Page 56 of Room Twenty-Three: Tangled & Teased

I’m both overwhelmed and filled with a mixture of emotions—surprise, confusion, and a hint of longing.

I quickly pocket my phone and take a few hesitant steps toward them, my eyes scanning their faces. Jove’s eyes sparkle with warmth, his gaze fixed on me, while Beau and Atty exchange glances, their expressions a mix of worry and anticipation.

“You’re at the right place,” Jove repeats, his voice calm yet filled with an underlying intensity. “We’ve been waiting for the right time to talk to you.”

I pause, my mind racing with thoughts and questions. The memories of our time together in room twenty-three flood my thoughts, reminding me of the time we shared. Albeit, briefly. The unspoken desires—desires I thought I’d left in New Orleans.

But standing here, facing them, I can’t deny the magnetic pull that still exists. The walls I built around my heart seem to tremble, and a part of me yearns for the familiarity of their touch.

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I find my voice. “What are you doing here?”

Atty steps forward, his eyes filled with sincerity. “We wanted to surprise you, Erin. We’ve missed you. And... we’ve realized how much you mean to us.”

Beau joins in, his voice carrying a touch of vulnerability. “We didn’t want to let you go without a fight. But we also wanted to know we gave you enough time to forgive us.”

I nod, still not speaking.

“We want you to be part of our lives, to share your life with us. To let us be yours,” Atty says.

Jove, ever the cryptic one, steps closer before his eyes lock on mine. “We’ve grown, Erin. Individually and together. We’ve learned from our mistakes. I should have told you what we planned that day. I’m sorry I didn’t trust that you could keep calm if you knew.”

“Because you don’t know me.” My words hang in the air.

“Then it’s time we changed that,” Jove says, and I can sense the sincerity in his voice.

Taking a deep breath, I gather my thoughts before I say, “I... I need time to process all of this.”

“We don’t want to lose you again, Erin.” Beau holds his hand to the front door to the cottage. “Look inside.”

I follow him inside the stone-walled home and stare around. There’s a staircase to one side and beams run across the ceiling, but the place is derelict.

“We’ve been preparing it for you. For your dance school.” I spin to Atty as he points to the dark wooden beams on the ceiling. “We had the walls knocked down to make a larger space, enough for you to have twenty to thirty dancers.”

Jove clears his throat. “A wall and door will be built there, hiding your entrance into your private space upstairs.”

“Private space?” I whisper.

“We want you here, Erin. At least until you’re ready to move into the manor house with us. Until then, we’ll grovel every day.” Beau’s voice has a touch of humor to his tone.

“Grovel...” My heart softens. I’m still torn between the pain and the possibility of a future together.

“We really are sorry,” Atty says.

I press my hand on his cheek. I know Atty told Jove to ‘tell me’ so I don’t blame him.

“It’s me that needs to grovel,” Jove says, almost as though he can hear my thoughts. “And I’m going to be honest with you. I never thought you were right for us. And I came up with every single excuse I could think of to justify my reason. You heard most of them.”

“And now?”

“The same as when you first came to the house. You’re still beautiful... sexy... I still think you’re too good for us. Too pure.”

I smile, thinking about the night in room twenty-three.

“And why am I right for you now?”

“You always were. But I was too proud to admit it. Too stupid because Atty and Beau knew right away, and I didn’t.”

I turn to Atty and Beau. Their expressions soften, a glimmer of understanding crossing their eyes. Jove steps back slightly, giving me the space I need. “Of course, Erin. We don’t expect you to decide right away. Take all the time you need. But remember, we’re here, waiting for you when you’re ready.”

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