Chapter 3

THE WATERING HOLE ON Wednesday night was a bustling hub of activity on Wednesday night. When she stepped inside, it was like being transported back to Earth. The sights, the sounds, and the smells soothed her sense of homesickness. Could that be what had been bothering her all along? If so, she needed to get over it. This was her home now because, from the reports of the new arrivals, things had gone from bad to much, much worse in the months since she'd left.

Thank goodness Beck and Adria picked her up, so she didn't have a repeat of whatever happened with the woods near the residence hall. As she sat at the table with her friends, she glanced around, soaking in the atmosphere as music and laughter filled the air. Flashing lights in the back corner caught her attention.

"Oh my gosh," Amy exclaimed, as she caught sight of the vintage jukebox. "I haven't seen one of those since I was a kid."

She patted her pockets out of habit, even though they wouldn't hold any coins or currency. The colony only used credits.

Beck leaned forward and slid a couple of gold tokens across the table, shouting to be heard, "You have to use these, but it's free to play. "

With a burst of excitement, she scooped them up and slid off her stool. "Awesome. Be right back."

She knew many of the patrons, and several stopped her to chat. By the time she selected two songs with her tokens, and returned to the table, their party of three had grown to four.

When the strikingly handsome warrior rose to his feet, he inclined his head and flashed a brilliant white smile. Amy's heart fluttered wildly as his warm gaze locked with hers. When they slid down her front, lingering approvingly on her fitted salmon-colored tank and flowy floral skirt, she was glad she'd opted for a bit dressier than her usual uniform of a T-shirt and jeans.

"Look who's here," Beck said, as she retook her seat, Tarus waiting for her to sit before he did. "Adria and I both asked a friend to join us. How's that for a coincidence?"

His wife rolled her eyes because he was about as subtle as a heart attack. But Tarus either didn't notice or didn't care.

"I'm not a big believer in coincidence," Tarus murmured, his attention focused solely on her. "I think fate has a hand in much of what happens to us. Don't you, Adria?"

Her friend nodded. "Fate and the Maker. It's what Primarians have always believed."

Beck cleared his throat. "I don't know which one is at work tonight, but we'd better pull up another stool."

Everyone at the table looked at him in question then followed his line of sight to the entrance. Remus stood there, scanning the crowd. When he spotted their table, he gave a subtle nod of recognition, only a chin lift really, then began making his way toward them .

"I thought you had duty tonight," his brother muttered, his grin fading as his twin grabbed an unused stool from a nearby table and joined them.

"The schedule changed, leaving me free. I thought I'd try the new burgers all the colonists are buzzing about. So glad to have friendly faces to keep me company."

"Go away," Tarus said, his voice laced with irritation, his furrowed brow revealing his displeasure at the unexpected turn of events.

Remus, who appeared unfazed by his brother's annoyance, picked up one of the laminated menus and studied it at his leisure. Amy looked at Adria, who shrugged, offering no explanation as to what was going on. Next, she looked at Beck who watched with a broad grin, clearly amused.

Uncomfortable with the palpable tension emanating from Tarus, she tried to diffuse some of it by helpfully suggesting, "The cheeseburgers and fries here are supposed to be fantastic. Although you have to factor in that we've been eating soy burgers for months, so we might not be the best to judge."

"Sounds good to me," Remus replied as he flagged down a passing waiter then proceeded to order three cosmic burgers, each packed with double meat, and two servings of fries.

While at their table, the flustered-looking young man took everyone else's order. Tarus requested the same massive amount of food as his brother. Beck, who was nearly as big as the twins, only ordered one double burger, which came with a generous order of fries. Adria, who had a calorie immune Primarian metabolism, copied her husband. Amy, who had the misfortune of watching carbs and fat most of her adult life because they all went to her butt and thighs, opted for a salad with dressing on the side.

"How do you pack away so much and stay as fit as you do?" Amy asked with a shake of her head, both envious and amazed.

"We train every day," Remus explained.

"And, in this heat, anything extra melts right off," Tarus added, still not happy but resigned to them being a five-some for dinner, apparently.

When Remus shifted in his chair, she couldn't help but notice the gentle pressure of his thigh against hers. Not bothering to move it earned him another scowl from Tarus, who was quick to notice.

As the evening wore on, Amy found herself caught in the middle of a fierce competition between the two brothers. They each tried to outdo the other with witty banter and grand gestures. The mounting tension made Amy uneasy, and she anxiously scanned the room for their waiter because more alcohol was warranted.

"Do you need something?" Tarus asked.

"Our waiter for another beer."

Tarus stood up abruptly, causing his stool to scrape against the floor. "I'll get you one," he declared.

Not to be outdone, Remus nearly lost his balance as he hurriedly rose from his seat, his stool teetering precariously.

Amy strained to catch his hushed words, "Not if I get her one first," as he swiftly made his way toward the bar, leaving his scowling twin behind.

Beck, who'd been quiet, couldn't contain his laughter, as the huge warriors raced each other to the bar. "I can honestly say I wasn't expecting a warrior love triangle to unfold at the Watering Hole tonight." He chuckled into his glass before taking a sip of his beer.

Adria couldn't contain her amusement either. "Indeed. Do you think they'll charge extra for dinner and a show?"

Amy couldn't help but giggle at the absurdity of the situation. She didn't want to come between the brothers, but she couldn't deny the thrill of their attention.

When it grew late, both Tarus and Remus offered to see her home. It devolved into an argument, which Beck quickly settled. "I have my hover car, which seats four. I'll make sure she gets home safely."

When not on duty, Tarus and Remus transported up to the Primarian ship constantly in orbit around the colony. They didn't have need for a vehicle after hours. There was a fleet for the contingent of warriors stationed in the colony, but they were duty vehicles. They couldn't expect her to walk several blocks in muddy conditions, so they both bowed, said good night, and walked out together.

"Oh, to be a fly on the wall for the twin debate that is sure to follow," Beck stated with a grin as he watched them go.

"Do you think they'll argue? Worse, get into a fight?"

"They are close," Adria assured her. "They'll work it out."

"I'm not so sure. They looked bitten by the green-eyed monster." Beck raised his glass in a toast. "To alien love triangles and the chaos they bring."

Amy dropped her head in her hands and groaned. "That's what I don't need. More chaos."

"Beck's teasing," Adria said, while patting her back. "Tell her you're teasing," she prompted her husband.

"Nope. I've never seen it with the warrior twins before, but they are definitely smitten." His gaze shifted from his wife to Amy. "Do you have a preference? It's probably not a good idea to let the competition drag out for too long."

"I've spoken to them twice, including tonight."

"That's not exactly right," Adria drawled. "You spoke to Remus the night of the fire when he left you wandering around in your nightgown."

"True. But you make it sound like I was lost. I'm not helpless."

"That's not what I meant at all," she clarified hastily, her words spilling out. "He didn't handle the situation well, and I confronted him about it. Warriors have a tendency to be stubborn, though." She cast a loving gaze at her husband. "As can men, in general."

Still grinning, and clearly amused by his wife's foot-in-mouth blunder, Beck took it in stride. He proved so by reaching for her hand and gently interlacing their fingers while sipping his beer.

Amy waved off her friend's concern. "Remus apologized, although I'm not so sure Tarus didn't convince him to. But it's water under the bridge."

The weight of uncertainty settled over her, and her shoulders slumped, at a loss about what to do. She found herself attracted to Remus with his quick wit and killer smile. No more so than Tarus, who was the strong, silent type, but equally handsome and with a droll sense of humor. Everything else was nearly identical, their powerful build, their strength, their silky long hair so black it looked blue sometimes under the light, and their lavender eyes. Tarus' with the mesmerizing flecks of cobalt blue, of course.

Drawn to both of them, how did she decide? And if she chose one over the other, what if she was wrong? Worse, if she caused a rift between the brothers.

Wasn't this just her luck. After thirty-four years of searching for the perfect man, now she'd found two and might not be able to choose either?

"Adria, you know them well. Who do I choose?"

"That isn't for me to decide," she replied, reaching over and squeezing her hand. "Wait and see if, after tonight, they don't work it out for you."

"What if they don't?"

She frowned. "Then you have a problem."

"Great. I'm swimming in chaos and problems."

"You could turn them both down—gently," she suggested.

She didn't like that option. Amy looked at Beck. "You're a man. What do you think I should do?"

"I think Adria's right. Wait and see what they come up with. Otherwise, you may have plotted and worried for no reason."

Far from a patient person, and lacking a "wait and see" personality, Amy picked up her half-full beer and drained it.