Page 78 of Wild Flower

“Since the night you took me to Flambé,” I answer.

“Since the—!” Miranda turns to Finn and points her finger at him. “I texted you the next morning and you lied to me?”

“You asked about Archer,” Finn clarifies.

“You hooked up with my friend and told me nothing?!”

“We didn’t hook up that first night,” I jump in. “Well, not exactly.”

“How do you not-exactly hook up?” Miranda wails. “Were you three beast-backing or not?”

“We didn’t have sex,” I explain.

“But you did orgasm,” Archer adds. “In the restaurant.”

“In the restaurant?” Miranda steps away from the three of us with her hands on her head like she’s trying to keep her brain from exploding.

“I don’t think that detail is helping,” Finn chides.

“Youbothmade her orgasm?” Miranda blurts. “Inthe restaurant? That first night?”

“Technically … yes,” I admit.

“Finn and Archer areboththe illusive orgasm whisperers?” Miranda points at the two of them. “Did you two realize Becca had never had an orgasm before that night?”

I grab Miranda’s hand and turn her to face me. “Can we turn the hysteria down a notch, please? Being with two men wasn’t what I planned either, okay? Not that first night, or after. I didn’t expect this, but one thing led to another and the three of us …”

Miranda’s eyes are so wide it’s obviously this was not the right way or time to share this information. I thought Miranda would be more open minded. But maybe not, especially with her cousin involved.

“Look, I love us,” I say, taking Archer and Finn’s hands in mine. “We work. I can’t explain it, other than when we’re together, we’re on fire, and I’m consumed. I wanted to tell you about it earlier, but—” I nod to the confused expression on her face as evidence. “Point is, I was tired of hiding it from you, so now you know.”

“It’s been weeks,” Miranda says quietly. Then she turns to the plot of land behind her. “Has this been in the plan for weeks too?”

“Not that long,” I admit. “But—”

“But you talked to them about it and not me,” she says, pointing to Archer and Finn. “Yourboyfriends.” The word comes out like a dagger, meant to cut. She forces a smile, but Miranda was never very good at hiding her anger. “It’s fine. I’m just your employee, right? You’re the boss. You get to make all the big decisions on your own.”

“That’s why I brought you here,” I defend. “I want your opinion.”

“It’s fine,” Miranda says curtly. “You make whatever decision you think is right for the business. Consult your confidants,” she motions to Archer and Finn again, “and let me know how everything pans out. But please, I’d love the courtesy of knowing if I need to look for a new job or not, preferably not weeks after you know about it.”

“Miranda—!”

But she puts her hand up, not wanting to hear it. She turns her back to me and starts wobbling her way back to the car, cursing under her breath as her ankles threaten to pitch her into the grass.

“That went poorly,” I admit.

“She’s just upset that she’s the last to know,” Finn says softly, shooting an odd look at Archer like he’s somehow responsible. “Give me your keys, Arch, and I’ll drive her home.”

“Nope, I’ll do it,” Archer insists. “I’m not her best friend, boss, or relative. So as the most neutral party, I’m either the easiest or hardest target for her to unleash her rage on.”

“It’s my mess,” I point out. “I should—”

“Just give her some space,” Archer says. “I got this. If not, I’ll just flash her my three appendages and we’ll probably be even.”

“Please don’t flash my friend,” I plead. Archer gives me a wink and I’m unsure if he’ll behave himself or not. “Don’t make this worse!”

“I’m proud of you,” Finn says, as Miranda and Archer get in the car and head toward the city.

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