Doing Taboo Things

“And your mom, and Baxter for that matter, know it’s inevitable.”

“That doesn’t mean she’ll be okay with it if Jamison and I were to get together. Besides,” I tack on a truth I’ve only recently accepted myself, “I could never pick one over the other. I want them both.”

Charlotte reaches across the small table and grabs my hand. Her expression is earnest as she looks at me. “I may not know your mom well, but you can’t let whatever she may feel get in your way. It’s plain for everyone to see how the three of you feel for each other. Even right now,” she looks past me to where the guys are, “under the smoldering heat in their eyes,” she winks with a playful grin, “you can’t miss the deep affection they have for you. And I know you feel the same. Be with both of them if that’s what the three of you want.”

What Charlotte said makes me feel marginally better. I know, if any of these girls were in my situation, I’d be giving them the same advice. The question is, do Jamison and Reed want that type of relationship with me? A romantic one that’ll hopefully last beyond sex? Will Jamison be okay if our parents are against it?

A tingle of awareness ripples down my spine a second before I feel a hand nudge my back where it rests against the back of my chair.

“Afternoon, ladies.”

I peek up at Reed as he smiles at my friends first then sets his eyes on me. Where he’s standing, which is almost between Camila and me, tells me it’s not his hand on my chair. Jamison is at his side, slightly behind me, his intense gaze focused on me.

“Reed. Jamison. How’s it going?” Camila asks, tipping her head back to see the two men better. I look back at my friend to see a twinkle in her eye.

“It’s better now,” Reed answers for them both.

Jamison’s hand moves from my chair and his fingers skim across the back of my neck underneath my hair. I hold back a shiver at the barely there touch.

“I roped Jamison into coming with me to Mom’s place to fix her roof.” Reed holds up a paper bag. “Just grabbing lunch before we head over there.”

“Anything else new going on?”

I narrow my eyes at Camila.

“A few things.”

“Oh?” She grins. “Do tell.”

I stomp on Camila’s foot underneath the table and very subtly shake my head, sending the silent message that she needs to shut her mouth. Of course, she ignores me completely.

“Why do I get the feeling you already know?”

She leans back in her seat, turning sideways to see Reed better. She crosses her arms over her chest, and her grin grows. “Probably because we already do.”

I feel Reed’s chuckle deep in my belly.

“You ladies have fun. We’re heading out before I get a call from Mom wondering where we are.”

I look at Reed again. He looks like he’s a second away from leaning down to kiss me, and God help me, I want him to. I want it from both of them.

Unfortunately for me, he just winks, flashes his killer smile, and turns to leave. Jamison’s hand falls away from my neck, and I want to snatch it back, then beg him to touch me in other places. He doesn’t smile when he walks away, but his eyes linger on me for a moment.

“Girl, you’ve got it bad.”

At Taylor’s comment, I turn back to the table after watching them leave through the door. Tossing my elbows on the table, I drop my face into my hands. “So damn bad,” I mumble.