Page 70 of This Is Love
“Jaxon?” I press a kiss to his shoulder. “What’s wrong?”
He scrapes his teeth over his lower lip, a shudder running through his body before he turns, his gaze shifting to Logan. “I?—”
There’s so much turmoil in that single word, it’s like a punch to my gut. I get up from the bed because I can’t stand not being able to read what’s in those intense, dark eyes of his. Sinking down onto the floor, I rest my hand on his thigh. He’s searching Logan’s features, and it’s very clear to me that he’s struggling hard. I remain silent, knowing whatever this is, it’s not my place to butt in. But I want to be there—for both of them.Please, no. Not when we’re finally happy.
Logan hooks an arm around Jaxon, his big hand drifting up his neck, stopping to massage there. “You can tell me any fucking thing. If this… talking to her parents earlier… if that was too much, if it made you think of what it will be like when people realize the three of us are together for real…”
Jaxon exhales, shakily. “I’ve thought of it.” He glances at me for a second, giving a swift jerk of his head. “I don’t fucking care what they think.”
My breath hitches as I watch hurt wash over Logan’s face, only I’m not so sure it’s warranted.Yet. My brow pinches.
“The minute the words began to vomit out of Hazel, it made me feel sick on the inside. All the hatred. The jealousy. The way she thought she was so deserving of everything that was rightfully Rya’s.”
“Ohhh,” I whisper, sitting back on my heels, then snap my mouth shut.
Logan slowly shakes his head. “Make your point.”
“That’s just it.” He holds out a hand gesturing to me. “How is what she was saying to Rya any different than the absolute malice I threw your way for years?” He covers the lower half of his face, his shoulders sagging.
To my surprise, Logan begins to laugh. He throws his head back, earning an odd look from Jaxon and an incredulous one from me. I smack his leg. “Why are you laughing?”
“Because. There’s a big difference. She’s crazy. She did terrible things to all of us.” He stops to wet his lips as he slaps Jaxon’s upper back to get him to turn his head. Leaning in, he whispers, “You were just being my dickish stepbrother. Big fucking difference.”
I hold up a finger. “And you apologized.” I slowly get to my feet with Jaxon’s help and situate myself between his legs before I sit on his thigh.
“And we love you,” Logan murmurs, his voice husky.
My throat is tight, but I manage to whisper, “We do,” because I think it’s important Jaxon hears it from both of us.
Logan leans in, coaxing Jaxon into a fiery kiss. Their lips bruise, tongues stroking. It makes me so hot, I begin to squirm openly, my breath going ragged as I watch the overt display of masculine affection that flows between them.
A slow smile spreads across Jaxon’s face as he meets Logan’s steady gaze, then turns to aim his grin at me. “I fucking love both of you. So goddamn much, it’s knocked me on my ass. I’m never going to be the same.”
A moment later, the two guys tug me into the mayhem, and we lose ourselves in the beauty of the only war that will ever rage among us again. Because everything we’ve been fighting for? It’s worth what we’ve endured to get here. Our endgame is clear now. This is love.
And it’s all we need.
EPILOGUE
LOGAN
TWO MONTHS LATER
It’sthe final game of the season. This is the best Evermore University has done in years. Digging deep, I seek out the one who gives me my calm—Rya. She’s up there in the stands with my mother and Macie. The three are on their feet, decked out in ball caps and EU baseball jerseys. Seeing the three women in our lives together still feels fucking surreal. But I fucking love it. It’s been good for all of us.
Come on, Logan. Just one more out, and that’s the game. My gaze shifts, seeking the one I look to for that extra push. My fire—Jaxon.
From the dugout, he gives me the smallest of nods, but I read it exactly how I know he means it.Get the fucking job done. I drag in a breath, seeking out Alexander where he’s squatting behind the plate at the ready. We communicate in a series of his hand gestures and jerks of my head until we finally agree on the proper pitch, and I nod. With my heart practically pounding outside my chest, I wind up and let the ball fly.
I blink, watching as if everything is happening in slow motion. The ball streaks through the air, flying just inside the strike zone as the batter’s swing comes around. My stomach lurches, but I’m ready to jump into action in case the bat connects with my pitch.
It never does. The ump calls the strike.
And that’s it. The game is over. I blink, punching both fists into the air. We fucking did it. The team erupts from the dugout and comes racing onto the field. Congratulatory slaps land on my shoulder and assorted fist bumps come my way, and then there’s Jaxon. He’s barreling toward me, a huge grin lighting up his face. His body connects with mine in a tight hug. We spin around wildly, trying to keep our footing as we laugh.
He rubs his hand through my hair, clutching me to him as he whispers in my ear, “You did so fucking good, Logan. So fucking good.”
I nod, my lips connecting with his neck and pressing firmly. “Thanks.”
