Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 105679 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 528(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 352(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105679 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 528(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 352(@300wpm)
My heart hurts for my man. He sounds weary and over it.
Hayes and I didn’t plan this, but I’m giddy that we’re on the same page. The anger I felt over the blackmail note washes away, replaced by the fizzy sense of possibility. I stride over to them, stand between them.
I’m more than ready. I want them both, even if it’s temporary. I’m already with Hayes publicly, so why not expand this so they’re both my acknowledged partners? I’m not worried how it’ll look. Trina paved the way with my brother and Chase. Jessie stands behind them. Their teammates support them. My grandma’s firmly in my camp, and so is my mother. My sister too. While the world hasn’t shifted, my world has.
“If we’re doing this publicly, we’re all doing this. We’re together. The three of us.” It’s a declaration, one that’ll echo beyond these four walls. “What we are in my home and in your homes is who we are.” I point to the window and the city beyond. “No one is going to go out there and say there’s any cheating. We’re all a part of this.”
The distance in Stefan’s eyes burns off, leaving curiosity. “What are you saying exactly, Ivy?”
A thrill rushes through me. “The three of us will go to game night together. We’re going to go to the Sportsman of the Year awards together.”
I can’t make any promises beyond that. Too much has changed in my life over the last several weeks. Too much has changed at work. But for now I’m going to take control.
I curl one hand around Hayes’s strong arm, then the other around Stefan’s. “I have a husband and a boyfriend,” I say. “We are not a secret. And we’re not fake.”
Hayes lets out a huge sigh of relief, chased by laughter, and it’s so welcome to hear. But the bigger thrill? When Stefan’s smile returns. When the clouds drift away. When he becomes my upbeat, happy-go-lucky guy again. “So it’s not just a marriage of convenience. It’s a…throuple of convenience?” Stefan asks with a curve of his lips and a tease in his tone.
I’m electric at the thought. “Yes.”
“Then I need to text Ledger and Carter to cancel our plans for tonight.”
After Stefan sends his messages and changes his clothes, we leave the building. Outside on the steps, I set a hand on Stefan’s cheek and then kiss him possessively in front of the city. I turn and do the same to Hayes.
We are all dating—at least for now.
45
LET’S MAKE A DEAL
Hayes
Kana swings open the door. Her expression is unreadable for a few seconds, then curious as she roams her inquisitive eyes over the three of us, taking in our body language.
Casual, flirty, comfortable. Theoretically, we could be husband and wife and buddy. But it’s not likely, the way Ivy runs a hand down my arm, then Stefan’s.
Just so it’s clear, I take the lead and say, “Stefan’s with us. With us. As in, the three of us.”
Fuck, did that sound weird? Why did I think it’d be smart for me to go first? I’m not the smooth talker. Stefan is.
Ivy must sense I need her so she jumps in. “What Hayes is saying is…” She casts her affectionate gaze toward me. “This is my husband.” Then she looks at Stefan with equal warmth. “And this is my boyfriend.”
Calm spreads through me, chased with happiness, with potential.
Kana’s lips twitch for a few seconds. Behind her, the guests in the sunken living room have gone starkly silent. My teammates on the couch take a beat, along with their partners. But not for too long. Dev shoots a hand up in the air. “Called it. Pay up, bros.”
Brady hangs his head, letting out a long groan. “Damn. I really thought you were all just friends.”
I laugh. Stefan laughs harder, breaking the tension. Dev rubs his fingers together. “A hundred bucks from you,” he says to Brady, who raises his head and reaches for his wallet.
Trina, Chase, and Ryker are hanging out on the couch. Ryker holds up a hand in surrender. Chase does the same. “I didn’t bet. I abstained,” Chase puts in. “I already knew it was going on.”
Tom whips his gaze to Chase, his deep voice chiding. “Well, thanks a lot for telling me.”
“Family secret,” Chase scoffs. “Like I’m gonna give it up. Also, you play for our rivals. No way.”
“You dated her with a rival,” Tom fires back.
“And now he’s a teammate.” Chase nods to the two of us and Trina, smirking. “It’s a thing. Deal with it.”
In the foyer, Kana just grins knowingly. “It wasn’t that hard to figure out. In Vegas you all looked like you wanted to fuck each other.”
Ivy covers her face with her hand, cracking up.
On that note, we head inside and settle on the couch, Ivy between Stefan and me.