Page 53 of Graves & Griggs
He closes his eyes for a moment and nods. We stand there in silence for a few seconds before I speak.
“Have you told him yet?”
His eyes open, and he tilts his head. “Told him?”
“How you feel about him?” I say gently.
Ronan has denied having feelings further than lust or friendship for years. We’ve all allowed it because denial seemed to be where he was content living, and Wesley didn’t seem to mind… too much. I can see the shift between them more than ever, though. I see Wesley desperate for his love, for his words. I think he needs to hear them just as bad as Ronan needs to speak them.
Ronan doesn’t respond for a moment—then he jerkily nods. That takes me by surprise, but I try not to let it show.
“When did this happen?”
“A few days ago. We were going to tell you, but things have just been so…”
“Insane,” I fill in.
He nods. “To say the least. I’m sorry.”
I tilt my head to the side in question. “What on earth are you sorry for?”
“I don’t know, I feel like I’ve… cheated on you or something. I love you more than anything in the world—you’ve been my number one since I first saw you in my pool.”
I smile at the reminder as he continues.
“But I… I love Wesley too. How fucked is that?”
I do my best not to invalidate his feelings, but how silly can this man be?
“Ro, you know that I love you; I love all of you. If I can love allfive of you equally and it not be cheating, why can’t you love Wesley and me just the same?”
He frowns like he doesn’t see it that way.
I lift my hand to cup his cheek, pulling his gaze from the floor and back onto me. “It’s not cheating. You’re in love; you’re following your heart. Our relationship is all about trust and communication. I trust you with everything I am. Now, if you told me you and Wesley were running away together and leaving me, that would be a different conversation.”
“Never,” he insists, shaking his head fiercely.
“Or if you told me you fell in love with another woman?—”
“Don’t even finish that sentence, baby,” he scoffs.
I smile at him. “Then I’m good.We’regood, and I’m so happy for both of you.”
He nods, and though he doesn’t say much, I see almost a lightness settle over him. As if a weight has physically been lifted from his shoulders. He stands a little straighter and smiles a little wider.
“I love you—so much,” he says.
“I love you more.”
I’m gently woken up with the feeling of someone rubbing my arm. My eyes flutter open, and I look up to see Wesley standing over me, wavering slightly as he looks down at me with a smile.
“I’m sorry, little one. Vincent took my phone; I just saw all your messages and calls.”
I lean up, and Liam slumps off me, turning around to snuggle with Asher as Ronan’s eyes flutter open on my right, looking up at Wesley.
“Hey,” he rasps.
Wesley smiles down at him. “Hey.”
