Page 14 of Bred Winner

“You’re never losing us.”

“You know, after two dates, I actually believe you.”

6

COEN

It’s ten after twelve, and Oakley hasn’t come home yet. We agreed we wouldn’t text Alora until after noon on our date night to respect each other’s time with her. I figured he’d be home when I texted her about our plans for tonight.

Eh, screw it.

“Good afternoon, sweetness. I hope you and Oak had a great time last night. I thought we’d go to the Denver Aquarium tonight.”

She texts back a few minutes later.“That sounds wonderful. What time?”

“Could we leave at five?”

“I can be ready at five.”

“Okay. See you then.”

I have so much more I want to say—a million questions I want to ask. Tristan simply told us they had a great time, and she impressed him with how relaxed she was, given the situation. Like everything else she’s tackled in her life, once she set her mind to following through, nothing phases her. She’s been like this with everything. Schoolwork. Career. Home ownership. Something about the way she was raised—eye always on the prize. I just hope she’s not tunnel-visioned. The agreement is for ninety days, but we want a lifetime. I understand she might not bring the three of us as her date to a company Christmas party, and I’m not saying she’d have to wear a badge proclaiming her less than traditional lifestyle, but I want her open to the idea of forever because I can tell after one night, Tristan isn’t going to let her go.

Although Oak has never said so, and I’ve never asked, I don’t think he has a lot of experience with women. He’s dated a little here and there, less than me, and considerably less than Tristan—we’re both amateurs compared to Playboy—so I’m really curious about what is going on in his head. I know he loves her, just as Tristan and I do, and he’ll share her love and affection with us—because it’s us.

But after one night, will he also not let her go?

Where the hell is he?

Twenty minutes later, I hear his motorcycle pull into the garage. Tristan’s at the wellness center teaching a couple classes and manning the front desk. I’m at home doing bookkeeping. Oakley is off on Saturday because he teaches Sunday.

The three of us live together in an old Victorian, five-bedroom house on the west side, about ten minutes from downtown, where Alora lives in a relatively new townhouse community. We meant to be close enough that if she needs us, we can get to her quickly, but not so close we’re hovering. She had to realize on her own that her perfect future with the perfect man was more fantasy than reality. If that man had been out there and was lucky enough to stumble upon our woman, we would’ve swallowed our feelings and let her have her happiness.

But that guy never came. At least—not as one man.

Combined—Tristan, Oakley, and I are damn near perfect, if I say so myself. But we didn’t fit the image she’s held onto tightly since she was a little girl, and there was nothing we could do but wait.

I’m hoping our patience pays off and we prove to her we are everything she needs.

“Hey.” Oakley walks in and sets his spare helmet down on the bench.

“How was it?” I stuff my hands in my pockets, trying to appear casual.

He smiles and ducks his head. “It was great. Everything I hoped for and more.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. What are your plans tonight?” Oakley shrugs out of his leather jacket and then sits down to pull off his boots.

“We’re going to the aquarium.”

“Didn’t you take her there in college?” He glances up at me.

“The Audubon.” I nod, rubbing my five o’clock shadow. “I doubt Denver’s aquarium will be nearly as good.”

“I guess we’re all recreating memories from the first few years of our friendship.”

“Yeah. Do you think it’s working?”