Holy shit. “Really?” My stomach seemed to be flip-flopping between bottoming out and filling with a thousand butterflies.
“Really,” he promised. “I know I have a long way to go to make sure you trust me again, Angel. So I’ll reassure you anytime you need it.”
He didn’t have to go that far, but I just… “I don’t want to mess this up.” It was easier to just say it to him. Like it had been to Coop. But I’d told Jake that in the beginning, and I swept my gaze over to include Archie. “I never imagined this. All of you, and now I can’t imagine it without you. I don’t want to.” Anytime I tried to, everything just seemed bleak. “And I’m selfish, too. I don’t want to have to.”
“Okay,” Jake told me, pulling me back against him. “It’s okay, Baby Girl. You don’t have to imagine anything. I stand by what I said. I’m okay with these three idiots. No one else.”
“Agreed,” Archie told me, locking his gaze on me. “I know you love me.” My face heated. “I told you I love you, and I meant every word.” There was absolutely no shyness in him. “Would I leap at the chance to have you to myself? Yes. But can I share you with them?” The corner of his mouth curved. “Not in bed, and not all the time. But the rest of it? Yeah. I can. For some reason, I like these assholes, and I know you need them.”
Not just want them. “I need you, too,” I reminded him. “And I do love you. I love all of you.” Ian was the only one I hadn’t really admitted it to. I mean, I’d danced around it some. Said it in the heat of the moment, but this was different. I thought it might even be hard to say. I laughed and shook my head. “This is crazy, right?”
“Maybe,” Coop said with a shrug. “But the only people who matter are here.” The smile on his face was gentle. “Don’t be afraid of it. Or of us. If we were gonna kill each other, we probably would have when Bubba pulled his shit.”
I winced, but Ian ran his knuckles down my cheek. “He’s not wrong. I’m surprised only Jake tried to kick my ass.”
“I thought about it,” Archie admitted. “But Jake was always better at just doing it. So next time, I’ll make sure I get my punches in.”
Coop snorted, but his grin was unflagging. “Let’s not let there be a next time. We can all settle things with our words.”
Jake let out a little sigh, then kissed my temple before passing me to Ian. I saw it coming and so did Coop, ’cause he put his beer bottle on the edge and then Jake grappled with him and water flew everywhere.
It was hilarious. Ian looped his arms around my waist and kept me in his lap as we all lost it laughing. Only after the two settled and Jake reached for me did Ian scoot to the side and shake his head. “Not happening. Mine now.”
That generated more laughter, and I leaned my head back against his shoulder. Coop pointed at Archie. “Okay, spill. What are our plans for the rest of this two weeks, Mr. I’m Playing Everything Close to the Vest?”
Archie snorted. “Just enjoying surprising all of you. Can’t a guy just be nice to his friends and our girl?”
“Yes,” I told him. “Absolutely.” The smile on my face hurt. “But I kind of want to know, too.”
“Yeah?” He grinned slowly. “Do you want to know enough to come sit on my lap while I tell you?”
“Hey!” Ian tightened his arms. “That’s cheating.”
“No, that’s just playing with style.” Archie lifted his wine to toast us, and the giggles hit me. It was ridiculous and fun.
“I’m with Bubba,” Jake said. “That’s cheating. But I’d totally do it if I had something sneaky for Frankie, too. Oh wait…” He eyed me. “I do.” He patted his lap. “Wanna know what it is?”
With a snort, Coop said, “Come sit with me, Frankie. I won’t cheat or try to use blackmail. We all know I’m your favorite, anyway.”
“Longevity doesn’t make you the favorite,” Jake countered.
“It does when she told me she wanted to help me make some wishes come true.” He waggled his eyebrows, but three sets of very speculative eyes turned on me, and I made a face.