Chapter 28
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Emery
I took another bite of the exquisite meal, trying to ignore the thick tension radiating from across the table. Max and Ronan were doing their best to appear normal, but I could read the strain in their tight smiles and rigid postures. My hand was still on Levi’s thigh, but what had started as playful teasing now made me feel a little guilty.
I mean, how was I supposed to feel about being introduced as Levi’s girlfriend when I was pretty sure I was falling for all three of them? It wasn’t like Levi could have announced, “Hey Mom, meet the woman who’s been fucking your son and his two best friends while living in their house!” Though watching Diana’s perfectly maintained facade crack would have been worth it.
The whole situation was a mess. A hot, complicated, incredibly satisfying mess that we really should have talked about before attending a formal dinner party.
I glanced between the three men, noting how they barely made eye contact with each other. These guys had been best friends forever, and now they were acting like strangers because of me. The thought made my stomach twist, and not in the good way it usually did around them.
We needed to talk. Really talk. About everything—the living situation, work, what exactly we were doing here. Because while what we were doing was fun, this weird tension between them because it was a secret was definitely not.
“Oh, wonderful!” Diana’s voice pulled me from my thoughts as servers began clearing our plates. “Here comes dessert. Emery, dear, I do hope you have a sweet tooth. Levi absolutely adores his desserts.”
The timing couldn’t have been worse. Both Max and Ronan had just taken sips of their wine, and at Diana’s innocent comment, they simultaneously choked. Max actually had to grab his napkin, while Ronan’s usual composure cracked as he coughed into his fist.
I bit my lip hard to keep from laughing, especially when I caught the gleam in Levi’s eye. He knew exactly what his friends were thinking about. Probably the same thing I was—how he’d thoroughly showed his appreciation for “dessert” last night.
“I’ve noticed.” My voice came out a bit strangled, but I kept a straight face. “He’s very... enthusiastic about sweets.”
Levi’s hand found mine under the table and squeezed in warning, but I couldn’t help myself.
“Though I think Max and Ronan enjoy their desserts just as much,” I added innocently, causing another round of coughing from across the table.
Diana looked concerned. “Are you boys all right? You’re not coming down with something, are you?”
“No,” Max wheezed, shooting me a look that promised retribution. “Went down the wrong pipe.”
“Perhaps we should switch to water,” Ronan suggested, his voice rough as he glared at me.
The server placed a stunning chocolate soufflé in front of me, topped with a perfect swirl of whipped cream and a sprinkle of crushed candy canes. I picked up my spoon, maintaining eye contact with Levi as I slowly licked off a bit of whipped cream. His pupils dilated, and across the table, I heard what sounded suspiciously like a growl from Max’s direction.
“The dessert is absolutely divine,” I told Diana, my voice syrupy sweet. “I can see why Levi’s such a fan.”
“Oh, you should see him with ice cream.” Diana dabbed at her lips, laughing. “Since he was a little boy, he’d always-”
“Mother!” Levi interrupted, his face flushing. “I’m sure no one wants to hear about that.”
Oh, but we absolutely did. Especially given how the tips of his ears had turned pink.
“Let the woman speak, Levi. I would love to hear about when you were a wee lad.” I gave Diana a nod to continue.
I tried to contain my laughter as Diana leaned forward conspiratorially, her eyes twinkling with mischief that reminded me exactly where Levi got it from.
“Oh, he was the most adorable little thing,” she began, ignoring Levi’s groan beside me. “Every Sunday after church, he’d beg to go to Scoops stay with his “girlfriend” or go after his best friends.
“Actually, Diana, I’m so sorry, but I think I’m getting one of my migraines.” I pressed my fingers to my temple for effect. “They come on suddenly sometimes, especially with all the lights and the sugar...”
“Oh, you poor thing! You do look a little pale.” Diana’s concern was immediate and genuine. “Levi, take her home right away. Migraines are absolutely dreadful.”
“Are you sure?” Levi turned to me, relief in his eyes.
I nodded, wincing slightly. “I’m so sorry to cut the evening short. Everything was lovely.”
“Don’t apologize, dear.” Diana stood to give me a gentle hug. “We’ll see you on New Year’s when you’re feeling better.”
We walked into the house where Ronan and Max were having a heated discussion by the door. When they saw us, they both stopped.
“Can we leave without saying goodbye to your mother or…?” Max went to the temporary coat racks set up by the door.
“It’s fine.” Levi sighed, grabbing my coat and helping me into it.
I didn’t know what to say or do. The tension was so strong that it made me want to simultaneously cry and to yell at the three of them to knock it off.
The second we were halfway to the car, Max exploded. “That was fucking humiliating.”
“Max-” Levi started.
“No, you don’t get to ‘Max’ me right now.” He whirled around, his expression hard. “Do you have any idea what it was like sitting there, watching you two play happy couple while your mother-”
“I know, okay?” Levi ran both hands through his hair. “I know I screwed up.”
“Screwed up doesn’t begin to cover it.” Ronan’s voice was quiet but sharp. “We spent almost two hours watching our girlfriend charm your mother while pretending we’re just the weird roommates who tagged along.”
My chest tightened at him calling me their girlfriend. “I think you’re blowing this a bit out of proportion. I didn’t enjoy leaving you out either, but it was harmless.”
The silence that met my words was as sharp as the cold air around us. Max scoffed softly, but there was no humor in it. “Harmless? From where I was sitting, you seemed to enjoy your role as his perfect girlfriend quite a bit.”
“You think I liked pretending to only be with him?” I glanced down, scuffing my shoe.” It’s not like I could just play musical chairs and cozy up to each of you.”
Ronan’s mouth twisted in a humorless smile. “Watching you stroke his thigh under the table didn’t exactly scream ‘I wish you were here too.’”
Standing there in the cold, seeing their faces marked by hurt and the bitterness they were trying to swallow, made me wish I could rewind the last few hours and do everything differently. But what would I have done? Claimed them all?
I didn’t have an answer. We hadn’t even defined what we were or how this... whatever this was... could work. If tonight was any indication, it wasn’t going to work.
“We should go,” I finally said, wrapping my arms tighter around myself, more to keep myself together than warm. “It’s freezing out here.”
Ronan clicked his key fob, the car’s lights flashing in the darkness. I couldn’t decide if being trapped in the car with them was better or worse than standing out here, wishing the night had gone a hundred different ways.