Page 40 of Fumbled Into Love

“No one wanted the nice guy?” I ask.

Maren scoffs. “He’ll probably die in the next book. Make your choice, Adams.”

“Pick the rogue prince!” Sawyer cheers, “He reminds me of Henry when he’s dressed as Westley.”

Sawyer isobsessedwithThe Princess Bride,and for the last two Halloween’s since I’ve met them, she and Henry have dressed as Westley and Buttercup. I don’t anticipate it will be different this year.

“He’s going to choose the shadow daddy,” Nathalie says, her confidence off the charts. “He has to, or else I’ll release Gordie into his room tonight with catnip.”

Sawyer’s nose scrunches, blonde hair bouncing as she snags a cookie. “Not fair.”

“You brought Henry to Book Club three times in a row to vote on your book choice,” Maren counters, and Sawyer glares at her.

“I choose the shadow daddy.”

Sawyer sighs in defeat, and Maren focuses on Declan and me. A tremor of fear runs through my body at the intensity of her gaze.

“In the last book we read, there was this scene,” Maren starts, “where the woman was pressed between two men, and they both enter her.” I choke. Declan makes an odd sound beside me. Nathalie spins in my lap. “The problem I have is they supposedly tower over her.”

“This is what you read at book club?” I hiss at Declan, who’s pale.

“Sometimes…It was a why-choose romance.”

What?

“It means there are multiple men and one woman,” Sawyer clarifies. “But the whole issue isthey were standing when they…”

“Started to fuck,” Maren finishes for Sawyer, who flushes a deep red. I’m right with her. This is not a conversation I’m comfortable with, especially not when Nathalie’s still touching my thigh, her hand far too close to my waistband.

Thankfully, she’s not leaning against my chest anymore, or the hard-on I have would be pressed against her ass.

“I-I don’t understand why I’m needed for this.”

“You and Declan are about the right height to test the logistics.”

Declan and I respond at the same time. “No.”

Nathalie pouts, taking another sip of her seltzer. Her cheeks are rosy from the alcohol, and as she pushes her glasses up onthe bridge of her nose, I know I’m fucked because she’s going to ask me, and I won’t be able to tell her no.

Not when she smiles at me and touches me with a gentleness I’ve never experienced.

I sigh in defeat and shift to Declan.

“What happens at book club stays at book club?” I ask, needing verbal confirmation that what's about to happen never leaves this room.

“You’re going to do it?”

Declan has every right to act shocked. This is wildly out of character for me, but what he doesn’t realize is Nathalie is quickly worming her way past every defense I have.

I nod, gesturing for Declan to rise. We stand side by side and wait for directions.

“I cannot believe you’re agreeing to this,” Declan mutters under his breath as Maren moves his body like he’s a puppet. I glance at Nathalie, who plays with a braid as Maren maneuvers us into position.

I can only describe Declan's smile as downright gleeful.

“Oh, we aretotallytalking about this,” Declan says as Nathalie slides between us.

“What are you two going to talk about?” she asks, brows furrowed, as Sawyer grabs my waist and shoves me right into Nathalie.

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