Four Letter Word (Love Logic #2) - K.M. Neuhold Page 0,88

he answers, letting me suck on his bottom lip as he melts into my arms.

A throat clears from the living room, and I pull away to find Riot smirking at us. “I’m happy to enjoy the show, but I’m also kind of hoping there’s some of that for me too.”

“Greedy,” Bishop complains.

“You’ve finally figured out my secret,” Riot teases. We cross the room together, Bishop plopping down on the couch, giving us a little space to say hello without making it awkward. I bend over and give Riot a kiss, loving the way the cold metal of his lip ring bites into the heat of the kiss, his lips firm and commanding against mine.

“How’s your week been going?” he asks when the kiss ends. I settle onto the couch between my two men, trying not to let myself worry about the sound of Leo moving around the kitchen and whether it’s going to be uncomfortable or hostile once he finishes whatever he’s doing in there.

“Boring, same as usual,” I answer. “What about you guys?”

Bishop launches into detailing the current project he’s working on while Riot and I listen quietly.

After a few minutes, Leo steps into the living room, and my whole body tenses involuntarily. Bishop trails off, and the room falls uncomfortably silent.

“Well, this got awkward fast,” I joke in an effort to break some of the tension.

“Yeah, um, listen,” Leo says, squaring his shoulders, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallows. “I’m sorry I punched you.”

I blink in surprise. That was the last thing I expected to hear from Leo tonight, and if I’m being honest with myself, I’m not sure I deserve the apology.

“It’s fine.”

He gives a curt nod, and I deflate a little. I know he’s apologizing for Bishop and Riot’s sake, but that stupid, hopeful part of me thought maybe he was ready to put everything behind us.

“Dinner’s ready,” he says, and both Riot and Bishop stand up. Riot offers me a hand and a soft smile of understanding, and I try to take solace in the fact that maybe Leo and I are at least moving in the right direction? I can’t expect everything to be smoothed over in an instant. He was right: I have to show him I’m not the same selfish, careless kid I was back then.

Dinner is delicious, even if the seating is a little cramped in the tiny kitchen. Maybe next time I’ll have everyone over to my place where there’s a little more space. Then again, that might backfire if Leo decides my apartment is too nice and ends up pissed off about it.

Once we’re finished eating, we all relocate to the living room and get comfortable for the movie.

Apparently, movie night has become a bit of a weekly tradition for the three of them, because Bishop declares it’s Leo’s turn to pick the movie tonight. Jealousy flares in my chest, cooled by the deep feeling of being left out, a distinct separate entity from the group I thought I was part of.

What was it that Riot said? For a polyamorous relationship to work, communication is key. I battle with the impulse to shake off the heavy feeling in my chest and pretend like everything is fine before doing what I know I should and clearing my throat.

All three sets of eyes turn to me at once. I lick my lips and run a hand through my hair anxiously, trying to figure out the best approach.

“I’m really glad I was included this time in movie night. It...um…” Riot puts a hand on my knee and gives me an encouraging nod that gives me the push of courage I need to continue. “It hurts my feelings to hear I was left out before.”

“I’m sorry.” Bishop scoots close and puts his head on my shoulder. “I thought keeping you and Leo apart was for the best, but I think that was the wrong approach. I’m sorry for leaving you out.”

The tightness in my chest eases. “Thank you. I appreciate that.”

Riot gives me an approving smile and leans up from his spot on the floor to press a quick kiss to my lips. “I’m proud of you,” he murmurs quietly so only I can hear.

Bishop starts the movie and wiggles around to get more comfortable—with his head against my shoulder, his feet in Leo’s lap, his fingers caressing Riot’s hair as he sits on the floor in front of the couch.

I put my arm around Bishop’s shoulders, and he sighs contentedly. In