Page 85 of My Ex's Brothers

“Oh for fuck’s sake, Richard,” Dane huffs.

“No! You three listen to me!” Amelia says, her voice echoing in the hall. “I came here because you all asked me to. Because I needed you.” She looks at each of us. “And you said that you were fine with me and my daughter being here. That we’d make it work.”

“That was before I walked in on you and Dane doing the fucking horizontal tango,” I say.

Her eyebrows furrow.

“What?” Richie’s voice darkens. He looks at Dane, then at Amelia, and I swear if the tension in the room wasn’t so thick, I’d laugh.

The situation, however unorthodox, is funny.

But it’s also tense as fuck because one thing is apparent.

We’ve all tasted Amelia Corbett in one way or another. We all have feelings to some varying degree. And we all want her to pick us.

Knowing she’s been with Dex is one thing. But knowing she’s been with Dane and Richie too…

I wish I could say it didn’t bother me, but it does. But not in the way one would think. I don’t care if she wants them. I just want her to wantme.I don’t want to be left out of the equation or discarded before I’ve even fully taken my shot.

I meant what I said. I like Amelia a lot. I want to see where thisthingbetween us can go.

But can I do that knowing I’m not the only one?

“I have no right to tell you what to do with your life, Mia,” I say, shifting my stance. My voice is softer now, and Richie and Dane both look at me.

“What you do—” I glance at Dane and Richie. “Or rather,whoyou do it with, is none of my business…”

“But…” she says, and I don’t miss the way her gaze falls on my mouth, or the way it continues to travel down my body before she looks up at me.

My heart is in my throat as I look at her. I know what I’m about to say is either going to be a relief, or it’s going to get me punched. Probably by one of my stepbrothers. But as I look at Amelia, I know I have to say it. If I don’t, I’ll regret it.

“I want a fair shot,” I say, holding my ground. Her eyes widen and Dane’s eyebrows shoot up. Richie curses.

“What?” Dane asks, nearly speechless.

“I can’t stand here and tell you that you’re mine. That you belong to me and no one else, because you’re not somethingI can own or control. You’re a person with feelings, and feelings are…”

“Complicated,” Amelia says, her voice shaking.

I nod. “Yeah, sometimes they are,” I say. I look up at my stepbrothers, at the expressions on their faces. Curious, guilty. Hopeful.

Complicated, indeed.

“So all I ask is that you give me a fair chance. I won’t push you, you know that. And I’m not going to demand exclusivity. If you want to see other people, Amelia, you can see other people. I’m fine with that, as long as I get to see you too. Just…don’t shut me out, baby.”

There’s a thick silence between us.

“I second Amelia having achoicein the matter,” Richard says gruffly. “As long as you’re okay with sharing the spotlight with someone who?—”

“Oh shut up, Richard,” Dane says. “We get it, you think you’re God’s gift to pussies.”

I roll my eyes. “Richie…”

“I’m just saying. This isn’t about us. It’s about Amelia,” he says, stepping forward. She gazes up at him, which isn’t hard to do. Richie is huge. And standing over Amelia, he looks like the damn hulk.

I don’t miss the way her eyes sparkle or her mouth slightly parts as he reaches out a hand and strokes her cheek.

“It’s about what my baby girlwants,” he says softly, before flashing me a glare. “Not whatwewant.”

---