Page 91 of Light My Fire Three Times
Leo smiles at that, which for him is basically a standing ovation. “I agree.”
Jesse stretches out, cocky as ever. “Fine. But I’m picking the wine.”
“Like hell you are,” I shoot back, chuckling under my breath.
We go back and forth a little, quietly, so we don’t wake her, but it’s settled. The three of us, Jesse, Leo, and I, are asking Olivia out. Not separately. Not competing. Together.
And for the first time in a long damn time, I’m not just looking forward to the chaos. I’m looking forward to… more.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Olivia
DECEMBER 8TH
I’ve spentthe last three days convincing myself that what happened was a one-time-only thing.
A fluke. A wild, earth-shattering, nobody-talks-about-it-in-public kind of mistake that people like me don’t actually get to repeat.
And sure, maybe I’ve replayed it in my head more times than I should’ve.
Maybe I can still feel Jesse’s hands on me, or hear Karl’s laugh, or remember the way Leo looked at me as if I were the only person in the world who mattered. But that’s just memory being cruel. That’s not real life.
Real life is me, in a coffee truck, with caramel syrup stuck to my wrist and an espresso machine that makes a noise like a dying walrus every third latte.
Which is why, when all three of them show up at once, I almost drop the rag I’m holding.
Karl, Jesse, and Leo. Together. Walking toward me across the park like they’re auditioning for some broody small-town calendar shoot.
Karl’s got a bouquet. Jesse’s carrying that smirk I’ve come to associate with terrible decisions, and Leo, help me, Leo has an actual gift box with a ribbon on top.
My brain short-circuits.
“What are you doing here?” I blurt, immediately regretting how squeaky my voice sounds.
Karl sets the flowers down on my counter with a grin so wicked I know he’s enjoying every second of my confusion. “What’s it look like, sweetheart? We’re here for you.”
Jesse slides the box next to the flowers. “For starters.”
“And this,” Leo adds, placing a neat shopping bag down like he’s handing me a legal contract instead of… oh wait, is that silk?
I blink at the three of them. “You… brought me presents?”
Karl tips his head toward the bag. “Not just presents. An outfit. For tonight.”
“Tonight?” My stomach does an Olympic-level backflip. “What’s tonight?”
“Date night,” Jesse says, as casual as if he’s ordering a black coffee. “With us.”
I laugh, but it comes out a little strangled.
“Wait. A date? You’re serious? I thought the other night was just… you know.” I make a vague hand gesture that probably looks more like jazz hands than anything remotely explanatory. “Fun. Crazy. Done.”
Karl leans in across the counter, and I can smell his cologne, all spice and danger. “Sweetheart, that was the best damn night of our lives. You think we’d just let you walk away after that?”
Leo’s eyes soften, grounding me in a way that almost makes my knees buckle. “We want to see you properly, Olivia. Not just in the bedroom.”
“And tonight,” Jesse adds, smug and confident, “we start.”
