“She said ‘no’ once again.”
“That’s nothing new, but it’s still frustrating.”
Maddox nodded. “After we kissed she even admitted to me she liked it.”
“What else did she say to cause her to rush out of the kitchen? Verbatim, Maddox. Start when you kissed her.”
“Well, she turned me down to go a date with us, saying I was very nice to keep asking but it wasn’t possible for her. I felt the moment was right. I pulled her in close and kissed her. I could feel her responding to me, so I said ‘You can’t tell me you didn’t enjoy that.’ She looked me in the eyes and said, ‘You kiss fantastic, Maddox, but that’s not the problem.’”
“Why would she say that?” Zane was so confused. “God, she was really upset, Maddox. You should have seen her.”
“I’m sorry. I hope I didn’t fuck everything up. If we don’t figure this out right now, we might not have any chance with Toni.”
“But we are going to figure it out. Together. We always do.”
“We have to, Zane. Even though we haven’t been on a single date with Toni I’m already crazy about her.”
“Me, too, and I haven’t got to kiss her yet.”
Maddox grinned and a little of the tension eased. “What now?”
“I’m wondering if we have been approaching her the wrong way. What if Toni has issues with dating the two of us at the same time? What if that’s what has been holding her back? Or the ‘problem’ as she puts it? I haven’t given that much thought before because Izzy and Cami are okay being with two men. But I should have thought about it.”
“You’re right, Zane. We both should have thought about it. I was just wondering the same thing before I kissed her. Maybe Toni isn’t on the same page as Izzy and Cami. Maybe Toni would agree to go out on one-on-one dates.”
“She might. But you know how long it’s been since either of us have been on a date without the other.”
“Years.” Maddox shrugged. “But what has two-on-one dates gotten us? We’ve got to meet some nice ladies but no one serious. Toni is special.”
“Very special. I can imagine you and I spending the rest of our lives with her.”
“If we’re lucky,” Maddox said, reminding him of his earlier conversation with Roberto and Miguel. “Where is she, anyway?”
“She went to our table.”
“Shouldn’t we go sit with her?”
He shook his head. “Not until we work out how we’re going to proceed.”
“Agreed. Which one of us is going to get to ask her out first? That’s what you’re wondering, isn’t it?”
Zane nodded and leaned in close to his brother. “We could flip for it.”
“Or we could decide with rock-paper-scissors.” Maddox frowned. “This really sucks. We both want to go out with her. Together.”
Just then, Clay and Jay walked up, each holding a plate of the dessert that the Sanchez brothers had made for the occasion.
“Hey, guys.” Clay took a bite of his dessert. “You’ve got to taste this. Roberto and Miguel outdid themselves this time.”
Jay nodded, looking down at his. “It really is amazing.”
“I’m sure it is, but before we get some and taste it, Maddox and I have something very serious we need to ask your advice about.”
“Sure.” Clay leaned forward. “Anything. Just ask.”
He and Maddox recounted what had happened with Toni in the kitchen, from Maddox’s kiss to her bumping into him in the dining room.
“She’s confused and says there’s a problem.” Zane sighed, feeling the gravity of the situation.