Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 112892 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 452(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112892 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 452(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
“You could always speak, even if it was sometimes difficult for you,” Aaron began. “But lately, it’s seemed like it might be easier for you. At least from an outside perspective. Some days it’s almost like we can’t get you to shut up. I don’t know what caused the change, but I’ve known you for a year and a half, and I’ve noticed.”
Diego nodded. “Me too.”
“Her,” Cody finally said, inclining his head toward me. “She’s what changed.”
His words warmed my heart, but I didn’t know if that was the whole picture. “You’re not giving yourself enough credit.”
He shook his head, still frustrated. “It’s… shit. I knew this wouldn’t come out right.”
“I’m prepared to wait all night,” I said gently. “Although if that’s the case, at some point I’m probably going to put more clothes on.”
“And we don’t want that to happen,” Aaron joked, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw a hint of a smile on Cody’s face.
Finally, he sighed. “No, we don’t. The thing is…” he looked over at me, and pulled back a little, as if I was too close, too far into his personal space for him to address me. Which was undoubtedly true, and I scooted back on the bed. But I was fairly confident that under other circumstances, he wouldn’t mind me being that close.
“The thing is that I missed you. Last night and the night before.” The sincerity in his voice touched something deep inside me.
“Last night she was with Diego,” Aaron said.
Cody nodded, and we waited for elaboration, but it didn’t come.
“And we all watched that movie the night before,” I added. ”Together.”
“Not then.” Cody shook his head. “After. In bed. You shared a bed with me one night, and then not the next two. And I missed you.”
I reached out and patted his toned forearm, unsure how to respond. I couldn’t exactly say that I missed him too, not when I’d spent the night with Diego last night. Even though in a weird way, I had.
“I’ve never really spent a whole night with anyone,” Cody said, starting slowly and then picking up speed. “It was too quiet in my room last night. Even with music.”
“We’re all here together tonight,” I said.
Aaron gave a ghost of a grin. “And I’m sure it’ll be anything but quiet.”
Diego was still trying to figure out what Cody meant. “We have to take turns, or...” He stopped suddenly, realizing that wasn’t the best way to phrase it.
“Together is better,” Cody said stubbornly.
“We haven’t even tried it out yet,” Diego said, a little more cautiously. “And even if… even if we like this arrangement, that’s a lot to expect from Mia.”
“It’s not just about Mia.” An angry breath of air hissed out between his teeth. “I’ve never had this… this kind of… connection,” he gestured to Aaron and Diego, but couldn’t seem to continue. But we knew him, and we waited. “Are we just roommates who… who take turns?” He gave me an apologetic glance as he said that.
“No, we’re not,” Diego said steadily, and I hoped that he was following Cody better than I was—even though I desperately wanted to. “We’re closer than that. We’re all on Team Mia… that means we support her, but also each other.”
Aaron nodded rapidly. “Absolutely. Last year you were just my roommate. But now we’re good friends. Friends sharing in this amazing experience, but who also understand each other. Who get each other.”
That made me blink rapidly. It didn’t seem as if Cody had had a lot of good friends in his life, especially not ones who understood him.
My fingers found his. “If this were just about me…all of you wanting…” I trailed off, aware that finishing that would make me sound conceited, which wasn’t the case at all. It still amazed me that any of these wonderful men wanted me, let alone three of them.
“If it were just about wanting her, then we wouldn’t all be here,” Aaron said. “No offense, Mia, but if the goal is simply to give you as much pleasure as possible, then we could buy a bunch of toys and an eight-pack of batteries and—” he stopped abruptly, apparently noticing the heat radiating from my face. “Shit.”
Cody actually looked a little amused. “Now no one can talk right.”
“Sorry, Mia.” Aaron took a deep breath and tried again. “I just mean that you’re right, Cody. It’s not just about the pleasure of one person. I like being on Team Mia, and I’m very glad that you two are, too.” He looked at first Cody and then Diego. Then me. “And you as well, because without you, Team Mia wouldn’t work very well.”
Diego had been quiet for a few minutes. Then he addressed Cody. “I honestly think we’re on the same page. But what you said… it needed to be acknowledged. And I’m sorry that I didn’t, so that you had to. I know it’s hard for you.”