Page 18 of Alpha for Four

Not to mention there were more important matters at hand than Niall’s irrational possessiveness.

“Did you tell Teal what the doctor said to you?” he asked.

“No.” With a wry smile, Ronan asked, “What would be the point? Teal would only get upset, and maybe, you know, litigious.”

Niall chortled. “He would definitely start spouting fire.”

“Right. And we don’t need that in our lives right now. Teal is dealing with enough negativity as it is.”

Niall placed his hand gently on the other man’s. “You deal with it too, Ronan. Don’t go all alpha on me pretending it doesn’t bother you.”

“I’m not saying that. I could never pretend with you anyway.” Ronan flipped his wrist, so he and Niall were palm to palm. Niall eyed their fingers, itching to lace them as Ronan continued, “I don’t tell you enough that I…I’m so grateful for you, Niall. That you’re here. That you stayed, even…after.”

The sincere expression on the alpha’s face captured Niall’s attention. He trembled, exhaling slowly. “No matter what changes happen in our relationship, the one thing that will never change is that we’re a good team, the three of us. I’ll always be here to support you and the kids.”

Ronan nodded. “We’re fortunate to have you. None of this would have been possible, the career strides Teal made, without having you in our corner, knowing how much you love our boys… Knowing you’re a part of our family.”

“That’s the most accurate sentence I’ve heard all day,” Teal said, breezing into the room. He smiled at Niall and Ronan’s hands. “Did I miss an important sentimental moment?” He raised his eyebrows playfully, perhaps a bit hopefully as well.

“Nothing that would require you wobbling your forehead like that,” Niall answered, getting up to sling an arm around Teal. “I’m still in love with Jax but I just reminded your husband that I’ll never stop being a friend to you both.”

Teal feigned a pout, even as years of habit had him leaning into Niall’s touch. “Lucky Jax.”

Niall forced himself to pull away. He went to the stove to put the kettle on for tea. “How is Sorcha?” he asked.

“Sleeping,” Teal said. “Finally. I swear that silly man wore himself out protesting these overnight arrangements. He kept worrying about ‘putting us out.’ As if Ronan and I would let him spend the night alone after the day he’s had.”

“We also need to wake him up every few hours tonight,” Ronan said. “Concussion protocol.”

“Yeah. But that’s just a precaution. He seems okay.” Teal appeared so relieved Niall felt a hint of his earlier jealousy resurface.

“Sounds like you have a plan,” Niall said.

He pulled out three mugs from the cupboard and began turning one over in his hands. It would be so easy to sit down with the couple and unwind.

But that wasn’t right. Sorcha was the one sleeping in the guest room upstairs. Niall didn’t share Ronan and Teal’s bed anymore. He was committed to Jax.

Almost trance-like, he put one of the mugs back in the cupboard before passing the others to the husbands. “I guess I should probably go.”

“I mean, if you have to, of course that’s fine,” Teal said.

Ronan appeared to understand the nature of Niall's conflict. “What my husband means to say is that you arealwayswelcome here. We appreciate that you came on such short notice on a Saturday.”

“No problem. I’m glad to help Sorcha. Thank stars he’s okay.”

Niall could see in the husbands’ faces that they wanted him there. But he needed to practice stepping away from Ronan and Teal.

Yet, as he walked out the door and got into the driver’s seat of his little compact, he had the same feeling in his gut he’d had the other night. A sureness that he still belonged with this family.

It felt wrong to leave.

It felt wrong to stay.

Because as much as he loved Jax, he still loved Ronan and Teal, too.

***

Niall had time to thinkduring the drive to Jax’s apartment. Even if he couldn’t entirely rid himself of his attraction to the McGinns, he had full control over how he handled it. He could love them as friends. And he would never betray Jax. But he also knew it was past time to be honest with Jax about his history with the couple.

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