half—maybe whole—in love with you and Hayle, and neither of us can ignore it anymore.”
Hope like I hadn’t felt in years rushed through me, making me feel alive. “Did she say that?”
“She didn’t have to. I’ve known for a while, and I can’t figure out what to do about it.” He looked at me, his expression too somber to look natural on him. “I thought maybe the three of us could find a way to all be with her, but...”
“But what?”
He shook his head. “She’s still pissed about what she overheard me saying to you, and she’s refused to discuss it. We’re supposed to finally have the talk tomorrow, but I don’t even know what to say. If I tell her that I’m okay with her dating you and Hayle too, she’s going to think I don’t love her.”
“Do you? Love her?”
“Yes,” he replied without hesitation. “I fucking love her, and I’m going to fuck it all up.” He gestured toward the hall. “And, even if I don’t fuck it up, that guy could easily steal her from all of us.”
In that moment, I saw my oldest brother with new eyes. He’d always been the fun-loving, fly-by-the-seat-of-his-pants one. But that wasn’t who he was anymore. He’d changed in the last couple of years. And I had a feeling the biggest part of his transformation had occurred since Thea arrived back in Moss Harbor.
Maybe that was why I couldn’t be happy about the possibility of Thea breaking up with him. Because I liked this Leo a hell of a lot better than I’d liked the former version of him.
Just as I was starting to like the current version of myself when I’d only been able to hate everything about myself for years.
“You’re not going to fuck it up. We’re going to convince her—together.”
His gaze shot to mine. “You mean you’re willing to do this? To...share Thea?”
Maybe it was crazy, but I didn’t have to think about it any more. It made no sense; yet, it made all the sense in the world.
“If it’s the only way we get to keep her, yes.”
His responding smile was slow but as confident as I’d ever seen it. “Then, let’s go charm the pants off our girl.”
Chapter Forty-Two
Thea
Lunch was...peculiar.
I couldn’t think of a better word to describe it. Maybe because there wasn’t one.
Leo, Hayle, and Tristin did their best to make Tobias feel right at home, engaging him in conversation and asking about his first semester at Wichita State University. Vincent was considerate and charismatic and never once poked at his sons like he had at every other family dinner I’d attended. I wanted to blame his good behavior on the presence of Susan and Gerard, but regardless of the reason, I was grateful for it.
The lot of us managed to sit around the well-dressed dining table and eat way too much delicious food without anyone picking a fight or causing unnecessary drama. The scene might as well have been right out of a TV show from the nineteen-fifties for how polite everyone was.
It kind of freaked me out.
Okay, more than kind of.
Once we’d finished eating and everyone had pitched in to clean the kitchen—a Sharpe tradition that had shocked me—Leo took me aside.
“We want to take Tobias out and show him around town. Is that okay with you?”
I raised my eyebrows. “Does that mean I’m not invited?”
“Not if you’d really like to go. But I thought time without you might give us a chance to get to know him better.”
I stayed silent, waiting for the punchline. After the male posturing that had occurred when Tobias first arrived, I had been expecting to have to convince the Sharpes to give Tobias a chance and vice versa. I definitely hadn’t been expecting the brothers to volunteer to spend time with him.
“Is this a trick and you’re actually planning to haze him or something?”
Leo chuckled. “We’re not a fraternity, so that would be a no. He’s your friend, and we’re making an effort. That’s it.”
“Okay, sure. I need to pack some more of my clothes, anyway. I’ll go do that while you guys are gone.”
“Good idea.” He kissed me lightly on the lips. “Be back soon.”
Tobias gave me what looked to be a pleading expression as the guys left, but I didn’t feel too sorry for him. He was used to being top dog, so he should be able to handle himself with the Sharpe brothers better than most.