“Look, I’ll understand if any of you change your mind,” I said. “If you do, I’ll kill the story. I’ll tell Chloe we’re not running it, and that’ll be that.”
“You can do that?” asked Dante.
“Yes. It was always a part of my contract that I had a kill switch on anything. I’ve never used it, but I will.”
“You’d lose your job though,” Trey pointed out.
I shrugged. “Probably.”
The guys still weren’t saying anything. I pushed my dessert away and heaved a sigh.
“At this point I don’t care about my job,” I said. “I mean sure, I love what I do, but I can always do it somewhere else. Wherever I end up, I’ll land on my feet.”
They were staring back at me, their faces blank.
“What I care most about,” I said, pointing to each of them in a circle. “Is this.”
A warmth rose up inside me as I said the words. They were heartfelt. I meant them. Best of all, it felt good to finally be able to mean them with someone. Or even better… three someones.
“I’ll tell her the story’s dead,” I said, reaching for the last of my drink. “First thing tomorrow—”
“No.”
The word came from Adam, but I could tell the sentiment came from all three. Trey and Dante were nodding slowly beside their friend, in a gesture of solidarity.
“Let the story run,” said Adam. “It’s important to you, Brooke. Important to your career. After all this is Cosmo. That’s a huge deal for you, and even more so for your magazine. We’re not going to let that die over a few little names.”
“Besides,” added Dante. “If we keep what we have together? We’ll have to come out of the closet regarding our relationship someday. One by one our friends and family are going to find out, regardless of whether we want them to. Some will be accepting. Some won’t.”
“All of them will be freaked the hell out,” Adam laughed, “but he’s right. Ultimately we want to do it on our own terms, not be exposed by some article. But hey, it’s only a few names.”
“A few first names,” Trey pointed out.
My heart swelled, my whole body filled with emotion. One by one I stared at them; their eyes all locked on me. I marveled at the looks of contentment on their handsome faces. The genuine sincerity of their warm, happy smiles.
This is where you belong.
For once the voice inside me wasn’t sarcastic, or negative, or even the slightest bit skeptical. It was encouraging. Affirmative.
They’ve been looking for you. And somehow, you… them.
I’d never felt safer and more secure. More needed and desired and protected, than with these three gorgeous, perfect men.
“I love you.”
I said it calmly and firmly, to all three of them at once. Their already excited faces lit up even more.
“We love you too, Brooke,” said Adam. “All of us.”
A lump formed in my throat. The others were staring back at me, eyes glimmering from the little candle in the center of our table.
“I’ve loved you since you first stepped into our elevator,” said Dante. “And didn’t run screaming when we closed the gate.”
I laughed, and my face split with the biggest smile. Then I felt a soft touch, and Trey took my hand.
“I loved you the moment you finished that half-sui all by yourself,” he smiled. “From that moment on, I knew you were my girl.”
I practically flung myself across the table, straight into their arms. Hugging and kissing each and every one of them, far past caring if anyone saw.