Page 88 of Twisted Trails
I shrug with a grin and start walking again. “So, how did that happen?”
“I don’t know. It just happened, but it feels right.”
I reach out to grab her hand and squeeze it. “I’m so happy for you guys.”
“Thanks.” She smiles at me and squeezes my hand back before she lets go of me. “But the more interesting thing is, what’s going on withyou? Because it looks like you’ve gottwoguys falling all over themselves for you. I mean,Delacroix is nothing new, but I didn’t know Payne was in on it.”
I laugh. “They’re not falling all over themselves for me. They fallover themselves,period.”
“I gathered that part, but I thought it was like a three-way thing. Like a happy little polycule.”
“Polycule?” I repeat, snorting. “What’s that?”
“Poly…” she explains, “… is when you have more than one lover, and theyallknow about it andagree.And sometimes they loveeach othertoo. Like Mason and Luc.”
“Oh.” I blink.
Is that what we are?
The thought settles in my chest like warm honey. A little messy, butright.
I think about yesterday and how we went for a ride on the motocross bikes.
The warmth. The touches. The quiet glances. If we could have that, it would be afreaking dream,but no matter how much I’d like that, it’s notlike that.
“We’re not all together. I’m with Luc, and Luc is with Mason.”
Piper quirks a brow. “So Delacroix’s the main character again, huh?”
I laugh. “It’s not like that.”
“Oh, itislike that,” she teases. “That boy gets everything he wants, and honestly, I get it. It’s hard to say no to him. Like,whyam I his pet-sitter again?”
I glance at her sleeve, and sure enough, a tiny gray head is peeking out of it.
“Can I have him?” I ask, grinning.
“Sure.” Piper looks at me like I’ve lost the plot, and given how I reacted last time she held Toulouse out to me, I get it.
Still, she reaches into her sleeve, gently scoops him out, and places the warm, squirming ball of fur into my hands.
I stroke his fuzzy head and coo, “Mason’s right. You’re cute asfuck.Just don’t show me your tail, okay?” Toulouse squeaks like he’s offended and immediately tries to scurry up my shoulder. “Nope,” I tell him. “We’re notquitethere in this relationship, buddy.”
Instead, I open the cuff of my hoodie sleeve and let him crawl into the tunnel of fabric. He settles somewhere near my elbow, warm, twitchy, and weirdly comforting.
We wander down the garden path, the tall grass brushing our legs, the sun warm on our shoulders, and for a while it’s quiet, comfortable even. Then Piper, totally unfiltered like always, asks, “So, what was that drama with Greer? And him taking your virginity in the gondola? Because, honestly, if he forced himself on you, I’m gonna?—”
“No!” I interrupt quickly, heart kicking up. “No, he didn’t. It was more likeIforced him.”
She stops in her tracks. “Have you seen Finn Greer? Tall as fuck and freaking built. Andyou…” she gestures to me, “… don’t even reach his nipples. I don’t think you could’ve forced him to doanything.”
I shrug. “I still did.”
Piper stares at me, processing that, then falls into step again. “And now you’re feeling bad for it?”
“Well,” I chew the inside of my cheek. “He said it was a mistake right after.”
“Fuck.” Piper’s voice softens. “That must’ve hurt. Dane said you’ve had a crush on Greer for a long time.”
