Page 29 of The Mountain
“When were you going to tell us?” I ask, and I’m surprised at the sharp edge to my voice, my normally contained Parisian accent cutting through the veneer of my education. “You had all day. All evening, even.”
Lily slinks deeper into her seat, twin spots of pink flaring on her cheeks. “Liam knew,” she murmurs. “And I told Seth in the morning.” She looks between me and Matty, her eyes going liquid with unshed tears. “I’m sorry. I should have told you both, too. As soon as it happened.”
“So,” I say, “you guys had sex then.” My stomach twists at the thought of her and Eddie together, with Liam in the room. Did he watch? Join in?
“What?” Lily’s voice comes out as a choked squeak. “No.” She shakes her head vehemently, the blush spreading to the tips of her ears. “We didn’t… I mean, we made out but…”
Eddie rounds on me, a flat, darkly determined look steeling his usually expressive features. It’s the same look he had the nightwe found Lily in the bathroom. The same look he had the night he told us all that he was into her, that he wanted to date her. “That going to be a problem?” Eddie asks, his voice low.
I open my mouth to reply, but Seth places his hand on mine, giving me a sharp look. My eyes drop to where his hand covers my own, to the back of his knuckles, still bruised and showcasing healing cuts. My throat goes dry, and I swallow back my retort.
“First things first,” Seth says, and there’s no meekness in his voice, no sign of the nervousness from before. “We need some ground rules if this is going to work.” His hand squeezes my own, full of gentle reassurance.I won’t hurt you, that touch seems to say.I would never hurt you.
“We agreed that we could all date Lily, if that’s what she wants. That doesn’t mean Lily is under some sort of obligation to do anything with any of us. It also doesn’t mean you’re entitled to know what she’s doing with any of us.” He gives me a hard look and I feel the anger within me start to deflate. “But”—he gives Lily a gentle smile, his voice softening—“we still need to communicate.”
Those soft words seem to tip Lily over the edge. Her lower lip trembles and she reaches up to swipe at her eyes, blinking furiously to hold back the tears.
“Oh, hon.” Seth’s face contorts in anguish, as if the sight of Lily upset is physically painful for him. And then he’s on his feet, chair scraping back as he rounds the table. “Sweetie.” He pulls her seat back, wrapping his arms around her, hauling her to her feet. “No, no, no.” Large hands cradle the back of her head, holding her against his chest, peppering the top of her head with kisses. “You didn’t do anything wrong,” he murmurs. “No one is upset with you.”
I rub the back of my neck and stare at my empty plate—at the meal Seth made me. I can feel Liam’s gaze on the side of my head, hot and accusing.
“Lily, sweetie, listen.” Seth sweeps Lily up in his arms, settling her on his lap as he takes her seat between Matty and Eddie. “Your relationship with each of us—it’s new. And you’re allowed to enjoy it, to have moments that are just between you and Eddie, or you and Antoine or”—he gives a small smile, then presses a kiss to her forehead—“you and me. You shouldn’t feel guilty about it, okay?”
She nods, her face still pressed into the side of his neck. “Okay.”
“When I was talking about communication, I wasn’t saying it was on you to tell us everything.” His brow dips, lips pursing as he contemplates his next words. “You’re in a relationship with each of us. But we’re all in a relationship together, too.”
Eddie scrunches up his face, lifting one hand in protest. “Actually, I’m just dating Lily. I’m not interested in any of you fuckers.” He gives Liam an apologetic grimace, then adds: “No offense.”
Beside me, Liam chuckles. “None taken, mate. I’m not interested in your skinny ass anyway.”
Liam’s hand squeezes my thigh under the table, and the last remnants of angry jealousy crumble away like the carapace of some ugly insect, leaving nothing but embarrassment in its place.
“I’m not saying we’re dating each other,” Seth continues, giving Eddie a wry smile. “But we’re still in a relationship of sorts. We’re all dating Lily. And we’re living together.”
“We’re like family,” Matty interjects, leaning forward to rest thick forearms on the table.
Beside him, Seth stills, his brown eyes going wide with surprise.
Matty powers on, his voice steady with conviction. “I know I’ve only known you guys a month or so, but you’re like family to me. You know. Brothers.” He gives a tentative smile, dimples flashing briefly as he adds: “I feel like I can trust you with anything. Even with the girl I lo… with Lily.”
Lily gives a sharp intake of breath, her eyes going round at Matty’s half-spoken declaration. Matty’s cheeks flare pink, his shoulders tensing.
“Brothers,” Eddie deadpans, lips quirking. “Who are all dating the same chick.”
“Family,” Seth murmurs, gaze going distant. “I like how that sounds.”
Beside me, Liam huffs, but doesn’t disagree.
I bite the inside of my cheek, silently contemplating what that means.Family. Not what my family was, but what I always wanted them to be. That glimpse I had withGrand-mère, that sense of unconditional belonging and love. Would that even be possible with them? I’m starting to relax around them, to feel happy when we’re all together instead of desperate to escape—which is how I feel when I’m around most people. Is that what family is? Disliking a group of people significantly less than the rest of the world?
But then what does that mean for all of us, if we’re openly dating other people? What if Eddie starts dating other women, bringing them over to the flat? What if Liam wants to date other people?
I shudder, but I’m not quite sure if it’s at the imagined jealousy, or the thought of having to interact with strangers. At having them in my space.
“So we need to communicate better,” Seth says, his hands rubbing Lily’s arms, soothing her like she’s some startled animal. “We need to have some ground rules, and say what it is we expect from each other.”
“Agree,” Lily says, turning in Seth’s lap so that she’s facing all of us. She offers me a small, hopeful smile.
