Page 121 of B is for Beg

“It sounds like we’re all on the same wavelength,” I say. “Or under the same stars.”

“I like that, Sir.”

“That’ll be our saying, then,” I promise him. “To show we want the same things.”

“Move in with us, baby boy?” Gabe asks.

“This isn’t us swooping in to save you,” I say. “If you want to live alone, we’ll both respect that, but wouldn’t you rather share a bed with us every night than sleep on your own?”

Blake cracks a smile. “Yes, I would. I don’t know if Icouldsurvive on my own, but I’m not sure finding out is a good enough reason to turn down the chance to live with you. But I am worried I’ll let you down.”

“You won’t,” Gabe says. “There might be months where you need a little help, but they’ll be balanced out by better months. Are you in debt to your brothers?”

Blake shakes his head fiercely. “Ialwayspay them back.”

“Which means you’ll always pay us back too. We’re your partners, Blake. We’ll support you, and you’ll support us. That’s how relationships work.”

“Okay, Sir.”

“Okay, you’ll move in with us?”

“Yes.”

I kiss him hard and then kiss Gabe with equal passion.

“In future, if something’s bothering you,talkto us before you get to breaking point, okay?”

“Yes, Sir. I promise I will.”

“Can we sit up now?” Gabe asks. “I’m freezing my balls off.”

Laughing, we all sit and cuddle up together. Now that we’re really close, I can tell Blake is shivering. I hold him tighter, and Gabe does the same, our bodies pressing up to him, hopefully providing him with warmth. I kiss his forehead, Gabe kisses his cheek, and then we’re all swapping kisses. I close my eyes and find their lips and cheeks with ease. I know which one I’m kissing by the feel of them. Gabe’s beard tickles, while Blake’s smooth jaw is soft against my skin. He wraps his arms around our necks, pulling us even closer to him. We both end up kissing his neck as he tips his head back.

“Let’s get you somewhere warm, princess,” I say, not wanting to get too carried away. We might be the only ones around, but we are in a public park. Besides, like Gabe said, the ground is cold enough to freeze our balls off. “Do you want to go back to yours?”

Blake shakes his head. “No, but I’d better text Corey. It was shitty of me to run out on him like that.”

He sends a text, and then we all stand and, arm in arm, walk towards the park entrance.

“Howdoyou know so much about stars?” Gabe asks.

“Books, mostly. I used to have a whole shelf dedicated to star maps and information about the universe.”

“Do you have any more facts to impress us with?”

“Black holes don’t suck stuff into them like some cosmic hoover.”

“I’m going to have that image in my head all night,” I say.

“If they don’t suck stuff in, what do they do?” Gabe asks.

“Pull,” Blake says. “Things are pulled into them because they have a strong gravitational attraction.”

“I think that means you’re a black hole, baby boy,” Gabe muses.

“How so?”

“You pulled both Cal and me into your field of gravity.”