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“And now you’ve got three idiots who look at you like you personally invented light.”
A laugh slips out. “Idiots?”
“Men,” Trey says solemnly. “Constitutionally incapable.”
Mars takes another sip of coffee. “I’m sitting right here.”
Trey pats his thigh. “You’re one of the better models.”
I take a deep breath, stirring my untouched grits with my fork. Trey’s hand grounds me, but the question refuses to leave.
“But what if I’m not enough?” The words come out quieter than I intend, almost swallowed by the chatter of the restaurant. “I mean, Nate and Elias haven’t slept with me.”
Mars pauses with his coffee halfway to his mouth. Trey blinks. “I’m sorry?”
“Not like that. We’ve done things. A lot of things. But they haven’t actually…” I make a helpless gesture. “Gone there. Jace has. They haven’t.”
Trey’s expression turns suspiciously delighted. “And this is bothering you.”
“I don’t know if bothering is the word.”
“It is absolutely the word.”
I glare at him. “After watching Nate and Elias together yesterday, I realized how much intimacy exists between them that has nothing to do with Jace. And Jace has his own relationship with each of them too.”
Mars studies me. “And now you’re wondering if they’re keeping you outside of that.”
I look away, hating how he hit the nail on the head that quickly. “Maybe.”
“Look, I don’t know them,” Mars says, “so I’m not going to tell you what they’re thinking. Maybe they’re moving slowly because they care about getting it right. Maybe there’s another reason entirely.”
“Wow. Super helpful.”
“I’m getting there, you brat.” His expression barely changes, but I can see the amusement. “What I do know is you’ve spent this entire brunch telling us what you think their choices mean. But have you actually asked them?”
I snap my mouth shut as my face flames with embarrassment, and suddenly my mimosa is very interesting.
“Sloane.” Trey hisses, shoving my shoulder, which earns him one of my fiercest glares that’s meant to shut him up. But this is Trey. “I know your ass ain’t sitting here building a whole damn conspiracy theory when you haven’t asked them any clarifying questions?”
“Well, when you say it like that, it sounds stupid.”
“Because it is stupid.”
Mars glances at him. “Gentler, Tiger.”
“Fine. It is lovingly stupid.”
I push my plate away. “Has it occurred to you that I already know the answer? I’m not exactly simple.”
Trey’s expression changes immediately. “Bitch I will slap you. See now I tried to be gentle but your ass is so hard headed.”
“Try it, hoe,” I say. “It’s gonna turn into Monday Night Raw.”
“Um, how about we hold off on the WWE Smackdown for now,” Mars says, raising his hand between us like a referee. “I think we’re getting off track.”
Trey settles back in his chair, arms crossed, but I can see it in the way his shoulders drop half an inch. He’s worried about me, and we both know it.
I exhale, trying to make them see where I’m coming from. “I just... I don’t want to be that girl, you know? The one who needs constant reassurance. I don’t want to be a burden on them.”
