Page 85 of Burden of Proof

I don’t know what I wanted Silas to say, but I’m not sure that was it. Not like I wanted him to argue with me about whether I deserved a man like Hunter Covington or not. I couldn’t bear it if he thought not, if anyone did, but that didn’t make the differences between us any easier to manage.

“I don’t think like this when we’re together,” I muttered.

“Something to work on then,” he suggested.

I was about to argue the point when a group of three men I’d seen on more than one occasion stepped onto the patio from the club. I’d seen them around for years, knew them to be friends of the owners, but didn’t know their names. They were very clearly in a throuple, one of them wearing an actual collar, holding the hand of the other while the third looked between the two of them approvingly. The one who was clearly the dominant of the three scanned the patio, his attention fixing on Silas. He gave a little shove toward his partners, and then all three of them were heading toward us.

“Do you know them?” I asked.

Silas shook his head.

“Silas?” the taller of the three men asked.

The dominant.

“They know you,” I muttered under my breath.

“Yeah,” my best friend answered. “That’s me.”

“I’m Justin.” He extended his hand, and Silas gave him a quick shake. “This is Micah and Keith. We’re friends of Marshall’s, and I don’t think he’s ever properly introduced us.”

Micah was the one with the collar, Keith the hand holder.

“Oh.” Silas smiled, ever the friend to all. “Nice to meet you. This is my best friend, Lincoln.”

“We’ve seen both of you around,” Justin said, scrunching his nose. “I didn’t mean that as ominously as it sounded.”

“Yes, you did,” Keith said, raising Micah’s hand and kissing his knuckles. “Will you get us some drinks?”

“I can’t carry five,” Micah grumbled.

“Callum will help,” Justin promised.

“Yes, Sir.” Micah’s stare darted to me and Silas. “Are you drinking?”

“Water for me,” I said. “But I can come with you, help you carry everything. Si, did you want something?”

“Vodka soda.”

“It’s nice meeting the two of you,” I said to Justin and Keith, brushing past them and gesturing for Micah to join me. “And you.”

“It’s fine,” Keith said under his breath, and Justin nodded his agreement. Only after his two partners approved my help did Micah relax and follow me. The closer we got to the door, the louder the music became, and after the quiet of the patio, it was impossible to not wince stepping back into the busy club.

Micah and I made our way to the bar where the bartender greeted him warmly, like old friends. I stood there awkwardlywhile Micah rattled off all five of our drink orders, then turned to me with his elbow propped on the bar.

“You didn’t need to help,” he said.

“I know.”

“Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.” I dragged my tongue across the inside of my lower lip, really looking at Micah for the first time. He was older than me, probably closer to Hunter or Marshall’s age, but it was obvious he took care of himself. He was good-looking by anyone’s standards and surprisingly soft-spoken when he talked. “So, you’re with both of them?”

There was no real easy way to broach the subject, so I went with the direct approach. If he’d come out with one partner not two, I would have asked the same thing. It just would have sounded a lot less judgmental.

“Yeah,” Micah said simply, nodding. “Justin and I are legally married, but we’ve been with Keith for over five years now.”

I let out a whistle, eyebrows inching toward my hairline.