Page 47 of Stuck with my Mountain Daddies

Nobody said her name. Didn’t have to. The scars were still there, even if we pretended otherwise.

“Last time we all liked the same girl, it went off the rails,” Garrett went on, his tone level but heavy. “I’m not looking for a repeat.”

“Yeah, but Riley’s not like her. She’s a tourist,” I reminded him. “We can’t think long-term with her.”

Asher’s brows lifted. “Didn’t say we could. But if we’re thinking about sharing…”

I shoved my hands into my pockets, shoulders tight. “She’s not what I expected. That’s all I’m saying.”

Garrett snorted, but his face stayed serious. “It’s not just you. She gets to all of us.”

“Yeah?” I needed him to tell me more. It wasn’t often I saw Garrett like this.

He didn’t flinch. “She looks at me like I’m not just the guy who fixes things. Like there’s more to me than the toolbox.”

“Hell,” Asher muttered. “We’re doomed.”

Garrett crossed his arms. “We don’t need to overthink it. We enjoy the time while it lasts. If it turns into more, fine. But let’s not pretend we know how this ends.”

“No lies. No jealous bullshit,” Asher added, a little too quickly.

I shifted my weight. “What if she doesn’t want this? Any of this?”

“Then we back off,” Garrett said without hesitation. “But if she does…”

“We don’t waste it,” Asher finished. Not quite grinning now, just steady.

Silence settled again. Not heavy like before. Honest.

Garrett looked between us. “So. We clear?”

Asher nodded. “Clear.”

I hesitated, then gave a single, tight nod. “Yeah. Clear.”

Asher let out a long breath, tipping his head back to stare up at the snow. “You know Lucy’s gonna lose it if she finds out, right?”

Garrett huffed out a quiet laugh. “Yeah. She’ll probably come storming up here with that little death glare of hers.”

“She won’t get it,” I muttered. “Hell, I’m not even sure I get it.”

Asher shrugged. “She’ll think we’re screwing around. That we’re bored. Stirring up trouble for the hell of it.”

Garrett rubbed a hand over his beard, eyes narrowed. “She’s protective. Especially when it comes to Riley. That’s not gonna change.”

“Not that we’ve even done anything,” I added quickly. “We’re just talking.”

“Exactly,” Asher said, voice quieter now. “It’s nothing. Until it’s not.”

Garrett nodded slowly. “We don’t owe anyone answers. Not yet.”

“But if this turns into something,” Asher said, “we’d better be damn sure it’s worth explaining.”

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Riley

Dinnerat the cabin feltdifferent.

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