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“Wait, what? Are you serious?” Harrison squeaks.

I nod grimly. “Thin walls and all that.”

Daniel whistles. “How did your old man take it?”

“Surprisingly well, believe it or not. He gave me the whole ‘as long as you’re being safe’ speech and then reminisced about his and Mom’s wild days.”

Daniel makes a face. “Ew.”

“Tell me about it,” I mutter, shuddering at the memory.

Darlene comes back with our drinks. “Tell your brother hi for me,” she says, winking at me before sashaying off.

“Will do,” I call after her before mouthingno fucking wayto Daniel and Harrison.

Darlene has been chasing after Roy since their high school days. They were two years apart, but that didn’t stop her from decorating her locker with pictures of him playing baseball and asking him to homecoming and prom. He said yes whenever she asked, because he’s a nice guy. But they never went all the way. I think she’s still waiting for that to happen.

“Are your parents truly okay with…you know…us?” Daniel unfolds his napkin and places it on his lap. Harrison does the same.

I follow their example. “Yeah, they are. I think Roy is too.”

Daniel smiles widely and reaches across the table to grab my hand. Harrison covers our hands with his own, completing whatever weird little circuit we’ve got going on here.

“That’s the best news I’ve heard all day, bro.”

And you know what? He’s absolutely right.

Chapter 31

A Throuple, If You Will

Harrison

“A little higher,”I instruct Daniel while teetering precariously on his shoulders. The muscles in his neck flex as he tilts his head back to peer up at me with a sly grin.

“You sure about that? Might be hard to keep my balance with you squirming around up there.” He punctuates his words by playfully pinching my ass. I yelp in surprise, nearly losing my grip on the banner.

“Watch it, mister,” I warn him. “Unless you want to be the one to explain to Esther why her birthday banner is crooked.”

Daniel chuckles, the sound rumbling through his body and into mine, making my dick twitch. “All right, all right. Hold still.”

He adjusts his stance, his strong hands gripping my thighs to steady me. With a few more tugs and tweaks, the banner is finally in place, proclaiming “Happy Birthday, Esther!” in bold, colorful letters. I take a moment to survey our handiwork and the transformation of the once-ordinary backyard into a party that would make Gatsby jealous.

Strings of twinkling lights crisscross overhead, emitting a warm glow over the evening scene. Balloons in shades of pink and gold sway gently in the breeze, tied to the backs of rented folding chairs. A long table draped in a white cloth stands readyto hold a feast, while a makeshift dance floor has been set up on the lawn.

I glance down at Daniel, my heart about to burst as I take in his handsome face.

“Looks good,” he says, nodding in approval at the banner. “Ready to come down?”

I nod, and Daniel squats, bracing his hands on his knees as I carefully slide off his shoulders. My feet slap the ground with a soft thud, and I wobble momentarily before finding my balance. Then, leaning forward, I cup his face in my hands. “I think I deserve a reward for all my hard work.”

Daniel’s grin turns wicked. “Is that so?”

He tilts his head and captures my lips in a passionate kiss that makes my toes curl in my shoes. I lose myself in the feeling of his mouth moving against mine, the scrape of his stubble against my skin, the heat of his body seeping into me. I never want it to end, but it does, as a pointed cough sounds from our left.

We break apart, flushed and breathless, to find Charlie smirking at us. “While I have no problem with this public display of affection, my parents want to keep the party rated E for everyone.”

“Speak for yourself,” says a voice I don’t recognize.