Page 35 of Cueball & Double-Z (Alpha’s Rejects #5)

Listening to Marco’s story hurt on a visceral level because I related to it so much.

My guilt and self-loathing were what caused me to be unable to speak.

His had completely isolated him. Gio’s had turned to anger and lashing out.

We were three men who shared similar trauma.

We became one with Marco’s story. We were meant to find each other.

I knew Gio and I were there to help Marco. He was meant to help us.

God, the pain he suffered. We all suffered—more than anyone should.

The three of us were still standing in the kitchen when I glanced at Gio, who was watching Marco, admitting his feelings for both of us. My heart was racing with excitement. I wanted to talk more about us. Desperate for it, but Marco needed his rest.

Gio’s eyes met mine, softening, warming.

How had I not seen his love for me? I’d been so blind.

How did one see so much, yet miss that most important detail that could’ve changed the direction of our lives?

Then again, this was the road we were supposed to be on.

I wasn’t meant to see his love until now.

I really believed that. Sometimes things just happen for a reason that we don’t see until it does.

‘Thank you for telling me how you feel,’ I signed to Gio as I reached for his face.

He leaned into my touch before grabbing me by my shirt, inching his face closer to me, and pressing his lips to mine.

This was truly home. His lips were so soft and a little tentative, so I poked at his mouth with my tongue, and he opened up to me, allowing me to swipe inside.

His fingers dug into my hips, pulling me against him as we still clung to Marco.

Not wanting to ignore Marco, I eased away.

Gio and I rested our foreheads together before facing our beautiful third.

Hopefully, our third, after we talked. He looked exhausted and emotionally drained.

I hated that he hurt so much, but I was grateful he trusted us enough to tell his story.

Despite his exhaustion, a small smile formed on his lips, though his eyes remained sad and in pain.

I freed my hands from them so I could sign.

‘Do you believe you’re destined for more than one person?

’ The question was directed at Marco specifically because it was clear Shane had been his soulmate.

But I wanted to be one, too. One for Gio.

One for Marco. And they were mine. I could feel it. But if he didn’t see it that way…

His amber eyes were rimmed in red as he thought about my question.

Then, he nodded slowly after a minute. “Before I met you and Gio, I would’ve said no.

Shane had been it for me. But now? I truly believe that you can have more than one person in your life.

Two even.” He chuckled softly, eyeing Gio before pinning his eyes back on me.

“To answer your question… yes, I do. I wouldn’t have let you in and shown you my trauma had I not believed that. ”

More proof that we were entwined together.

“As tired as I am, I think we need to clear some things up first, especially about those who are meant for us.” Marco took our hands and led us back into the living room.

We sat on the couch together with Gio and me sitting on either side of him, as if he were the center of us.

“What do you think about that, Gio? What do you think about sharing Cole? ”

Gio lifted his eyes to look at Marco, then they landed on me. “I always thought Cole was it for me, though I never told him my feelings. I’m… sorry for that. It’s just that I never thought it’d be possible. I can be really stupid sometimes. But yes, I’m surprisingly okay with this.”

I shook my head no and told him he was smart, just afraid. I hadn’t said anything, either.

Gio curled up to Marco, rested his head on his shoulder, but he reached for me, tucking strands of hair behind my ears.

Then his fingers grazed my jaw, looking at me with blue eyes that were the color of a storm over the sea.

For the first time since I could remember, he looked comfortable.

At peace. Not to mention adorable, snuggled into Marco, who had a thick arm wrapped around Gio’s waist. Gio wasn’t much of a snuggler except at night while we slept, though I wasn’t sure he realized it.

It was nice to see him being comfortably affectionate.

Yeah, I could see Marco as not only our lover, but our protector. And he would. I knew he would go above and beyond for us now that he was a bit out of his head.

I gave Gio the sign that I loved him again, using his nickname this time. I wanted it to be clear how I felt. It brought tears to his eyes, but he didn’t look away. “I love you too, Zilch.”

“Double-Z,” Marco said, chuckling.

Gio looked up at him strangely. “What?”

“You’re Double-Z.” He shrugged and smiled. “It’s easier to say than Zero and Zilch. I’d been using the name in my head, along with chaos brothers and chaos gremlins. Although I told Aiden what I called you.”

‘That’s cute,’ I signed, giggling. ‘I like it.’

Gio smiled. “Yeah, I like it, too, though not sure about the gremlin part.”

“Purely out of endearment, I assure you.”

I climbed onto Marco’s lap, placed my hands on their heads, and looked at each one, wishing for once in my fucking life since I lost my ability to speak that I could tell them how much they meant to me.

We’d only known Marco for six weeks, but I felt the love coming on for that man, especially after tonight.

After he tore open his very soul just for us.

I felt so… special, like we were just as important to him as he was to us. I was sure Gio did, too .

I removed my hands and quickly signed to Marco. ‘You’re a therapist, right? Help me speak.’

He shook his head, so that was a no without having to say it, but he signed and spoke out loud. “I’m not a therapist anymore. Those days are over for me, Cole.”

“It doesn’t have to be,” Gio said. “You can still be a therapist again. I bet you’d be a good one, too.”

I nodded in agreement.

He sighed with sad and tired amber eyes.

“Even if I were or even wanted to, you don’t need help, Cole.

Sure, you probably still have trauma to contend with, and you should talk to a therapist about it.

Both of you should. However, if you want to speak again, it’s best to do so with the guidance of a speech pathologist. Regardless, you communicate just fine.

Any therapist will tell you the same. If you’re happy using your hands over your voice, who’s to say what the right way to talk is? ”

I huffed and had to slow my hands down. I tended to sign rapidly when frustrated. ‘People get annoyed.’

“Not everyone. Hell, people can get annoyed with those who can talk, too, and over idiotic things.”

My shoulders sagged, and I reluctantly agreed. ‘I guess, but I want to talk sometimes.’

Marco forked his thick fingers through my hair, pushing it away from my face. “We’ll figure it out, okay?”

‘Okay.’

“I agree with Marco, Cole.”

Right then, I didn’t want to talk about any more heavy stuff, and I was sure Marco was over it, too. What I wanted was some more kisses. But I didn’t ask.

Marco yawned loudly and stood, reaching his hands out to us. Gio and I each grabbed one, and he hefted us onto our feet. “Let’s go to bed.” Gio tugged away to head to our room, but Marco stopped him. “You’re both with me.”

My heart raced, and my stomach dipped in excitement. That was Marco’s way of telling us we belonged. We belonged with him. I was sure of it.

When we reached his room, Marco grabbed the hem of his hoodie, leaving his T-shirt on underneath. Then he stood close to Gio and me. We were just standing there, unsure of what to do, waiting for Marco to guide us. I was so out of my element.

“Before we go to sleep, I need to see it again. I need to see something other than the pain still stuck in my mind. Give me something beautiful to help me sleep.”

I furrowed my brows, not sure what he was talking about, but then my eyes grew wide, and my breathing picked up as his large hand forked through my hair again and grabbed a handful of it.

Then he tugged me toward Gio. “Kiss him,” he ordered.

“Watching you two make out is a hundred times better than that shit show from me earlier. Maybe I’ll be lucky enough to see that in my dreams rather than the expected nightmares. ”

Gio leaned forward and pressed his lips to mine, with my head completely controlled by Marco.

It felt so right kissing him. It hadn’t mattered in that moment that he’d been my stepbrother for eight years.

All that mattered was that moment. Soon, our kiss grew heated and sloppy.

I was completely inexperienced, so I mostly followed Gio’s lead.

“You two are beautiful together,” Marco rasped, pulling our attention away. “That’s exactly what I needed.”

When Marco let go of my hair, I pressed my hands to his chest and leaned forward, letting him run the show if he wanted.

I’d yet to kiss him, and I itched to do it.

To feel how full his lips were against mine.

To see if they were as soft as Gio’s. I side-eyed Gio for permission, seeing only curiosity and heat.

Then he nodded to me, like he could read my mind and knew what I wanted.

I looked up at Marco, also asking for permission because he was tired and emotionally drained. He said he wanted something nice to sleep with, but I was torn between needing to kiss him and making him go to sleep. But then he said, “It’s okay, Cole.”