Page 31 of Adored By Them
“Oh no, consequences,” she says sarcastically.“I’m soooo terrified.”
Troy pinches her ass before setting her on my bed.“Maybe no consequences this morning.But we can give you something to think about during the fireworks later.”
“It’s the Fourth of July already?”She pulls the covers up to her shoulders.
“Yeah.”I pause.“Your old roommates have been texting.They know you’re okay now, and they’re really glad.They invited us all to a party at your old place.But there’s no pressure?—”
She interrupts me.“I want to go.And I want you both to come with me.”
“Done.”Troy climbs into bed on the other side of her.
I get in on my side, but I yank the covers down, lift up her camisole, and blow a raspberry on her stomach.
She shrieks and laughs as the moment devolves into a tickle fight.Of course she loses, but Troy and I go easy on her.When she’s panting and giggling, I kiss her nose.Emotions are bubbling up inside me.I have to put them into words; I can’t hold them back any longer.
You feel too goddamn much.Well, maybe that’s a good thing.
I clear my throat until she looks directly at me.“Danica…I don’t want another second to go by without saying this: I love you.”
Her gray eyes widen in surprise.“You do?”
“Absolutely, utterly, forever and always.”
Twin spots of pink appear on her cheeks.“That’s…that’s a lot.”
Maybe I’ve come on too strong, but fuck it, I’ll never take it back.“Yeah, well, it’s true.”
Troy leans up on an elbow.“Since Edmund confessed, I should also confess—I love you too, Dani.So much.And I know it’s forever.We’ve both known for a while.”
“Why—why are you telling me this now?Not before the wedding?”She shakes her head.“All this time I’ve thought…”
“What?What did you think?”I keep my voice gentle, although I want to rage at my past self for not confessing my feelings sooner.
She gives me a self-deprecating smile.“I thought I liked you more than you liked me.I thought there was no way you could both return my feelings.”
Troy and I are silent for a moment.With my heart stuck in my throat, I prompt, “And your feelings are what, exactly?”
“That I love you both, too.”She looks down at the comforter, shy all of a sudden.
Troy grabs her in a bear hug and kisses her hard, then passes her to me so I can do the same.
I can’t believe it, yet it feels so right.She loves us, too.We’re the luckiest fucking sons of bitches alive.
* * *
Danica
When I wake again, at almost noon, the guys are already awake.They’re still in bed next to me, talking quietly about the local baseball team, of all things.It feels so normal and mundane and perfect, after all the terror and fear of the past few days.
Smiling to myself, I remember our conversation from earlier this morning.
I remember their love.
It’s funny how hearing the words makes everything so different, and yet exactly the same.They’ve beenshowingme their love for a long time.On a gut level, their love for me isn’t new information.
But my brain is throwing a giant freaking party because now I know, now they’ve said the words aloud.
And I said them back.
