Uh-oh. Something happened after we separated earlier. I knew this would happen and at this point, I'm over it. I grab him by the shirt and drag him to the counter so I can get a closer look. "Nash Wilde, tell me now what you did."
"He didn't hit me if that's what you're worried about." Ellis walks into the room, looking too handsome, freshly showered and dressed in a casual T-shirt and sweatpants.
Glaring at Nash, I try to be stern with him, but the moment he gives me those tortured eyes, I fall apart. Running my hands through his hair, I place a kiss on his temple. "Listen here, boys," I say as I grab a towel from the drawer, laying it on the counter and going to the freezer to get ice. "I'm not going to stay if you two are going to fight. And we are definitely not doing what we did today again if this happens every time." I wrap the ice in the towel, holding it on his fist. He gives me a pitiful, stubborn expression like he's too tough to be taken care of by a woman, but he knows as well as I do it's what we both want.
Let me take care of you, Nash Wilde. Let me love all of the hate right out of you.
"So, you're saying you want to do that again..." Nash says, teasing me with a pinch of my ass.
"No, it was terrible. Hated every moment." Giving him my best eye roll and sarcastic tone, I wait for him to crack a smile which he eventually does. It's not a big smile, but it's something.
"Just until next week," I add, going to the sink to wash my hands.
“Perhaps we should set some ground rules,” Ellis says, leaning on the back of the couch and watching us.
“Do we need to?” I ask.
“Do we?” This time he’s looking at Nash.
The room grows silent for a moment, and I wonder if these two are finally about to snap and have it out with each other.
“No,” Nash says finally.
“So, what do you guys want for dinner?” I ask, looking through the fridge. Nash let the staff have the day off since we were gone most of the day anyway. Which means we are on our own unless we go to the mainland, but I’m much more into the idea of eating something here then possibly talking these guys into laying on the couch with me to relax and watch a movie.
My plan mostly goes down without any issues. There’s chicken in the fridge, which I season, and Ellis puts on the grill. Nash helps me put together a kale salad, and the three of us eat on the patio with white wine, and for the most part they get along. That is to say they completely avoid looking at or talking to each other.
It’s disappointing.
Today was so perfect, and I’m not just talking about the hangar. Everything before that, the boat ride, swimming, and being together was fun. Natural. Complete.
Nash lets me nurture him in the same way Ellis strengthens me. Strangely, it works. When everyone is happy, no one is jealous or territorial. I almost wish it could be like this forever, but that’s crazy.
I’m not Zara. When all of this is over, I’m not choosing between Ellis and Nash. I could never do that. If I can’t have both of them, then I can’t choose one.
I just wish I could help them mend this bond and get over whatever issues they’re holding onto. What did Nash do to Ellis that fucked him up so much?
After dinner, we head inside, and the guys indulge me with a movie. As we pile onto the couch, I sit between them, pulling a large throw blanket off the back to cuddle under. Nash has the remote and immediately pulls up his Netflix, and the first thing I see when the screen lights up is my face.
My heart stops.
There under Continue Watching is a thumbnail image of the ballet, Giselle, with my face in full makeup in a red dress on stage. I completely forgot our production was recorded and produced for streaming. I’ve never even watched it…but apparently, Nash has.
“What’s that?” Ellis asks immediately.
“I forgot this even existed,” I mumble.
Nash fidgets next to me as I glance at him. “You watched it?”
He shrugs, and I see him trying. Instinct has him wanting to put up