Page 52 of Never Kiss Your Neighbors

The men are quiet while I pause, but I feel their support.

“He said so many nice things to me. Then he tried to lead me upstairs. Even though I was excited, I didn’t want things to move that quickly, but he laid it on thick and kept pushing. Told me how beautiful I was, how he couldn’t believe he’d never noticed me before. How this was all meant to be. He said all the pretty words, until I finally went along.”

The men’s faces are grim as I head into my conclusion.

“All his sweet talk, and his talk of future plans only had one purpose, and he got what he wanted that night. Afterward, he ghosted me. I never saw him at all until I had to track him down six weeks later to tell him I was pregnant.”

Wyatt’s hand has grown sweaty in mine. “Asshole,” he mutters.

“What did he do when he found out you were pregnant?” Cam asks.

“He resisted it at first, said it was probably someone else’s, but there wasn’t anyone else. I understood his surprise, because he’d used a condom, but he didn’t put it on soon enough. He messed around a bit first, and it turns out pregnancy is possible before … you know … even though odds are against it.”

There’s an actual snarl on Wyatt’s face as he shakes his head. Cam looks much more sympathetic.

“As rough of a start as that was, he hasn’t been a bad father. He’s not super involved, but he’s steady. Always sends support. He’s stepped up as much as I’ve wanted and needed him to.”

“He never tried to have a relationship with you before, beyond coparenting?” Cam asks.

I shake my head. “After the ghosting, I wouldn’t have wanted to be with him, unless he had some sort of incredible excuse, like he ended up in the hospital the next day or had amnesia or something.”

“But he had no excuse.” Wyatt sounds like he’d punch Brandon if he were here right now.

“No. He didn’t even try to make excuses. I don’t think he thought he did anything wrong back then, but he’s grown up. We both have. I’d like to think I wouldn’t fall for a line as easily as I did back then.”

Cam stops walking again, squeezing my hand in his. “He lied to you, Stella. It’s not your fault for believing him.”

When I don’t respond, Wyatt says, “He’s not good enough for you.”

“We were so young,” I say, nearly whispering. “And he’s Jessie’s dad. Maybe he deserves another chance.”

Wyatt’s jaw is set so hard, I wouldn’t be surprised if the bone broke through the skin. But his eyes are somewhat softer.

“It would be good for Jessie to have her dad in her life more,” I explain.

“We could be there for Jessie, too, you know.” Cam turns me toward him, his hands rubbing my arms. “Not to take her father’s place, but to support her in any way she needs. And to support you.”

Jessie certainly loves spending time with them, but do they realize what kind of responsibility that is? And how would being father figures fit in with their internet career? It’s much too soon to even think about that in any meaningful way.

Wyatt steps up behind me, the length of his body pressing against mine, his husky voice warm on my neck. “Go ahead and go out with him, Stella, and see if you can stop thinking about us when you’re with him.”

He slides his hands around my waist as Cam moves closer, his eyes fixed on mine, then dropping to my mouth.

I’m surrounded by the heat of their bodies, but a shiver runs through me that has nothing to do with the temperature.

Cam lowers his head to mine, his hand smoothly cupping my chin, tipping my face toward his. “See if you can forget about this when you’re with him.” And then he kisses me in a way that makes all of the spectacular kisses that preceded it pale in comparison.

Maybe it’s the rhythmic sound of the waves, or the ocean breeze, or the heated discussion we’ve been having, but the way his mouth moves, the way his lips taste, the way his hands—and Wyatt’s—claim my body, make the kiss more potent than I’d have thought possible.

My knees go weak, but both men are right there, making me feel utterly safe and supported.

I slide my hands over the stubble on Cam’s cheek and pull his face closer. A groan rumbles from somewhere deep in his throat, and his tongue finds mine, starting a fire below my belly.

I want to be consumed by this man, but then Wyatt’s turning me toward him, pulling me so close that I don’t know where I end and he begins. The stiff bulge pressing into me clears up any confusion. I know exactly where Wyatt is and how much he wants me. His hands slide into my hair, holding my head still as his mouth dances with mine, a sultry tango, one where I somehow know all the moves. Give and take, spark and ignite.

I’m ready for him to throw me down on the sand and do whatever he wants.

I love their mouths, and their firm muscles, and their strong hands. I want to get to know more of them, every inch, up close and personal. “Should we …go back to your place?” My voice is so breathy, I barely recognize it.

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