Tread carefully, okay? This isn’t just about you and your feelings. You’re dealing with two other people’s emotions here.”

As our food arrived, I still had no idea how this would play out, but at least now I had the start of a game plan. A place to start was really all I needed.

I walked down the hall, two bouquets of red roses cradled in my arms. My stomach churned as I approached the condo door. What if Libby still wanted me gone? What if the night before hadn’t changed anything?

I took a deep breath, steeling myself to face whatever was waiting inside. Fumbling with entering my code, I nearly dropped one of the bouquets in the process. Smooth. Real smooth.

Finally managing to unlock the door, I stepped inside.

The living room was quiet except for the sounds of gunfire and explosions coming from the TV. Ethan sat on the couch, controller in hand, completely engrossed in whatever game hewas playing. He didn’t strike me as a gamer, but the headset and his focus not wavering as the door shut said otherwise.

There was no sign of Libby.

“Hey.” My voice sounded unnaturally loud.

“Uh, hi.” He paused his game and turned on the couch, rolling his eyes as they landed on the flowers. “Seriously? Roses?”

I should have bought him black roses to match his attitude. “These are for you and Libby.” I held out one of the bouquets toward him.

Ethan stared at me like I’d grown a second head. “For... me?”

“Yes, for you.” I felt more awkward by the second. “I wanted to do something nice for both of you after... you know.”

He set down his controller on the couch and stood up, slowly approaching me as if I might bite. When he finally took the flowers, his expression was a mix of confusion and suspicion. “Thanks, I guess. But why?”

I took a deep breath. It was now or never. Communication was key, and beating around the bush was going to get me nowhere with him. “I was wondering if you’d like to go on a date with me.”

Ethan’s eyebrows shot up so high they nearly disappeared into his hairline. “A date? With you?”

“Yes.” I was trying to keep my voice steady, but fuck, I was a nervous wreck. “An actual date. I was thinking we could go out separately and then we could all go out. Me, you, and Libby.”

He narrowed his eyes. “So, let me get this straight. You woke up this morning, had a ‘work emergency,’ and came back a few hours later with roses wanting to go on dates? Including a date alone… with me.”

“Yes?”

“Is this some kind of joke? Or are you looking to experiment and then forget about it?”

The jab about forgetting our Christmas party fun was well-deserved, but it stung. “Look, if you’re going to be an asshole about it then never mind.” I reached for the roses, and he took a step back with them. “I’m being serious, Ethan.”

Ethan set the flowers down on the island. “First off, I’m not interested in being anyone’s test run. I’ve been down that road before, and it doesn’t end well. Secondly, me and Libby talked this morning and are together now.”

My heart sank because of course they already talked about their feelings and probably agreed to kick me to the curb. “What if we try and see what happens? Look at how happy Paige is with her three men.”

“And how long is that going to last? If anything, it’s a way for all of them to do one third of the work that goes into a relationship. Eventually, it’s not going to work, and Paige will be left to pick up the pieces.”

Why the hell was he so cynical? It was clear as day that each of them gave one hundred percent and also respected being their own people.

“Who the fuck hurt you?”

He studied me for a long moment, and I felt like I was under a microscope. Finally, he sighed dramatically. “Fine, but if at any point I feel like you’re not being genuine, I’m out, and so is Libby.”

It wasn’t a whole-hearted endorsement, but it was a start.

Chapter 19

First Date

Libby

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