Page 29 of Ticket to the Stars: Part Two

Oh, Alexa. I really did miss her and her energy. She was just a fun person to be around, even if she could be too much sometimes.

I got up, shut the TV off, and wandered out to the living room, where I found Priest making himself a sandwich. Deacon was on the couch, doing something on his iPad. Bishop was sitting at the island, scrolling on his phone, an empty glass near him.

These were my guys. I was so incredibly happy to be with them. It was literally like a dream.

I took a stool beside Bishop, and Priest’s gray eyes glanced at me. He pressed down on his sandwich once it was done—he was one of those weirdos who liked smashed bread. He wore his workout clothes, which led me to believe he was going to work out after he had a quick lunch.

“So,” Priest spoke, dragging the word out. “Is there anything you want to tell us, Angel? Anything at all? Say, anything involving you and Bishop?” His blond eyebrows lifted.

In the living room, Deacon’s head had turned toward us. He wasn’t getting up to join us, but he most definitely was listening in.

I could feel Bishop’s eyes on me, and I took this to mean Bishop hadn’t told the others about what we did last night. Somehow, though, Priest already knew, if his half-smirk meant anything.

“I ask,” Priest paused as he leaned on the counter opposite me, “because last night, I could’ve sworn I heard some unusual sounds coming from Bishop’s room—and by unusual, I mean I’m pretty sure I heard you moaning your heart out, love.”

Even though it was nothing to be embarrassed of, I found myself blushing all the same. Except there was nowhere to hide, so I had to sit there and pretend my cheeks weren’t burning up. Still, I couldn’t say a word.

That half-smirk of his spread into a full-out smile when he asked, “Is our Angel not a virgin anymore?”

“Priest,” Bishop started, but I reached for him and set a hand on his arm to stop him from saying anything else. Bishop had my back, I knew that, but this was something that, as a group, everyone should know.

I guess. It was still kind of embarrassing to talk about it, but maybe that’d be something I’d get over someday.

“She is not,” I admitted as I dropped my hand off Bishop’s arm. “Is everyone okay with that?” I didn’t know what I expected Priest or Deacon to say; maybe a part of me was anticipating them getting upset that I hadn’t gone to them, that they weren’t my first.

But what happened was not anything I could’ve guessed.

Priest swore, “Damn it.” And then he glanced over to Deacon. “I owe you twenty bucks.”

I blinked. “You… youbeteach other?” I looked at Bishop and asked, “Did you know?”

Bishop was scowling. “No, I had no idea these two assholes made any kind of bet.”

Waving his hand in the air, Priest said, “It was just Deacon and me. I bet I’d be your first, while Deacon bet Bishop would be your first.” He lowered his voice, totally serious as he went on, “It’s because you’re long-lost childhood friends, isn’t it? That’s why you chose him. I was never in the running to punch that V-card of yours, was I?”

I still couldn’t believe it. These two… “What about Deacon? Why didn’t either of you bet I’d go to him first?”

Priest chuckled. “Please. Who the hell wantsthatto be their first?” On the couch, Deacon sneered, but ultimately he didn’t say a word in his defense. “And I don’t mean his sparkling personality. The brooding jerk’s got a dick like a horse, which you’ve seen for yourself, Angel.”

Bishop groaned and covered his face with his hands, causing Priest to say, “What? I’m being serious. There gets to a point where a dick is justtoobig. I mean, I’m all for size, but you know a pussy ain’t that deep.” He looked at me, held up a hand around his mouth to hide what he was about to say from the others. “Don’t worry. You started off small, but we’ll work your way up—”

“Hey!” Bishop called out. “My dick’s not small.”

“Compared to Deacon’s…”

“He’s an outlier,” Bishop said, and then to me he added, “not that I’ve seen a lot of dicks.”

“Only someone comfortable in their sexuality is man enough to admit when another guy’s dick is bigger than his.” Priest threw a lopsided smile my way. “Whenever you’re ready to step up from Bishop, just let me know, baby. I need no lead-time when it comes to you.” And then he winked, snatched his plate, and wandered over to the couch, plopping down next to Deacon to eat his sandwich.

I wanted to say I couldn’t believe these guys, but, when I actually thought about it, placing a betdidseem like something they’d do. What I should do, to get back at Priest for thinking he’d be the first, was sleep with Deacon next.

Not that I was going around to each of them, like they had a turn or something. I wasn’t. That wasn’t how it was. Things were… just a little more complicated than they’d be in a regular relationship.

Bishop sighed and then glanced at me, as if he was trying to tell me I’d asked for conversations like that, being with all three of them. In a way, I supposed I had, but that didn’t make it feel any less bizarre.

All I did was shrug.

Days went by, and Priest made every smart comment he could about me needing to come to him next. I needed toexperience it with him or whatever. Let’s just say I’d become an expert at ignoring him when he went on and on about it.

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