Chapter 32

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

Oliver

It's almost lunchtime, and Misha still hasn't come to work.

He was sleeping when we left, and even Grey couldn't wake him, so we just texted him that we went without him. We're mostly our own bosses, and nobody cares if we show up or not as long as Jamie turns out as we promised. Still, I'm worried about him.

It's not like him to miss work. Sure, he's hard to wake after a period of insomnia, but this is next level. Maybe we have to get him to see another doctor. Or maybe it's just all the mess we're in. I know it's taking a toll on all of us. Grey doesn't sleep much either, and I… fuck. I feel bold and ruffled, like I could explode at any minute, which is so not me. We're all not ourselves, and I hate it.

The door to our office opens, and Grey and I look up to find Misha coming in, looking a little green around the nose. Maybe he just caught a bug at that damn team event. Events like those are breeding grounds for bacteria.

"Hey, you all right?" Grey asks, concern evident in his voice .

"I'm a loser. I'm even losing myself," Misha mutters, pulling at his curls.

What the fuck?

"What are you even saying?" Grey presses, his brow furrowed as he stands, but I already know what's up. He's radiating guilt.

"I lost my heart," Misha replies, his voice raw. "You know that feeling when it's a perfect moment. When your heart skips a beat?"

"Yeah, that's arrhythmia. You can die from that," I say, feeling my hackles rise. My pulse pounds in my ears, drowning out everything except the thundering dread in my chest. I already know that what he is going to tell me is going to hurt. And not just me.

So, I say it for him. "They fucked."

"What the fuck?" Grey presses out through clenched teeth.

"Fuck, Ollie," Misha mumbles, eyes glassy. "I should say I'm sorry, but that would be a lie."

"What a good friend he is," I mutter sarcastically. But the words taste bitter on my tongue, even as they leave my mouth. I know that's unfair. And he does, too, because his eyes that were filled with regret are now blazing at me.

"Ollie, you had your chance. For two years , you had your chance. And then I went ahead and rejected her for you… not for me, not for her, but for you . And now it's been days, and you haven't made a move."

I stare at him, the anger rising in me like a tide. For a moment, I try to swallow it down, to keep it contained like I always do, but it's too much. The betrayal, the hurt, the fucking hypocrisy —it all comes crashing through, and I can't hold it back anymore.

"Are you fucking kidding me?" My chest tightens, and a surge of anger and betrayal floods through me as I stand. "I haven't made a move because we agreed on staying friends. Fucking friends !" I explode, feeling the weight of my own words. "I had her in my arms all night Sunday. I was so close to telling her how much I love her, but I didn't because I gave you my word."

Grey looks between us, his face full of confusion. "Wait, you both slept with her?"

"I slept beside her, dammit. Nothing more because I keep my word. Unlike him."

Misha's face contorts with frustration. "Not one of us really thought the just-being-friends thing would have worked."

His words hit me like a slap, the truth of them tearing through my anger. Deep down, I know he's right. The tension, the unspoken feelings—it was never going to work. But that doesn't make it hurt any less. And it doesn't make the betrayal feel any less raw.

"Obviously, because some people's word is worth shit," I snap, glaring at him. My hands are shaking, fists clenching and unclenching at my sides. Part of me wants to forgive, to keep the peace, but another part, the part that's been hurt and betrayed, wants to lash out, to let go of all the restraint I've been holding onto for so long.

And then I make a decision.

"And if your word isn't worth anything, then mine won't be either now."

The words hang in the air, heavy with finality. As soon as they're out, I know there's no going back. I've let go. The old Oliver, the one who kept his feelings bottled up, who always played it safe—he's gone. And in his place is someone who's ready to fight for what he wants.

And what I want is her.

The room falls silent, and Misha's shoulders slump. He looks at me, his expression one of defeat. "I couldn't help it, Ollie. I couldn't keep lying to myself. I love her. "

"And you think I can?" I retort, my voice shaking with emotion. My heart feels like it's being torn apart. "You think it's easy for me? I've loved her for years! "

Misha's expression turns soft, and he takes a step closer. "Then why don't you? Why are we torturing ourselves like this?"

"Because I thought I was doing the right thing," I whisper, my anger giving way to pain. I feel tears pricking at the corners of my eyes. "I thought keeping the peace between us was more important than what I want."

Grey steps in, placing a hand on each of our shoulders. "Maybe it's time we stop trying to control everything and just be honest. With ourselves and with Amelia."

I look at Misha, then at Grey. "You're right. I'm going to talk to her."

I already know how I'm going to do it. The turmoil inside me starts to settle, replaced by a determination to finally be honest—with her and with myself.

I just hope it's not too late.

Amelia

Alone in the office, I'm sitting at my desk, staring blankly at the screen in front of me. I only had a couple of hours of sleep, but it was worth it. Last night was one of the best nights I've ever had.

The good days are piling up lately, and it ' s all because of them.

Every time I think about it, which is constantly, obsessively, and in high-definition recall, my stomach tingles, and the butterflies go crazy. I had never experienced an orgasm with a man before. Well, I'd only slept with one before, my ex, and he never brought me to climax. I'd always had to rely on myself to reach that point.

And Misha did it twice.

But then, almost immediately, concern and worry bubble up beside the butterflies, threatening to drown them. I wouldn't change what happened for the world, but now I'm back to hurting people and being confused.

Even after an amazing night with Misha, my feelings for Grey and Oliver are still there, just as strong. I had hoped that maybe I could make sense of them, but it just got worse.

Now, I know for a fact that this is not just a crush. It's so much more.

With all three of them.

While I love where things are going with Misha, I dread the thought of losing Oliver and Grey over it. Worse, I'm terrified that I might have driven a wedge between their friendship. How did I get here? How did I let things get so tangled and messy?

Langley comes into the office, snapping me out of my thoughts. He scowls as he sits on my desk as usual, and I have to suppress a gag when the scent of his new cologne hits my nose. "Amelia, you've fallen noticeably behind on your solar panel project. This scope of project usually takes you much less time, but your head seems to not be in the game." His tone is sharp. "I saw you hanging around the AI department at the company event. There's talk about you all, you know. Don't forget who you're working for. It's definitely not their department."

What a cockwomble.

Before I can respond, the door to the office opens with a knock, and Oliver walks in. My heart skips a beat. I haven't seen him all day, and the sight of him now, stepping into the office with quiet confidence, sends my emotions into a tailspin. He looks from me to Langley, and I know he can feel the tension he just walked into.

"Is there a problem here?" Oliver asks, his voice steady, calm, yet carrying an authority that I haven't heard before.

Langley gives Oliver a wary look before he hops off my desk and turns back to me. "Just make sure your work improves, Amelia," he says, then leaves the office.

Oliver watches him leave, but his gaze softens as he looks at me. "Are you okay?" he asks, his concern evident.

I force a smile. "Sure, I just didn't sleep much, and now my boss is on my case. I can't come to lunch today. Sorry. I need to finish some things before the weekend."

Oliver nods, but his eyes remain fixed on me. There's something different about him today, but I can't quite place it. Did Misha tell him?

Is he mad at me?

"Lunch, sure… but I'm here because of something else."

My stomach sinks. Is he here to tell me that we can't be friends after what happened? Guilt and fear claw at me, and tears prick at the corners of my eyes. "Oliver…"

He steps closer, pulling me to stand in front of him. His hand comes up to cup my cheek, and his touch is so gentle it almost breaks me. It's so intimate, so unexpected, and yet it feels like it's where I've always belonged. "It's something good, I promise."

I swallow hard, my heart pounding. "O-Okay. What is it?"

He grins, a spark of mischief in his eyes. "I decided that my birthday this year is going to be tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" I repeat, surprised. "That sounds amazing, but it's a little short notice to get you a present."

"Oh, I know what I want," he murmurs, and the fluttering starts up in my chest again. The way he's looking at me, with that mixture of affection and something more, something hungry, sends a shiver down my spine.

"What?" I ask on a whisper.

"Go on a date with me?" he asks, his eyes locking onto mine. "The Night of Books at the Forgotten Bookmark bookstore downtown."

"I—" He's asking me out? It's like he's shed his shy, reserved demeanor. He's even standing taller. But even if I want this so badly, I can't. Not before I'm sure he knows. "Oliver, I have to tell you something first. I—"

"I know," he interrupts, his eyes filled with understanding and determination. "I know, and I don't care. Amelia… I want to spend my birthday with you. I want to hold your hand while we stroll through the store and you show me your favorite books. I want to sit and listen to you read to me while I eat snacks."

I laugh despite the tears forming in my eyes. I don't know whether I'm laughing because it sounds so wonderful or because I'm terrified of what this means. Terrified of what I'm becoming—a woman torn between three men she loves.

"Go out with me?" he asks again, his voice filled with hope.

A hope I feel, too, even as the turmoil inside me grows.

"I would love to."

As Oliver pulls me into a hug, his warmth envelops me in a way that feels comforting and right. I close my eyes, savoring the feeling of being in his arms. But even as I cling to him, another wave of worry crashes over me.

Am I making an even bigger mess of everything right now?

Oliver, Misha, Grey…

How did I let myself fall for all three? And how do I keep from breaking all of our hearts?