Chapter 7

MAY 18 – THURSDAY 2:08 PM

R en

I needed to up my game. The guys were proving harder to break than I thought. You wouldn't think it would be so difficult to get a guy to sleep with you, but Myles and Blake were on their best behavior. I'd tried wiggling against them at night, whispering sexy things in their ears, wearing practically nothing, and going to bed in adorable outfits. They flirted and kissed me, brought me to the brink of an orgasm, and then poof, they would go to sleep or say that was enough. I was ready to kill them. If a girl could have blue balls, I had them.

Myles had spent so much time working me up to the next step, but what Axel did affected him as much as it had me. Differently, of course, but I could see the uncertainty in both his and Blake's eyes. I was starting to wonder if they thought I would leave them if I got nervous or scared. I really didn't think that was going to happen, at least not any more than a healthy nervous anticipation.

"You planning on killing them? If so, I'll help," Theo drawled as he wandered over to where I was waiting for my ice cream.

I'd brought them to my favorite place in town that made everything from scratch and in a wide variety of flavors.

"I'm considering it, trust me," I mumbled and turned around so I didn't have to watch Myles lick his cone.

"What did they do?"

I glanced at Theo. "It's more of what they won't do. You don't want to hear about it."

He snorted and took the cup of smores with toasted marshmallow from the server as she held it out. "Ah, the spicy kind of issue."

"I just don't get it. I mean, they're starting to give me a complex," I whispered, and Theo smirked. "I'm pretty sure this is not an issue other girls have with two boyfriends."

"They're in a weird headspace. You just need to force them out," Theo said, making me sigh and stare out the window at the two guys as they laughed.

"You don't think that they feel I'm…you know…damaged goods?"

Theo's eyes narrowed. "Do you really think that?" His tone told me he thought I was ridiculous for even asking.

I shook my head. "No…but…I don't know. The longer things go, the more I feel like that even when in my heart I don't think it."

"Here you go," the girl behind the counter said and handed over my mint chocolate chip cone. I'd splurged and gone with a dipped waffle cone that had little sprinkles on it.

"Thank you." I glanced around at the bubble gum pink décor with the unicorns painted on the walls. If walls could scream, these were bellowing at all my senses.

"Theo, I've tried everything. They are completely PG. I don't know why I'm telling you this." I bit at my ice cream, taking my frustration out on the innocent treat.

Theo leaned close to my ear. "You haven't tried everything, or you wouldn't be having this problem." The buttery sound of his voice shot down my spine and lit up my body at the same time. I wanted to smack him. It didn't matter if it was school or now sex. He had to show off his superiority.

"Is that so?"

"Yes, it is." I bit my lip, trying to keep the reaction he had on me off my face. "It's because you're still giving them a choice. You need to take control. Fuck them, they don't fuck you." I couldn't stop the shiver as his breath fanned my skin. I glanced at him as he pulled back just enough that I could look into his green eyes. "Do you understand?" I shook my head, a little dazed and confused as to what we were even talking about. Two people shouldn't look this much alike. Theo, looking so much like Blake, was trippy now that Blake and I were involved. I caught myself almost wrapping my arms around Theo at the counter and saying inappropriate things.

"Don't hint, and don't tease. Sometimes you just need to take physical control," he said again, but this time, he glanced down, and I followed his eyes to the front of his jeans and sucked in a deep breath.

"You think I should just…like…grab them?" I looked around to make sure no one could hear me even though we were whispering.

"Yes. Blake and Myles can only resist so much, but even they will cave to that." He smiled and stood up straight, our little conspiracy chat over.

"Why are you helping me?"

Theo shrugged. "Why not? Someone in the house might as well be getting some. Besides, the only reason they aren't is because of what happened to you, and you're the only one who knows when you're ready." That was what I kept saying. See, at least Theo got it.

"Do you miss Liam? I didn't know you two were a thing," I said. "I mean, I did after the cabin, but not before." I wished I'd never mentioned the cabin as he smirked, and the image of him on his knees filled my mind. The last thing I needed was to picture that again. It had been so hot, and I would be lying if I said that I wouldn't want to see it again.

"Yeah, I guess."

"Yeah, you guess? Okay, if Blake or Myles answered that question with that to someone, I would think we were over or should be over," I said as we wandered to a quieter part of the shop.

"Liam and I have a unique situation. We have fun, we trust each other, and as you saw, we have chemistry." My face burned hot. "And just so you know, I like an audience. So thank you, that made my night extra hot."

Humiliation had me wanting to crawl under a table and hide. Being a peeping tom was bad enough. Being called out on it and thanked was another whole story. I cleared my throat and looked away from the teasing look in Theo's eyes.

"As for more…that seems to be one-sided."

The way he said that led me to think he was the one that wanted more. "So, you're not exclusive?"

"We are when it comes to other guys, but not girls."

The cone stopped halfway to my mouth as I computed what he just said. "I'm sorry, what?"

"I said that we don't sleep with other guys, but we will girls for obvious reasons," Theo said, and my mouth fell open before I covered my eyes. Holy shit, I'd been walking around half naked in front of Theo since we arrived. Earlier that morning, I'd walked out of the bathroom when I realized there were no clean towels. I held a pillow in front of myself as I ran out into the hall to grab more from the larger linen closet. I bumped into Theo as he was coming out of his room. He'd looked me up and down, but I assumed it was just a WTF stare.

"Let me guess, you're thinking about all the prancing naked in front of me you've been doing," he asked. Jesus, I hated him right now. I nodded, and he laughed. "You do have an exceptionally nice ass. I'm shocked they've been able to resist. I'm not so sure I would have the same restraint if you wiggled it up against me."

Please let the ground open and swallow me whole right now. "Why didn't you say anything," I whispered as harshly as I could muster.

"Why would I? As long as you thought I was gay, I was getting a great show."

"Oh. My. God. Now, I want to kill all of you just for different reasons. Rude, O'Brien, very rude," I huffed as I walked toward the exit.

"Me? You shouldn't make such fast assumptions about people. Just saying, I had no obligation to say a word."

"Ugh," I growled and walked outside to join Ivy and the guys.

"Ren Davies?"

Oh no. I knew that voice. I knew it very well. We'd been in the same school and most of the same classes since grade three, and I'd memorized his voice. I had the biggest crush on Rylan, the local hockey star and total player. Of course, he never made a move. I was friend-zoned from day one and was never able to get out of the spot. He'd wrap his arm around me and call me his buddy. Brought me in on all the guy jokes and offered to drive me to lunch when a group was going, but that was it. He was always dating someone else, and in the few breaks in between, he would complain to me about his current relationship issues.

I slowly turned around. "Rylan?" I feigned surprise. "Wow, it's great to see you," I said, acutely aware of how awkward this felt now that I was dating someone else. This was probably why making friends with any of his girlfriends never happened. Huh. Perspective really was hindsight.

"Shit, I didn't think I was ever going to see you again. Lizzy kept saying you were gone for good, and I thought I'd missed my chance," he said, smiling wide and showing off the sexy dimples that had melted my heart so many times. He was still just as sexy, but there was no flutter of excitement like there used to be. Now, there was a knot of tension, and I prayed that the guys weren't paying attention to this exchange.

"I'm only back for a visit. I'm leaving again in a couple of weeks."

"Oh damn. That sucks. I was hoping you'd be sticking around so we could get some dinner or something?" He licked his bottom lip, and I knew what that meant.

"Sorry, I can't, I'm dating…someone," I said, not sure how to label my relationship with the two guys. "I guess our timing is off, eh?" I really wanted to say I was in front of you for years, and you never bothered to take notice, but now you do? I held my cool, just wanting to exit this conversation without any blood spilled.

"But we're still friends, right," he asked and stepped a little closer.

I smiled, licked my cone, and pretended to be making a mess while I took a step back. Using the napkin, I wiped my chin.

"Friends? Sure, we can do that."

"Hey, listen. I'm sorry about your mum. I didn't get to see you after she passed away, and I felt terrible. My dad said the service really did her justice."

That statement showed how little people really knew about my mum. Rylan's father was the mayor, so he'd been invited to Mum's funeral. I didn't know him well, but he golfed with my father.

"Has there been any word on catching the guys who broke in?"

I shook my head. "No, my father has been pretty quiet about the whole investigation." By quiet, I meant he hadn't said a single word to me about what was happening, but Rylan didn't need to know that.

"Shit, I'm sorry, that's gotta be tough." I'd always loved Rylan's blue eyes, but after seeing Nash's, they didn't seem as bright and intimidating as they once had. Nash's seemed to swallow you whole, and he commanded you to look at him without saying a word.

"It was good seeing you, Rylan. But I better get going," I said as I spotted a handful of other guys from his hockey team closing in. "Looks like your team is here." I pointed to the group walking along the sidewalk.

"Wait, before you go. Will you reconsider hanging out or grabbing dinner with me while you're in town? You know, as friends, like we used to." I knew that shit was going to go sideways the moment he stepped in close and ran his hand down my arm. "I can't stop thinking about you and how I was stupid for not asking you out sooner. Maybe I can change your mind about whoever it is that you're dating."

This was not good. I hadn't believed Lizzy when she said Rylan was upset that he'd missed his chance with me, but apparently, she wasn't exaggerating. I'd never seen him look at me like this.

I took a small step back and bumped into Theo, who I thought had gone to stand with everyone else. Myles stepped in front of me, and Blake appeared at my side. Nothing made you feel as tiny as being surrounded by three tall guys who were blocking out the sun, let alone my view.

"Naw, mate. She's not interested in havin' dinner with ya, nor hangin' out, being friends, or anythin' else yer thinkin'. What did ya say yer name was?"

"Who the hell are you," Rylan asked.

I tried to maneuver around Myles, but he held me back and pushed me behind him again. My ice cream almost ended up squished into his back.

"It's okay, Myles. Rylan is an old friend from school. We've known each other for years," I said, but I could still feel the testosterone rising around me.

"Yeah, we're old friends, and I'll ask again. Who the hell are you?" Rylan's tone was threatening. If we had Kings here, then it was Rylan and his team. Most of them were on the fast track to the NHL, and you didn't mess with them, their families, or their girls.

"I'm the guy who's going to bury ya, if ya don't step out of my space and stop tryin' to hit on my girl," Myles growled, and I shook my head. Just when I thought I understood men, I realized I probably never would.

"Our girl," Blake chimed in, and I covered my eyes.

"As in, Ren is dating both of you or all three of you?"

"He means all of us," Theo piped up, and I looked over my shoulder at him. What was happening here?

"Okay, enough, guys. Really, I can take care of myself, and Rylan is just a friend. We hung out right up until the day I left to attend Wayward."

"Naw, Snowflake, yer friend wants to see ya naked, dipped in chocolate just like yer cone. And if he doesn't put the roaming eyes back in his head, I'm going to rip them out of his sockets."

"Oh yeah, you and who else…mate," Rylan growled, and I knew his team must have arrived.

Myles released me, and I could feel him getting ready for a fight. I took the opportunity to slip out from where I'd been boxed in and stepped in front of Myles. Instead of trying to defuse the fight with logic, which was beyond their caveman chest thumping, I wrapped my arm around his neck and kissed him hard. Pressing my body up against his, he groaned into my mouth and opened for me. Arms wrapped around me as I tasted the sweet strawberry ice cream on his lips.

When Myles broke away, his eyes were glazed over, the anger subdued. Turning around, I faced Rylan and his team.

"As I said, I can't go out with you. But thanks for the invite. I'm already taken. Have a great summer, Rylan. Good luck to your dad in his election this year." I grabbed Myles's hand to pull him away before he lost it completely. The tension oozing off him promised pain. Rylan still looked pissed but wisely didn't say anything other than, "I'll pass the message on."

My heart was hammering in my chest as we walked to the Yukon in silence. As soon as we were inside, I turned and looked at the three irritations.

"Don't do that to me again. Rylan wasn't a threat, and you almost made front page news. His father is the mayor, and Rylan's a local star, not to mention that I didn't need your help. If anything, you made things worse."

"But he…."

I glared at Myles, and he stopped whatever it was he was about to say. "I don't care how he was looking at me. I can handle saying I'm not interested without you threatening to kill him. If I needed you, I would've screamed or something. Got it?"

"No," Theo said. My mouth dropped open as I turned in my seat to look at him.

"I was sent here to keep you safe, Ren. You may think you know who is who and what is what, but the truth is we don't know anything anymore. What are lies, what is the truth, who is planted to watch you? If anyone is at all. So no, we will not stop stepping in."

"I'm not even dating you," I said, and he shrugged.

"I don't care. I have a job to do, and if that means killing every guy who looks at you in a way we don't like, then so be it."

"Oh my god, you're all impossible. There is no way Rylan is a mole, or a threat, or anything else. He's just a guy, a friend, who I had a crush on, and it didn't work out. That's it," I said.

"You had a crush on that prick," Myles asked, pointing.

"Before I came to Wayward, yes. Do we really want to get into our past crushes? Cause I'm sure that you have more than my one," I said. He grumbled but crossed his arms and slumped in the passenger seat beside me.

"The point is, just because you're home and you think this place is your little safe haven, the threats surrounding you are very real. Stop taking it so lightly," Theo scolded. I didn't want to believe him, or that I could've been deceived by Rylan or anyone else I thought I knew. But he was right. How did I really know? Fuck.

"Fine, I will. But don't try and pretend that what you three were doing was anything other than a cock measuring contest. If you really wanted to keep me safe from a potential threat, you wouldn't have been escalating the situation into a fight in broad daylight in front of a store with cameras. I'm not stupid."

"Can I just say that I think this is really hot," Ivy piped in, and I glared at her. "Sorry, but I'd take a group of hot guys fighting over me any day. Just saying."

Unbelievable. Even my friend was on their side.