The Gallery (Contemporary Reverse Harem 4)

Was this really happening? To me?

“Like I said, gentlemen, I love you all.” I sat up and took the chance to meet each of their gazes.

They looked so happy. Content.

“And because I love you all,” I continued, “I can’t choose just one. I am just unable to. So I’m going to walk away. I won’t have any of you, but then I don’t have to live with the pain of having hurt any of you.”

I could feel my heart breaking into a thousand pieces. I’d known what it was like to pine for someone I loved, but to feel that way for FOUR guys?

I grabbed my dress and pulled it over my head. I had no idea what happened to my panties. But it didn’t matter.

Chapter 30

GIO

Well, if that wasn’t the damnedest thing.

“What the hell just happened?” Ash asked.

Sumner finished straightening his clothes and stood. “Christ, I don’t know if I’ve ever seen anyone hightail that fast. I’m going after her.”

“Wait a minute,” Ash said. “Maybe she needs some time.”

“I don’t know. This is bullshit. She needs to know we want to share—” Sumner said.

I reached to grab my friend by the arm. “Hold on, fratello. Let’s think this through, first. The woman needed to get away from us for a reason. Let her have a moment.”

Sumner shook his head. “Look, Gio, I appreciate your European sensibility of taking things slow, but this is a woman we love. We can’t let her run away without trying to stop her.”

Chase held his hands up. “Hold on, Sum. I think Gio has a point. She’s been through a lot. I mean, that party at the Hamptons where everyone was talking about her was only a few weeks ago. Her life’s gone upside down. And then, we came along.” A small smile washed over his face, and he rubbed his temples.

“He has a point, Sum,” Ash added.

I turned to see Blu bounding up the stairs to the loft, his red curls flying in every direction. “I just saw Avril leaving like her pants were on fire. She didn’t even say good night.”

With his hands on his hips, he looked at each of us, his eyes narrowed. “What happened?” he asked, accusation written all over his face. “What did you do?”

“Blu, nothing happened. She’s just conflicted.”

The other guys nodded in agreement.

“It’s perfectly understandable,” I said.

He lowered his shoulders back to their normal position. “All right. What are you assholes going to do?” he asked with a smile. “I mean, are you gonna sit there like a bunch of idiots, or go get your girl?”

He’d always known how to handle a tense moment.

The guys nominated me and my ‘European ways’—which asshole had said that, anyway?—to talk to the beautiful Avril. We had full respect for whatever decision she might make, and we wanted her to know that, first and foremost.

“Darling?” I asked, when she picked up my call on her cell. I was afraid she might be avoiding our calls, but it would seem luck was on my side.

“Gio,” she said softly.

“Cara, you sound so sad. Please do not be sad because of me and the ragazzi.”

She sighed deeply. “I know. I just got…overwhelmed, I guess.”

“Do you feel like some company? How ‘bout I come over?” I aske