Page 63 of Three Pucks and a Baby

Grimacing, I said, “You’re afraid of catching feelings.”

With a nod, Vivian replied, “A one-night stand is one thing. But I’ve never been able to have long-term emotionless sex.Throw in the fact that you two and Bennett are wonderful, and I know what is going to happen.”

For the first time, I knew exactly what Vivian meant. Over the years, I’d never understood how girls got emotionally attached. Especially not when I was very clear about what I was looking for. But somehow it still happened.

Considering how I was feeling about Vivian, I completely got it. Although we’d gone into this arrangement with very clear parameters, the lines had somehow gotten blurred at no fault of any of us.

But I couldn’t let her know that.

“Can’t we just ride it out and see how it goes? You might not end up liking us at all outside of fucking,” Grayson said.

A sad smile curved on her lips. “I think it’s fair to say that’s pretty much impossible.” When he started to protest, she held up her hand. “Take it from someone older and wiser.”

“You’re not that much older,” I argued.

“While that might be true, I am old enough to know the two of you are in completely different places in life than I am.” Cocking her head, she asked, “Can you honestly say you’d be interested in a relationship with me?”

“Hell no,” I blurted.

Thankfully, Grayson was a little kinder with his reply. “Not at the moment.”

She nodded. “From the beginning, you were very clear on what you wanted from me. I can’t ask you for more than you’re willing to give, so I have to step away before things get more complicated.”

Although she was doing it in the nicest possible way, Vivian was dumping us. Since it had rarely happened to me, I wasn’t used to feeling it. Frankly, it fucking sucked.

If only I was like Grayson. I would tell Vivian I understood, and I would do anything to save her from getting hurt. I would thank her for allowing me to give her a threesome experience.

Since I was an emotionally stunted jackass who hated losing, that wasn’t how I handled things.

After sliding my mask back on, I said, “Right. Glad you let us know.”

“I am sorry, Theo,” Vivian replied.

“It’s okay. It happens. It’s not like we haven’t had it happen before.” After alluding to our other women, Vivian winced.

“Sorry. I forgot how much you don’t like us talking about other women.” Leaning over, I then bestowed a quick, chaste kiss on her cheek. “Take care of yourself, Vivian.”

And with that, I turned and started back down the aisle. Grayson didn’t catch up with me until I started down the stairs.

“You handled that better than I thought you would.”

“Is that right?”

“Somehow I saw you going off on her.”

“Like yelling and throwing books?” I suggested. When Grayson nodded, I grunted. “When have I ever been that big of a bastard to women?”

“I remember quite a few girls leaving your room throwing shit at you or screaming their lungs out.”

“They were the ones being dramatic, not me.”

As we started out the library doors, Grayson sighed. “So what do we do now?”

“You mean about our superstition?”

He scowled. “I mean our feelings.”

“Did you seriously just use the f-word with me?”

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