Page 113 of Ruthless Legacy

“No, Pet, this is us getting away from campus and the pressure of everything you’ve been juggling these last couple of weeks. We wanted you to relax and have fun.”

Looking around, she asks, “Where’s your third? Being disrespectful of people's time, as usual?”

Finn huffs, “I said, relaxing and fun. You and Pax don’t know how to relax around each other.”

“You’re right. He’s too uptight. He never wants me to have fun.”

Finn wags his finger at her. “And you like to fuck with him.”

“Because that’s fun.”

He snorts, “For you, maybe. Holden and I are the ones who have to deal with him when you’re done.”

She drops onto the blanket, hands resting on her lap. “He should just go get laid. That would do wonders for his mood.”

Finn’s smiling. That means he’s up to something. “Who says he doesn’t?”

“His stress levels. I know when a guy is getting ass on the regular and when he’s not.” Thea picks at a seam on the blanket. “I don’t know why. When he’s not talking, he’s decent to look at, and he’s all inked up.”

“You think he’s hot, Pet?”

“I didn’t use those words, but other girls might.”

He drops to his knees and crawls over to her. “And what about us? Do you think we’re hot?”

“Fishing for compliments, Finn?” She teases. “Sure you’re cute.” She pauses. “Like an overeager puppy that pees on the floor.”

He pushes her to the ground and climbs on top of her. “Pet, if I’m pissing on the ground when people come near you, it’s because I’m marking my territory.”

She shoves him off. “I don’t belong to you.”

There’s the opening to this conversation we need. I say, “That’s why we’re here.”

She lifts onto her elbows to stare at me. “Explain.”

“Finn likes you.”

“Meh.”

“And so do I.”

“No, Holden. You like to hunt me and hurt me.”

I bite back a groan. It’s been too long since I’ve hunted and hurt her. “It’s my love language.”

Finn smiles at me like I’m gold since I used his favorite phrase.

“Okaaay. So you both brought me here to compete for my attention? Which food item is whose? Are they labeled? I’m happy to judge the competition.”

Finn’s back in her space. “There is no competition, Pet. We both like you and we wanted to make sure you know that. You’ve hooked up with both of us before, but maybe we weren’t clear about what we want. We want you, Thea.”

“Right.” She points to the picnic basket, her shoulders tense. “But this feels like a date, Finn.”

She doesn’t date. I remember having that conversation with her. I use words she’ll accept. “We’re hanging out. The three of us. Together.”

Her shoulders relax. “Oh.”

“Are you okay with that?”

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