me what the three of you were talking about,” I insisted, setting my hands on my hips. “Because right before I stepped in here it looked like someone’s dog died.”
Thirty-Six
KAYLA
“Well shit then…” I said, after they’d told me the whole story. “Just how long has this been going on?”
Warren looked angrier than Luke, but they both looked equally uncomfortable. The entire situation sucked. Especially now that they’d laid their finances bare, and I knew the place was barely making payroll.
“Off and on since we started really,” Warren admitted. “But I’d say they’ve gotten bolder in the past six months.”
“Yeah,” Luke nodded. “The past six months really started picking up for us. We took on a bunch of new work. Plus we’re getting word of mouth, and—”
“And you’re ‘stealing’ their business in their eyes,” I reiterated. “Got it.”
It pained me to think about them working so hard, and then possibly lose everything to something like this. Actually it made me furious. Like Warren and Adrian, I wanted to rip someone’s head off.
“That office upstairs,” asked Adrian. “Does it have a couch?”
“A comfortable one, yes,” said Warren. He squinted. “Why?’
“Because until this is resolved we should take turns staying here twenty-four seven,” said Adrian. “That way we can keep an eye on things.”
Luke nodded, looking suddenly enlightened by the idea. Warren too.
“Just having a light on up there,” he continued, pointing up the stairs, “might be enough of a deterrent. Especially if they think someone’s home.”
I could see new wheels turning in Warren and Luke’s heads. Just knowing their friend was on their side — and thinking of solutions to their problems — seemed to take some of the tension from their overall body language.
“I’ll take tonight,” said Adrian.
“Bro, you don’t have to—”
“The friends I’ve been staying in town with are cool as hell,” Adrian went on, “but they could use a night without me, if you catch my drift.”
Recognition dawned. Eventually they nodded.
“I’ll stay too,” I chimed in. “I’ve got no place to go right now anyway,” I smirked. “I already checked out of the hotel, so—”
“Bullshit,” said Warren abruptly. “You can always stay with us.”
“I can and I will,” I replied carefully. “But tonight I’m going to keep Adrian company.” Slowly I raised an eyebrow. “If that’s all within the scope of the rules, of course.”
I was testing the waters. Seeing if there was a limit to the amount of sharing they were willing to endure. I shouldn’t have worried. Luke glanced at Warren and slowly smiled.
“Of course it’s alright,” he replied finally. He added a wink. “We’ll get you another night.”
“I have no doubt you will,” I smiled back.
“Just be careful,” Warren said, more to Adrian than to me. “While you’re keeping an eye out, don’t do anything stupid. And make sure you take care of her.”
“Yes dad,” Adrian quipped sardonically. He pointed to the worn set of stairs leading up to the office. “Can we go to the prom now?”
It was getting late, and it had already been a long day. The guys had spent a good amount of time detailing the events leading up to the vandalism and theft of their property, and before that we’d talked more about what to expect between us. Basically the ground rules for our strange but exciting new arrangement.
Surprisingly, the best part was that there were no rules.
This seemed counterproductive at first, but the more we discussed it the more it could lead to jealousy or leaving someone out. Rules were exclusive. Our relationship was to be inclusive, meaning that anything went for anyone at any given time.
“If you’re our girlfriend,” Luke had put it simply, “you’re always our girlfriend. No matter where you are or who you’re with, the others are always invited.”
“So… lots of double dates?” I’d asked excitedly.
“Double dates, triple dates…” he’d smiled. “Nothing’s off limits.”
I’d grinned as he put things in perspective using my own words. It was all the better, though. The last thing I wanted to do was leave anyone out. I wanted all of them, all of the time.
Shit, when you put it that way it sounded pretty greedy.
Warren and Luke left for the night after giving me spectacular kisses goodbye, in full view of Adrian and each other. Hands roamed my body from in front and behind. Hands that turned into trailing fingers, leaving me tingling and breathless.
Oh I could definitely get used to something like this…
They locked the door behind them, and a minute later Adrian and I were upstairs exploring the