Page 36 of Carnival Mayhem

“Leaving us all alone?” Nash puts on an exaggerated pout. “That’s just cruel.”

I clutch my chest dramatically. “The betrayal. We’ll waste away from neglect.”

“Talk about blue balls,” Nash adds with a theatrical sigh.

Flora rolls her eyes, but she’s fighting back a smile. “You two are absolutely insatiable, you know that?”

“We prefer to think of it as having healthy appetites,” I say with a wink.

“I’m sure we can find time when I get back,” she says, kissing us as she heads for the door. “Try not to pine away too much while I’m gone.”

“No promises!” Nash calls after her.

I watch her disappear into the evening, counting the minutes until she returns. But I’m glad she’s making friends, building her own life here at the carnival. Even if it means sharing her attention sometimes.

Nash and I are alone in our shared space for the first time since Flora came into our lives and changed everything. The silence between us buzzes, our eyes unable to meet. We’ve always been careful to keep things platonic, no matter how close we’ve gotten over the years. There are lines we’ve never considered crossing.

Until now, Flora’s presence, her very essence, has awakened something inside both of us. She’s like a spark that’s ignited a fire, threatening to burn down the careful barriers we’ve erected.

The tension existed before she entered our lives, simmering quietly beneath the surface. I ignored it, burying it under layers of friendship and shared passion for our art. But now, with her gone for the evening, it’s becoming harder to ignore. I can feel it coursing through my veins, making my skin tingle and my heart race.

“Jesus, it’s a damn sauna in here,” Nash comments, fanning himself with a tea towel.

“You feeling alright? You’re flushed.” I raise an eyebrow, smirking.

“Oh, I’m feeling fine.” His eyes glint with mischievousness. “Just got blue balls thanks to someone abandoning us this evening.”

My throat goes dry. “Yeah, she does tend to have that affect on a guy.”

“Understatement of the century. The woman’s a walking wet dream.”

I know what he means. Flora gets under your skin and makes you feel things you’ve never felt. It’s a different kind of longing than I’ve ever experienced. An itch that only she can scratch.

I shift uncomfortably on the couch, meeting Nash’s direct gaze. The air between us crackles with tension.

“We should talk about Flora,” Nash says. “About how this works between all of us.”

My heart pounds against my ribs. “What do you mean?”

“That first morning after...” Nash pauses, choosing his words carefully. “I know you were with her. And earlier today, when you were helping Ty, she and I...” He lets the implication hang.

I nod slowly. Part of me had wondered if something had happened between them when I was busy. “And you want to know if I’m okay with that?”

“Yeah. We need clear boundaries here. Are we fine with being with her separately? Together seems ideal, but schedules don’t always align.” Nash runs a hand through his hair. “I don’t want any misunderstandings between us.”

“Makes sense,” I agree, thinking it through. “I’m good with whatever Flora’s comfortable with. Together or separate.”

Nash relaxes. “Same here. Though I prefer it when we’re all involved. It feels more... right that way.”

“Yeah, I know what you mean.” The connection between the three of us is strongest when we’re together. “Should probably talk to Flora about it too, get her thoughts.”

“Definitely. She should have equal say in this.” Nash pushes off from the counter and joins me on the couch. “We’re in uncharted territory here.”

“That we are.” I glance at him. “But I think we’re handling it pretty well so far.”

I shift on the couch, hyperaware of Nash’s presence beside me. The air feels thick with possibility. His knee brushes against mine, and I fight the urge to pull away or lean in closer. I’m not sure which impulse is stronger.

“Guess we’ve got a problem on our hands.”

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