Page 69 of Chasing Storm
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STORM
“What does this mean?” JP asks, giving Franco a death stare as they pass on the stairs.
“It means, I’ll see. I want to trust you, but my head is a bit mashed, and I need a minute to think.” I turn and head back into the flat, the three of them following me into the small space.
As the door closes behind them, an awkward silence falls over us. I stand facing them, arms crossed protectively across my chest as I process everything that just happened.
JP is the first to break the silence. “Storm, we’re so sorry for the hurt we’ve caused you. You deserve so much better than that.”
I nod slowly, wanting to believe him but still feeling uncertain now that they’re in my space, taking up rather a lot of it. “I want to trust you all, I really do. But I need to understand why you did what you did and how I can be sure it won’t happen again.”
Thatcher steps forward. “You’re completely right to feel that way. What we did was unforgivable. JP isn’t the only one to blame. One of us should’ve had the balls to tell you straight away what Chris was planning.” He looks to the others, who both nod in agreement, slightly relieved someone manned up that wasn’t them.
“Things are frosty with my father,” JP says with an edge of bitterness. “He is a huge control freak when it come to, well, everything. So the trust fund is just the last thing he feels he has control over in my life. I half expected he would try something so I was prepared, and I may have told a lie about us to wipe that smug look off his face. I’m deeply sorry for dragging you into my family drama and I will try my damndest to make sure it doesn’t happen again. Not telling you about this before we had sex the other day was wrong and I regret it. But you must believe me when I say I had the best intentions to tell you. It was playing on my mind and I should’ve said before it went further.”
“I can vouch for him,” Josh says. “I know that doesn’t mean much but he was cut up about it and in a quandary. He also didn’t want to lose the chance with you. None of us did.”
I sigh. “No offence, but your dad sounds like a real wanker. A part of me gets why you didn’t want to tell me. It was bad timing, but you should’ve been honest.”
JP runs a hand through his hair in frustration. “You’re right, lying by omission was the coward’s way out and I’ll never stop being sorry for that. In that moment I panicked, not wanting to lose either you or the money. But I see now that was an insult to you and what we could have.”
Nodding slowly, I mull over his words. As hurt as I still feel, I can understand the temptation to appease what sounds like a powerful, demanding father figure. “Thank you for apologising and for saying all of this. I appreciate you owning up to the mistake.”
Thatcher moves forward, and takes my hand. “Storm, the truth is we’re all crazy about you.” he says, exchanging a look with JP and Josh. “From that first day we saw you, we all knew this was special, thatyouwere special. You give us a challenge, you are feisty and gorgeous and you make us work for you. It’s what we all needed to wake us up and see that if we didn’t fight for you, we would be losing out on knowing you and none of us was prepared to accept that outcome.”
His sincerity brings a lump to my throat as I think back to that day. Was it fate? Was it luck? As unconventional as this situation is, I have truly fallen for these three handsome men, who appear to be willing to pull out all the stops.
Josh steps closer and takes my other hand gently in his. “We understand if you need time and space, and we’ll give you that. But please know that we’re all fully committed to making this work, however you see fit.”
Glancing between their earnest faces, seeing only care, affection and regret, my rational side tells me to proceed slowly, to test the waters before fully committing to them. But my heart is already melted by their heartfelt apology and promises of devotion.
“I want this,” I say softly, a few tears escaping down my cheeks. “I believe that you all truly care for me. And I care for you too, more than I thought possible. You have each shown me a side to you that I think no one in Notting Hill has seen before. Your playboy façades are dropping, boys.” I let out a soft laugh as relief washes over the three men as they beam at my words.
JP pulls me away from the other guys and into a tender embrace, holding me close as he kisses the top of my head. “We’ll never take you for granted again, Storm. This means everything to us, truly.”
“If we are really doing this, there will need to be some ground rules though. Complete honesty from now on, no more secrets or lies. This is new to me, to all of us and I don’t know how to be with three men, so it’s going to take patience and understanding.”
They all nod vigorously. “Absolutely,” Thatcher agrees..
I give him a small smile, reassured by their commitment to honesty. “Which leads me to the next thing: committing fully to each other and this relationship. We have to be willing to work through any issues together as a team, not run from problems or make rash decisions individually.”
“You won’t find more committed men than us,” Josh says, gently squeezing my hand in his for emphasis as he shares a knowing look with the others.
Thatcher nods in agreement. “This is it for us. You mean everything to us and we’ll do whatever it takes to make this work.”
Warmth spreads through my chest at their heartfelt responses. “Along those same lines, we need to respect each other’s personal space needs too. Knowing it’s okay to have alone time or distance from the group when any one of us needs or wants it.”
“Absolutely,” JP says. “Independence is healthy, while also making sure we connect deeply as a unit through quality time together.”
I’m pleased by how receptive they’re being so far. “Which links to my next point around meeting each other’s emotional and physical needs. We have to check in regularly to ensure no one feels neglected or taken for granted intimately or otherwise.”
“Good suggestion,” Thatcher says thoughtfully. “Maybe we set aside dedicated time weekly for those important conversations?”
“Definitely,” I agree, feeling assured already that open communication will be a strength for us.
Josh nods seriously. “Nothing happens without discussing as a group first so everyone feels secure. Your comfort and happiness is our top priority, Storm.”
