Show & Sell

Normally, I wouldn’t care what my brothers think of my dating life. I would break a verbal contract with them, no problem. But we’ve been warring against each other for so many years, and I’m tired of it.

I’ll admit that, after my father died, there was a tiny piece of hope in my heart that maybe my family could patch up.

We bid on Aurora. We bought her. Then, we devirginized her.

I smirk. It’s the most time we’ve spent together as a family in a while.

Aurora is the glue holding us together. And now I’ll have to ruin all of that by admitting the truth—that I have no intentions of leaving Aurora alone.

It doesn’t take them long to get to my office. I barely have time to make a drink so that I can take the edge off and prepare myself for another reunion of the Grayson triplets.

Jasper’s the first to come in. “What’s all this about Aurora?”

“Why don’t you calm down, man, and have a seat?” I tell him patiently.

“Just tell me what’s going on. I don’t have all day.”

“Well brother, we need Declan here, don’t we? I don’t want have to repeat myself.”

I turn towards him, wondering why he’s so hung up on Aurora. I have a sinking suspicion in the pit of my stomach that my brothers might be into her as well.

Declan walks in without even knocking. “What’s up?” he says.

I cordially offer them some of my finest scotch.

“That’s great,” Jasper says, “but fancy liquor isn’t going to derail the situation. Why did you call us down here? What do you have to say about Aurora?”

I frown but keep my mouth shout. No point in starting an argument the minute he sets foot onto my part of the world.

“Good to see you, too, Jasper.”

I motion for them to take a seat.

The air thickens with hostility. I already regret having called them.

Why had I thought doing this in person was a good idea? I would have been better off sending them each a text message and then changing my phone number.

I glance from one to the other. Maybe they won’t care that I saw Aurora and want to see her again. Maybe they have no interest in her.

“Okay fine,” I say. “I called you in here for a specific reason. I want to ask Aurora out, and I’ve had date with her already.”

There, I fucking said it.

Now, I brace for the thunderstorm.

Jasper will do the shouting, and Declan will add the pointed, biting comments.

But neither of them says anything...at first.

“But you couldn’t have...” Declan starts, but Jasper cuts him off.

“So much for the band of brothers and our secret oath and all that shit,” he throws at me.

I let out a breath, trying to remain calm. “Jasper, we didn’t swear a secret oath or anything else. We simply—”

“I fucked her, too,” Declan interrupts, and we shift our attention to him.

The air in my office is getting heavier. We can all feel the aggression, the tension. It’s tangible.

I’m fucking pissed. I never imagined my own brother would go behind my back and do this.

And yet, I know I’m being a hypocrite. I did the same thing after all.

The only words that get out of my lips are, “Holy fuck.”

“Okay,” Jasper begins, “I’ve done it with her, too.”

I stare at each of them in disbelief. I called this meeting to make it known that I have my sights set on Aurora.

Now, I find out that she’s been with both of my brothers. Fuck.

And the competition begins again. Can we ever go a fucking minute without there being a woman between us?

My possessive nature kicks in. I want to punch both of them, but I don’t. I need to get the full story first.

“What the fuck are you guys talking about?” I ask, trying to tame my rage.

We look at each for a long moment.

Finally I say, “I knew you couldn’t keep a promise. I don’t know why I tried again with you guys.”

“What are you talking about, Finn?” Declan says. “You’re the reason we’re here. You broke your promise, too.”

I hate to admit that he’s right, but I never expected to have to compete for her. It didn’t even really cross my mind.

But now I realize that my brothers are as devious as ever. I should’ve known that someone as gorgeous as Aurora would come between us.

“Shut up, Declan,” I say bitingly. “I didn’t know you guys were betraying me this entire time, stabbing me in the back.”

“I don’t know what you guys are fighting about,” Jasper says. “She’s going to pick me anyway.”

Now my rage is bubbling to the surface, and it’s hard to contain. The last thing I need is to deal with Jasper’s arrogant attitude.

“What makes you think that, huh, Jasper? You don’t know her the way I do. You have no idea what we have,” I say the words, but I can’t help wondering at their connection.