Two Hotties Next Door

“Yes, that.”

“I was worried, Meredith. This is your life, and I know you’re talented. What I didn’t want to do was give you more stuff to stress about. I will handle that part of things. I just need you to find the love that makes you draw, that makes you paint.”

“Thank you.”

“I never for a second doubted that you’d find that spark again that makes you you. I better get going. Think about what we talked about.”

“I will.”

She saw him to the door and watched him leave. He gave a final wave before turning off the street. Closing the door, she leaned against it, taking a deep breath. Everything was going to be fine. Of course it would be fine.

For nearly twelve years she’d avoided anything as serious as she’d had with Jess. Her work always came first, and now, for the first time, she wanted something more.

It was unconventional, different, weird to a point, but it was what she wanted more than anything.

Stepping away from the door, she made her way upstairs toward her studio. Ace and Brett spent just as much time as she did in this space. They were always posing for her, making her laugh, showing her how to have some fun. She loved every second of her time with them.

This house was purchased in the chance of her finding her love of her art once again after she had lost that fire. She had found her way back to what she loved. Ace and Brett had been part of that.

They’d been her reason for getting up some mornings, just to see their smiles. Her sadness wasn’t part of her anymore. It was nothing more than a distant memory. She was more than what she had been, and she knew it was because of Brett and Ace.

She stared at the piece she was working on. It showed Brett and Ace in bed. This one clearly showed their faces, and on the end of the bed was her, a blanket thrown across her ass, her leg lifted in the air. No one saw her face, but she knew it was her. Her hair was bound up on top of her head.

She loved both of those men, and there was no way she could choose one.

“What have you gotten me into?” she said, touching the wall of the house. She rested her head against it, and then laughed. “Great, now I’m a crazy person talking to walls as if they hear me.”

Meredith didn’t believe in the tales of houses drawing people together. It was a nice thought, sentimental and a bit scary, but she truly believed that it was single people who happened to live close together, learning about each other, and then falling in love. Houses didn’t have a way of making people fall in love.

They brought people together, and then time helped people to fall in love.

****

“Did you get it?” Ace asked, sitting opposite him at the café.

“I got it.” Brett pulled out the engagement ring he’d picked up and showed it to his friend. They’d both made the choice a few days ago but needed some time to finish the payment, as it had been a little out of their budget.

“It’s beautiful,” Ace said.

“So, do you have the plan in place?”

“Garden is nearly complete. I’ve got the table. You’ve got date night tonight, so you need to distract her so that I can finish setting it up.”

“I don’t usually go out for date night.”

“Well do. I don’t want her to check on me or anything.”

“We’ve already picked the music, right?” Brett asked.

“Yeah. I’ve got dinner cooking right now. It’s in the slow cooker, and the wine is chilling in the fridge.”

“So all I’ve got to do is distract her.”

“I would, but I think she’d get a little suspicious as it’s your date night.”

“I know. I know.”

“You’re sure about this?”

“I’ve never been more sure about anything else. We’re in agreement though?”

“Our date night stands, but for the rest of our life, we all want to be together, yes?” Ace asked.

“Yes.”

“You’re nervous?”

“Wouldn’t you be?”

“All you’re doing is distracting her. I don’t see a problem with that.”

Brett smiled. “This is the first time I’ve ever proposed to anyone, at all.”

“I get it. Don’t forget I’ve never proposed either.”

“Will gave us his blessing.”

“He did?”

“Yes, I asked him the last time he visited.”

“Shoot. She’s seeing him today. You don’t think he’s talked, do you?”

“Nah, he wouldn’t do that.” Brett ran a hand down his face. “We are really going to do this.”

“Yeah, we really are.” He snapped the box closed and handed it to Ace. “You keep hold of that.”

“I will.”

With their lunch over with, their plan in place, Brett finished with his last client of the day and made his way home.

The scent of whatever Ace was cooking filled the air and made his mouth water, but he wouldn’t allow himself to get distracted.