Our Love Story

It’s awkward and the guys and I quickly discuss our relationship status before the interview starts—after Mason and me were caught kissing.

“You two need to be a couple now, and we’ll go along with it,” Ethan says. “I know you didn’t want to do that, Chloe, but it will keep questions at bay. I know you aren’t ready to go public yet.”

I can tell this kills Noah. He has told me countless times how proud he is of being mine, and same with Enzo. But I appreciate Ethan’s suggestion. Acting like I’m in an exclusive relationship with Mason will help keep attention off of us until we decide how we want to proceed. Well, until I decide. I’m the one who is scared of other people’s opinions.

“Fine, but that doesn’t mean I won’t be bringing her to bed with me,” Noah says.

I smile and give Noah a quick kiss. “We just need to be discreet. And Ethan’s right. Black Bull crews will be around all week and Drew and Amy will be here.”

Enzo groans. “This is torture. You know, Ethan, how on the plane you were asking where we should head next? I vote for a cabin in the middle of nowhere, off the grid.”

“I’m all for that,” I say. “But in the meantime, we need to go tell the story of how Mason got injured, okay?”* * *Amy arrives a little after ten, and the guys and I are sitting outside on the porch overlooking the ocean, a fire pit blazing, and glasses of wine in our hands. I went to Trader Joe’s and got a bunch of goodies so Amy wouldn’t be deprived, and I’ve put together a cheese plate, have all sorts of yummy chocolates in the kitchen and got her favorite Prosecco after conferring with Mason.

When she arrives, she hugs her older brother, taking in the fact he’s in a wheelchair, with a bandaged leg, still healing. The rest of the guys have known Amy forever, all being from the same hometown, and she easily catches up with everyone while I get the cheese plate and chocolate to bring out to the patio. When I come out, Mason proudly introduces me.

“And this is our Chloe,” he says, reaching for my hand.

“It’s great to meet you,” I say, smiling.

But Amy isn’t smiling back. I know we’re the same age, and that she is still finishing her last year of college. I figured it would be easy to get to know one another, considering we have that in common, as well as knowing Mason.

“So, you just, like, follow the guys around?” Amy may love her brother and want to be here to help take care of him, but she is not a soft-hearted sweetheart. She is all tight lips and scowls. Her hair is pulled back in a tight ponytail and I wonder if she has ever let her hair down in her life. She looks about as fun as a chainsaw.

I look at Mason, not sure what he’s said to Amy about me, exactly.

“She’s my girlfriend,” Mason says firmly.

“Oh,” Amy says slowly. “Sorry, I didn’t know. I thought you said something about her and Noah going out once when we talked on the phone. I must have been confused.”

The guys and I make eye contact. I knew in my gut having Amy come was a bad idea. So what, now I’m supposed to pretend I’m not with Enzo, Ethan, and Noah? And then when I meet Noah’s family, or Enzo’s, I’m supposed to pretend I don’t love them?

I give Amy a forced smile. “What can I say?” I shrug. “We fell in love in paradise.”

Amy purses her lips. “Love? Wow, that was fast.” She looks over at her brother, but Mason’s just smiling, seemingly uninterested in the drama that this relationship might bring on.

Amy sits and I give her a glass of Prosecco, wanting her to feel at home.

“We fell fast, Amy,” Mason says. I sit down next to him, and he takes my hand. “But what we have is as real as any love in the world.”

I feel the energy of the other guys shift and one by one they all slip off to bed. I watch them leave with a longing in my heart, knowing that they had to listen to Mason and I profess our love all afternoon for the interview, and now again, for Amy. It’s a lot to swallow when the truth is, I love them all. It doesn’t seem fair.

Eventually, after I start to get to know Amy a little better—she’s a marketing major, is stressed about her parents fighting, and is worried about their little brother Michael because he got bad grades on his report card. Mason comes from a big family, and they have a lot of catching up to do. When I start yawning around midnight, I kiss Mason good night and tell Amy it’s been great meeting her.