Page 17 of Taming the Beasts
“I love you too,” I said. But that wasn’t an answer to my question. Or maybe it was. He was the only one of the guys that I’d said that to. I knew him the best. I’d spent the most time with him. But I really liked all ofthem. I liked this dynamic. I didn’t want anything to change.
“I already have you to myself sometimes,” he said. “Like right now. And like tonight when you crawl into my bed for a change.”
I smiled. He’d snuck into my bed an awful lot recently. It was certainly time for me to sneak into his for once. “And that’s enough for you?”
“Did something happen tonight? Did one of them hurt you…”
“No. I’m just asking. So you don’t think anything would change if you found the cure?”
“My feelings for you wouldn’t change. We’re in a relationship. I take that seriously. We all do.”
Because theyhadto take it seriously. Because they couldn’t just trust anyone with their secret. Otto was answering my questions, but he also wasn’t. I was worried that Kebe was right. That the guys would go their separate ways. Each get their own girlfriend. Just the thought made my chest hurt. I wanted them to be happy. But I was hoping they’d all be happy with just me.
I thought about the Anubis head coin. And the way it warmed my skin. I knew Kebe was worried about it, but I knew in my gut that it was going to work. And I had no right to withhold it from them. Something could happen at any moment like it did during the fall festival. Something they’d regret for the rest of their lives. I wished I had more time with them before they used it. To make sure we all felt the same way about each other. But it couldn’t wait. I’d never forgive myself if something bad happened while I just waited for the other four of them to fall in love with me.
“Otto, I need to tell you something…”
I was interrupted by cheering from the other room. Their team must have won. And I could already hear the other guys walking out of the family room and toward the kitchen.
“I’m sorry you missed the end of the game,” I said.
“I’ll steal any moments with you alone that I can.” He leaned forward and kissed me.
I was pretty sure I had my answer right there. Otto didn’t want to share me. Not really. Titan barely tolerated me. Bennett was still a little suspicious of me. The twins though? They seemed very into sharing. I’d never been with either of them alone. But maybe that’s just because they had to share too.
I pulled Otto closer. Before I knew that all five of them shared one women, I’d wanted Otto. He’d been enough for me. At one point, I’d had crushes on all of them individually. But now that I had all of them? How was I supposed to go back?
Bennett cleared his throat.
Otto pulled back, but kept his eyes on me.
“Huxley and I were going to help Zoey grab a few things from her house,” Bennett said. “Do you want to come too?”
Otto nodded.
Just Huxley, Bennett, and Otto? Couldn’t Ace come too? Ace would probably talk to Titan if the two of them were left behind. I needed to come clean about everything before that happened. I didn’t want Titan to be mad at me again. “Or you could all come,” I said. I’d show them the coin as soon as I got home. I owed them that.
Titan folded his arms across his chest as he stared at me. He could tell I was up to something.
“I want to get a head start on your bed,” Ace said.
I wasn’t sure if they’d want me here after they used the cure. So there probably wasn’t any reason for him to do that. “I can help you assemble it in the morning,” I said.
“Assemble it?” He smiled. “No, Zoey. I’m making you a bed.”
“Like…making it making it?”
He nodded.
I should have guessed that. He was so good with his hands. I stared at him. I was going to miss him taking care of me.
Going from being elated with them all asking me out to feeling like this? This wasn’t supposed to be how tonight went.
“It’s getting late,” Huxley said. “We should probably get going.”
I stared at him. Kebe had made it pretty clear that she was interested in him. What if they did know each other? Would Huxley be the first one to start dating someone else? Would Ace follow suit?
“Hey,” Otto said and grabbed my hand. “Is everything okay? Were you about to tell me something before the game ended?”
