Triplet Time: A Reverse Harem Stepbrother Romance Page 10

  What would they think of me leaving the triplets? I felt guilty about doing something on my own that could affect the whole family. And I didn’t have long to procrastinate before my next class.

  Both mom and the boys would be suspicious of me moving out without a word to any of them. If I went through with this, without talking it through with them first, it could devastate our family dynamics.

  I thought I should at least talk to Mom before taking action. If I explained I’d met some nice girls and they suggested I move in with them that wouldn’t be a complete lie. The idea of sharing with some girls might seem appealing and a credible excuse for my sudden change of address, I figured.

  But even I didn’t buy it.

  Why would I move out?

  Before getting too intimately acquainted with them all, I’d enjoyed living with the guys, and I loved the luxuriousness of the apartment. The place was kept ridiculously neat and clean. I like how we shared the chores, eating together and hanging out after dinner. Walking to college each day with one of the guys, usually Ben, was also a nice thing to do.

  And my mom would worry about my safety if I moved out. That was no small concern. She liked the idea that I was with the boys and the thought that they looked after me. And to be fair, I did feel safe and cared for.

  After one night apart from them all, I was missing them already.

  I had classes to attend and research to do so I decided to put off the accommodation office and the big decision until I was able to think it all through.

  There was no chance of running into the guys while I was at college. Their business courses were at a different location. However, even though Nathan offered hospitality, I couldn’t avoid our apartment. If for no other reason than to change my clothes, I had to go home at some time that day.

  When I arrived home, all of the guys were there. I heard their voices, all of them talking over each other and sounding excited.

  I closed the main door as quietly as possible. There was a chance they didn’t hear me come home over their chatter. Not that I could completely avoid them, but I went into my room swiftly and closed door. My heartbeat was already racing. I felt nervous about facing each of them individually and together.

  My stomach churned. I felt physically ill.

  The huge urge to simply run away and never face them and never tell them I was leaving loomed great.

  Yet I’d avoided the accommodation office. I hadn’t signed anything, no one had done a check on me, and I’d paid no deposit. I’d avoided taking that step toward committing to a new home.

  I sorted out a bag of clean clothes and stuff I might need to allow me two clear nights out at Nathan’s place. All the while I packed a bag I also wondered how I’d face the guys and what I’d say.

  The decision was made easy when I heard a knock at my door.

  “Sophie, dinner is ready.” They must’ve heard me arrive home. “Sophie, it’s Ben.”

  “I heard, Ben. Thanks, I’ll be out in a minute,” I replied.

  “Can I speak to you?”

  I opened the door.

  “Sophie, I just want two minutes.” He glanced toward the kitchen and back at me. “Can I come in, please?”

  I open the door wider as my eyes skimmed the room as I did so.

  The boys didn’t usually come in my room. My room was always such a mess compared to theirs and the rest of the house, so I preferred to keep my door closed and visitors out. Fortunately, the constant mess meant it wasn’t obvious that I was sorting through stuff and packing an overnight bag.

  As my room remained private, he wouldn’t know whether it looked different from usual.

  “What’s the matter?” As I asked, the irony was he could be asking me the same thing. But he knocked on my door. I got to ask the questions.

  “They are waiting for dinner. I just needed to tell you, one-to-one, that I like you a lot, Sophie. I’d love there to be something between us, and I understand you don’t want that, so I want you to know I won’t make life uncomfortable for you. I'm here if you change your mind, but don’t let what happened between us stop you from dating my brothers.”

  I sat down on the edge of my bed before my legs gave way beneath me. I wasn’t expecting him to say that.

  “I just thought you should know it wouldn’t create any bad feelings between us if you were to start seeing my brothers.” He turned back toward the door as if he were ready to leave.

  “Your brothers?”

  “Pardon?”

  “You said your brothers. I'm hardly going to date both of your brothers at the same time.”

  “They’d like it if you did. We’d all like to date you, Sophie.” Whatever the hell he had in mind, I didn’t discover because he then promptly left the room.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  SOPHIE

  I closed the door behind me and followed Ben out of my room and along the hallway.

  Carlos and Adam were sitting at the table engaged in conversation.

  I went and sat at the table in my usual seat. Would I have a usual seat if I lived in another home?

  Ben walked directly to the oven and stood next to it. I realized the food wasn’t ready; he’d probably just put it in as it was Ben’s night to cook. In my next home would we have communal meals and a cooking schedule?

  Ben’s night could probably be renamed pizza night. Pizzas didn’t take long to cook, which was why Ben didn’t show any intentions of lingering in my room for a lengthy discussion or we’d be having burnt offerings.

  “I'm glad you’re here tonight,” said Adam.

  I felt guilty for not returning more of his texts. Only at that moment did it occur to me that after what we did he probably felt rejected, just as Ben did.

  Carl nodded. “We missed you yesterday, but thanks for the lovely food. You obviously cooked before you went out.”

  I shrugged. “No problem.”

  “I'm sorry about yesterday. I hope you don’t feel you have to avoid me because of that. Next time I'm planning to take my clothes off in public I’ll let you know.”

  Lost for words, I shrugged again. I had no right to make Carl feel bad about his legitimate part-time job.

  “I may as well tell you if I ever get a chance to be in a Spencer Tunick installation I’ll be there. With no clothes whatsoever,” Carl declared gleefully.

  I laughed.

  Adam tilted his head and blinked.

  “Spencer Tunick is famous for his photographs of large gatherings of nude people in iconic public places,” I explained.

  “You’d know his work if you saw it. In some of it the people are colored blue,” Carl said.

  I wondered why he thought the blue people detail was the one thing worth mentioning, rather than any of the famous images and locations. The triplets had a history together, and I was still on the outside.

  Adam picked up his phone. “Tunick?” he said as he tapped on the screen. He remained silent as he read or looked at the art, I couldn’t tell which.

  “I couldn’t imagine gathering with hundreds of naked people,” I said to Carl.

  “So when I do, you’ll have to come along and hold my clothes.” His eyes sparkled with humor.

  “I will. It’d be cool to be a part of creating something like that,” I agreed and began to wonder when and where the next opportunity would be.

  “Thousands gather for these things. I can’t believe I'm saying this, but I’d do it too.” Adam looked up from the phone and smiled. “It seems a bit like being in a flash mob.”

  “Yes, but with less dancing and fewer clothes and completely legal.” Tuned into my artist’s brain, I couldn’t help thinking allowed. “The three of you together, looking so alike but different. Um, the right artist could do beautiful things with your bodies.”

  Carl nodded. We understood each other.

  “You could be the artist who does beautiful things with our bodies if you want, Sophie.” Adam stared intently across the table at me, and I wasn�
�t sure whether he was thinking about art or if it was my mind that went to the gutter.

  I gulped.

  “I'm sorry, Sophie, about the night before. If I went too far. We don’t have to do anything like that again unless you want to, in which case I’d be all for it.”

  My cheeks flushed. That was the sort of conversation I’d expect to have in private, not in front of an audience. Carl watched me, and when I glanced up at Ben, he leaned across the countertop.

  “Two minutes left on the timer,” Ben said.

  Thank you for saving me, I thought. Adam still looked as if he wanted an answer.

  “I don’t have to forgive you for anything. You don’t need to say sorry, you’ve done nothing wrong.”

  “Great. So we’re all friends again. No bad feeling. No holding grudges,” said Carl.

  I couldn’t help smiling too. I’d dreaded how awkward this situation might become, but it was turning out fine. I’d treated each one of these guys badly. Not terribly, but they deserved better.

  Ben suddenly appeared beside me holding a plate of olives and sun dried tomatoes, which he placed in the center of the table. He was keeping up with the conversation too.

  “I owe you guys apologies all around, I think. I may not have been polite and considerate. I’ll try to do better in the future.”

  Adam responded, “You don’t need to worry. I won’t hold a grudge against you. I won’t hold anything against you that you don’t want. And that’s a promise. I'm totally up for holding things close if you want to.”

  I think I should have been blushing at Adam’s innuendo, but we were all so busy laughing, except Ben who was whooping. The guys were over the top and funny. And I knew everything was back to normal.

  I loved these guys and their sense of humor. Their openness with each other amazed me.

  It felt as if it were my turn to say something again; I looked down at my fingers that fidgeted on the table.

  “I like you all. I couldn’t possibly choose between you and date one of you. If that’s what you’re asking, which is perhaps not what you meant. If you’re offering friends with benefits… no.” I shook my head. If they didn’t want to date me and this was a casual encounter they were talking about, then I was afraid I embarrassed myself. I regretted saying anything at all.

  Carl coughed and ran his fingers through his hair. “I’ve really enjoyed hanging out with you since you moved in and I would definitely like us to date if you would be willing.”

  For a moment, it felt as if I was sucked into a void that contained just Carl and myself and no one else was there. Not the other brothers. Not the room. Not the rest of the city. That lasted just long enough for me to say nothing.

  Adam broke the spell. “You and Carl would make a great couple, but don’t decide just yet. I think there may be a few other offers. I happen to know at least one or two other guys who’d like to date you.” A flirty smile flickered across his face, which made me grin.

  I could tell this evening was going to be fun.

  Before anyone could say anything else, a piercing beeping sound came from Ben’s direction. “Hold that thought; we’re not finished yet. Pizza is done,” he announced as he pulled open the oven door.

  He brought two huge pizzas, cut into slices, to the table along with garlic bread and a bowl of salad. Catering wasn’t Ben’s thing, but he always fed us well nevertheless. He sat down with us.

  Presented with colorful food and a delicious aroma made me realize how hungry I was. The guys must have felt the same. For a few minutes, we focused on the food rather than conversation.

  After we’d all eaten our first slice and were some way into the second, Ben said, “Now is no time to change the subject, Sophie. The truth is we’d all like to date you.”

  I looked around the table at each of their faces.

  They were all looking at me. Each man nodded when we made eye contact.

  “We’re serious about a relationship,” Carl said.

  “Why doesn’t it surprise me that you three seem to have discussed this?” I rubbed my arm and then my face. “Are you three asking if I want to choose one of you? I like you all, and this is really awkward.”

  Adam bit into his pizza and watched me.

  Ben bit his lip.

  Carl placed his hand down flat on the table. “No, that’s not what we’re saying at all. I mean if you do want to date one of us it would be fine. We’d like to know if you’d think about a relationship with all of us. I know it’s unusual, but people do that kind of thing. We’d like to try that with you.”

  I couldn’t help but giggle. What does a girl say to something like that?

  “Now, everyone, please eat the food before it gets cold. I went to a lot of trouble preparing this.”

  As he so often did, Ben lightened the mood and saved me from the pressure to give an immediate answer.

  We all looked down at the food on our plates and picked up slices of pizza.

  “And it is delicious. Thanks,” Carl said.

  When the three guys were both sweet and sexy, what girl wouldn’t be tempted to turn our dinner arrangement into something more romantic?

  They’d offered me all my Christmases at once. From being a boring girl from a small town, I’d become somebody three hot guys all wanted at the same time.

  And instead of having to choose between them, they were suggesting the most outrageous thing of all. How could that even work?

  I pulled out my phone to send a text to Nathan. Whatever happened, I didn’t need to run away that night. Far from it. I had to stay with the triplets and uncover the full extent of their intentions.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  BEN

  As far as I was concerned, we’d laid our cards on the table. If Sophie wanted to pick any or all of them up, the ball was firmly in her court.

  Having thought I was close, I’ve been rejected once. She knew I was still interested and I wasn’t about to push it. After all, we were still friends, and we lived in the same apartment. I didn’t want her to freak out and think I turned into some pushy housemate who she needed to avoid.

  We’d all been getting along perfectly well, it seemed to me, before any of us had made physical contact. There was no reason to suddenly start acting weird.

  Things were a little weird, no matter how much I tried to pretend they weren’t.

  Much as I’d shared everything with my brothers, I’d never actually shared a woman with them.

  We’d never shared a girlfriend or a one-night stand.

  Things were different with Sophie; for one thing, I’d never felt this way about a woman before. Physical attractions and lust, I’d had those feelings. But after the friendship I’d built up with Sophie, the way I felt about her was something new.

  I had all these emotions churning inside.

  The past few days when I hadn’t seen her, I’d missed her terribly. And I couldn’t stop thinking about her.

  This wasn’t the sort of thing I’d generally talk about. I’d never tell my friends. My brothers were different. And I’d confessed how her rejection hurt as bad as real physical pain.

  Of course, they laughed, joked, and ribbed me about it. And then admitted they felt much the same way about her.

  We discussed sharing Sophie, and there were things we hadn’t discussed. But those things wouldn’t matter if Sophie wasn’t interested. We were going to take our lead from her.

  After we’d finished eating dinner, Adam made some comment about dessert that set him and Sophie sniggering. Even Carl started to laugh. I suspected there was a private joke and I wasn’t in on it.

  They all went and sat on the sofa in front of the TV, Sophie in the middle, my bros either side of her. Adam had his arm casually draped over the back of the seat behind Sophie. I rolled my eyes; his behavior was so corny.

  After clearing the plates from the table, I fished in the freezer for multiple tubs of ice cream, strawberry, vanilla and chocolate. I’d serve them a triple de
light. I grated some chocolate over it and topped it with crumbled cookies.

  I took the ice cream to them to eat in front of the TV, so Adam had to take his arm from behind Sophie’s head. I sat down in a chair to eat my own.

  The TV was on as background entertainment. None of us wanted to watch it, I was sure. Some ridiculous gameshow distracted us from the things we wanted to talk about. Tucking into bowls of ice cream seemed to relieve the tension. We didn’t have to speak about anything, and it gave us something to focus our attention on and do with our hands. We didn’t have to talk, but we could make comments about the sweet and delicious dessert.

  The sound of spoons clinking against the ceramic bowls was the only sound apart from the TV for a couple of minutes, and then Sophie said, “I'm sorry about biting your head off over the modeling. I feel guilty about that. I had no right to do that you. It wouldn’t have been a problem if it had been anyone else so it shouldn’t have been a problem that I knew you.”

  “No worries. I should’ve told you.” Carl dropped his spoon into his bowl and then placed the empty bowl on the table.

  “Yeah, well, forget it. I am curious, though, how you got into being a model at my college when you don’t even go to the same school?”

  “Many of my photography classes were at your campus last year, actually. But as for the life class modeling, your art school were casting a wider net than just among their own students. I saw a notice on the board a few years ago when we first started college. Needless to say, a lot of the guys though it a hilarious joke. A few of them went through with it once. I think the drop out rate can be high.”

  Sophie giggled. “I can imagine. It did look like a pretty boring job.”

  Quite a few of the guys who did do it but only once.

  “Exactly. I don’t do it often.”

  “Nathan gave you his number; he’s specializing in the male body. Are you going to contact him? I want you to know that I don’t mind if you do. Not that you need my permission.”