Page 76 of True Blue

Mira stares at our hands and Autumn’s mouth pops open. Janette’s head whips toward me, eyes wide at my simple assessment of the situation before she slowly looks back at Autumn and Mira. Mira’s eyes lift to mine before crossing to Janette’s. She frowns.

“I thought you were dating Axel?” she whispers.

Janette takes a deep breath before smiling. “I am.”

Autumn’s eyes shoot open wide, sliding over to stare at me. “But you two are also dating?”

“Mhmm,” I murmur, watching Mira’s reaction. My stomach turns as I psyche myself up to say, “And I’m also with Axel.”

Mira’s head swivels between the two of us again, but Autumn smiles wide. “Wait, you’re all together?”

Janette and I nod in sync. I squeeze her hand, feeling the tremors that start to emerge. “He wanted to be here to tell you both too, but he has an eight a.m. on Tuesdays,” Janette says.

“We wanted to tell you both right away after break.”

Mira stares at our hands again, still not saying a word. I wait, stomach tying itself in knots.

Autumn glances over, nudging Mira with her shoulder. Mira's head pops up and our gazes meet.

“How long have you guys been together?”

I sigh. “Altogether, about two months. But we’ve been making our way toward this since the beginning of term.” I wince when she nods, lips thinning.

Janette jumps in, words flying fast. “I was the one who didn’t want to tell anyone. I’m not ashamed or anything, but it happened really differently between each of us and then kind of all at once for all three of us and I wasn’t sure we were stable enough to let people in yet. Plus, I’m still really nervous about the outside world finding out with my mom’s spotlight career and his parents.” Janette bumps my shoulder, probably harder than she intends, but I can feel her fidgety energy in charge. “It’s my fault Bentley didn’t say anything.”

I shake my head, pulling Janette’s hand closer to me. “No, I was also nervous to tell you. You had so much going on with school stressing you out and the Harley stuff and then your parents. Plus, Janette and you weren’t exactly besties at thebeginning of the semester. I was worried you would worry about me and didn’t want to add to your plate.”

Mira laughs. I swallow and Janette and Autumn just stare at her. She chuckles, closing her eyes and shaking her head. “Bentley Kodak Marshall.”

I smile, shoulders falling as I hear the playfully stern tone of her voice.

“You didn’t tell me you were in a new relationship because you were scared I would worry about you?” Her eyes fly open. “I am not your child! I’m your best friend!” She laughs, shaking her head “You really need to stop trying to shelter me from everything. I already get enough of that from Ramsey and Harley!”

Autumn smiles, going back to finishing her tea.

I nod. “You’re not mad?” I check.

“No. I get some of your reasons.” She turns to Janette. “You didn’t start hanging out with me just because you’re dating my best friend, right?”

Janette shakes her head, letting go of my hand and reaching across the table for Mira’s. “No, I wanted to hang out with you, I swear. I started the semester with a bunch of shit from back home and I didn’t realize how much it was eating up my focus. I kept doing things for other people and pushed my own stuff to the side. Bentley and Axel kind of figured their own ways in and helped me realize I needed to drop some things and reprioritize myself.” She leans forward, Mira doing the same. “I’m really sorry I didn’t put in more effort in the beginning of the semester. I was a bitch, and you didn’t deserve the effects of my shit.”

I wrap my arm around her back, resting my hand on her hip. She smiles over at me.

Mira nods, gripping Janette’s hand. “Thank you, but you’re not fully to blame. I could have been a bit more understanding.”

Janette shakes her head. “You didn’t know.”

“Still, you weren’t a bitch. You were just guarded.” She shrugs. “I’m really glad they helped you let down your walls.”

Janette beams at me, making my lungs squeeze. “They’ve both been there for me every time that I’ve needed them. And I plan on being there for them whenever they need me.”

Autumn awes and Janette blushes, taking her hand back from Mira.

Mira turns back to me. “I’m not hurt that you didn’t tell me right away. I didn’t tell you guys about Harley right away.” She glances over at Autumn who nods. “But I know you, Bent. I know you wouldn’t waste your time with just anyone. If you had told me you started seeing Janette, I would have been happy for you guys and tried to make more of an effort to get to know her too. And Axel. How does that work exactly?”

I chuckle, running a hand through my hair and glancing at Janette. “We’re figuring it out as we go along. So far, that’s been pretty easy though since we’ve been in our own little world.”

Autumn finishes the last of her tea, pushing the empty cup toward the middle of the table. “Have you let your parents’ PR team know? Or are you just going to blindside them like with the boat incident?”

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