Page 79 of My Ex's Billionaire Brothers

“You still in school?” I ask her.

“Yeah, one more year. Bryce here’s got two, because he took a gap year to find himself.” She shoots him a teasing look.

“I needed that gap year,” Bryce retorts, passing the joint back. Then he peers at me. “So, what’s up with you dating three brothers?”

Jenna elbows him. “Oh my God, Bryce. Have some tact.”

“No, it’s okay. Guess that’s what everyone’s been gossiping about, huh?”

He lifts a shoulder. “Pretty much. Uncle Alexei was talking to Dad about fence stuff, and I overheard some stuff about you and, uh…your men.” His voice cracks on the wordmen.It’s so adorably awkward, I have to suppress a laugh.

“It’s not exactly how you’re picturing it,” I say. “But yeah, I’m, um, seeing three guys right now.” I pause, glancing between them. “My ex Calvin dumped me in a spectacularly awful way. The short version is—I ended up in the orbit of his older half-brothers. And now…” I spread my hands. “Things happened.”

Jenna nods, eyes bright with curiosity. “Sooo…what’s it like? Being with three men at once? Is it just…I don’t know, like, constant sex?” She giggles, half-mortified at her own question.

I feel my cheeks warm, but I shake my head. “Notconstant.Though I’m not complaining about the frequency.” They both burst into laughter, and I join in. “But, to be honest, it’s more about the emotional connection. Each of them is different—Gage is all protective and quiet, Hunter is the funny one, and Theo is…well, Theo’s all business on the outside, but he’s got a goodheart underneath it. They balance each other out. It’s weird, but it works.”

Bryce leans forward, bracing his elbows on his knees. “Aren’t you worried they’ll, like, get jealous if you’re spending time with one but not the others?”

“I guess it was a concern at first,” I admit. “But we talk about everything, we’re honest, and so far, it’s okay. I think it helps that they’re all so close. No one’s left out in the cold, and I don’t feel like I have to split myself in three. It’s…I don’t know, I don’t have it all figured out yet. But I’m happy.”

Jenna exchanges a look with Bryce. “That’s so cool,” she breathes. “I mean, it might not be my thing, but it’s awesome you’re living your life the way you want.”

“Yeah,” Bryce agrees.

I offer them both a genuine smile. “Thanks, guys. And yeah, it’s definitely cooler than Calvin.”

“So, assuming this goes okay,” Jenna says, “what happens next? It’s not like you can marry all three of them…”

I chuckle at that. “Yeah, well…” The truth is, I don’t know. “We’ll jump off that bridge when we come to it.”

My cousins nod sympathetically, and we fall into an easy chat about their college courses and my bizarre road trip from Boston to Castle Beach. I realize how much I’ve missed them—missedthis, the comfortable back-and-forth of family who don’t judge you for every decision you make.

Eventually, they offer me a last pull from the joint, but I decline again with a laugh. We exchange hugs, promising we’ll actuallyhang out before I leave town. Then they slip into the shadows, giggling, and I find myself alone with my thoughts.

I re-enter the cottage through the back door, noticing how quiet it has become. Sure enough, most of my family has dispersed. A half dozen folks remain, nursing the last of the desserts while discussing tomorrow’s beach outing.

I find my guys near the staircase, talking to one of my uncles about some local fishing technique. The moment they see me, their eyes light up. Hunter gives me a bright grin, Gage nods in acknowledgment, and Theo offers a small, fond smile.

“Hey,” I say, stepping between them. “I’m going upstairs. You three want to join me?”

We make our way up the creaky staircase to my childhood bedroom. Thankfully, my door is still as I left it—slightly open, revealing my old queen-sized bed covered with a floral comforter. Once all four of us are inside, I shut the door and flip on the small desk lamp.

Without preamble, I blurt out, “I’m not taking your last name.”

The three of them stare at me like I’ve grown a second head. Hunter rubs the back of his neck, confusion etched on his face. “Uh…come again?”

“I’m not taking any of your last names,” I repeat firmly. “Not Carver. Not anything. I know it’s presumptuous to even say that, considering we’re not…well, we’re not on the verge of a wedding or anything. But if that day ever comes, or if there’s some formal arrangement, I just want to make it clear—I’m not doing it. I’m not changing my name to yours.”

Gage folds his arms, a curious expression on his face. “That’s…okay? But why bring it up now?”

“Because I’m tired of feeling like I don’t exist outside of the men in my life. I was always my father’s daughter, or Billy’s girlfriend, then Calvin’s fiancée, living underhisname, waiting to takehislast name. And you know what? I’m not sure I even want to keep my father’s last name. Maybe I want something completely different—my own name that represents who I am, not who I belong to.”

A slow smile tugs at Gage’s lips. “That sounds like a great idea. The new name, I mean.”

Theo takes a moment before adding, “I respect that.”

Hunter exhales softly. “Just so I’m clear, you’re not worried we’d, like,makeyou take our name or something, right? Because that’s not?—”