Page 24 of Break

“I’m ready,” Nicole announces from our bedroom door. She’s in one of my button-down shirts and has a thin belt wrapped around her waist to make it look more like a short dress.

Oh hell no. “It’s too cold outside to wear that.”

“You’ll keep me warm.” Nicole shoots back just before glancing over at Landon, seeking his approval too.

“Fucking. Stunning.” He prowls over and kisses her with all the finesse of a charming prince.

Her laugh spreads heat through my cold chest. I completely understand Landon’s confession and I think that makes us both grade-A assholes because having her with us is all I’ve wanted. If we’re her rock bottom, so be it. I don’t care what we are to her as long as we’resomething.

“So…” She nervously tucks her hair behind her ear. “Where are we going, boys?”

“Yeah, Landon. Where are we going?” I cock my brow and wait for him to speak.

“I have no idea.” Landon grabs her hand and kisses the back of it. “But we’re going to look good doing it.”

Typical Landon. He always thinks he can sail through life with no compass or instruction. I’m the opposite. I have a well-thought-out plan for everything, including this trip. Aaaand then Nicole happened, knocking everything off its axis, even if I’m secretly happy she’s back in ourarms. I guess not everything can have an itinerary.

“Kerrington, where do you want to go?” Nicole asks.

Honestly? Nowhere. I’m tired, not hungry, and I’m still locked on the fear of what will become of us after this week is over. Nicole obviously gives Landon something I can’t, and she fills a hole in my heart that Landon can’t touch.

Jesus… are Landon and I really not enough for each other? Has that been our un-climbable wall this whole time?

Is Nicole the missing piece or a motherfucking wrecking ball?

I’m not good at relationships or expressing feelings, and I never saw this dynamic with Nicole coming. I’ve been content with Landon for two years, and when we get an itch, we bring a woman in and scratch it. Temporarily.

Nicole’s not temporary material. She’s eternity. Strong and broken. Funny and terrifying. Beautiful and lethal. Because mark my words, if we aren’t careful, her leaving us again will probably kill my relationship with Landon.

I think I’m going to be sick.

“Earth to Kerrington,” Landon says. Concern dances across his face when I swing my gaze towards him.

My chest is too tight. I can’t take a full breath.

“Kerr,” he says with worry. “Hey, whoa.”

Next thing I know, my ass is planted in a chair and Landon’s squatting down in front of me. I don’t like looking weak in front of him. I don’t like feeling all these fucked up emotions.

Landon glares at me. The conversation we just tabled hits me like a sledgehammer.

Landon’s right to be worried about us.

I’m just as fucking terrified.

I can’t lose you. Ever. The words catch in my throat as I stare at him.

He shakes his head, as if hearing what I can’t say. “We’re solid.”

“Are we?”

“Absolutely.”

The pain in my chest doesn’t ease. I think it’s because I have something more to confess and now would be a great time to say it, except my mouth and brain keep misfiring. Especially when I notice Nicole watching us with a deep wrinkle between her perfectly shaped eyebrows.

I don’t ever want her to think her presence is a problem. She needs us right now, and we need her too. At least I know I fucking do.

A shaky exhale leaves me. “We have to always be honest with each other.”

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