Page 11

~December~

“Y ou ok?” Bryce asked as he signed for the firm’s deliveries. “You’ve seemed… tired… lately.”

“Thanks,” I grumbled.

He sighed. “Sorry, but it’s true. You’ve had circles under your eyes for a couple of weeks. And…” he pouted, “you don’t flirt with me anymore.”

I forced a smile. “Sorry, Cutie. It’s just that time of year. I’ve been burning the candle at both ends. It was ten thirty when I got home last night.”

Bryce blanched. “That late?”

I nodded and leaned my elbows on the counter. “That’s the holiday shipping season for you. That’s why a temp has been picking up in the afternoon.”

He shook his head. “I knew it was busy, I guess I didn’t realize it was so bad.”

I forced a smile. “All part of the job. It was like this last year and the year before. It’ll be like this next year too.”

“Still…” he started, frown on his face.

I chuckled. “We’ve all got busy times. I bet there are days you have to stay late, too. We just all roll with it because it’s part of the job.”

“I guess…”

I stood and knocked on the counter a couple times. “Don’t worry about me. Just look forward to whatever fun plans you have this month.”

He gave me a weak smile.

“I’ve gotta keep moving,” I stated. “See you tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow…”

I smiled and strolled back out to my truck. Then I let out a long sigh.

Bryce wasn’t wrong. I was exhausted, but it wasn’t because of work.

Every night—for weeks—I’d been plagued by dreams of Axel… and Ollie. They were so intense that I’d wake up with my chest hurting when I realized they weren’t in bed with me.

Despite the long days, I didn’t want to sleep because of the sense of loss when those precious dreams weren’t real.

I wanted to wake up and be able to wrap my arms around both men.

My thoughts drifted to the last good night’s sleep I’d had: after I’d sucked off Axel in the bar’s bathroom. I’d gone to bed with the memory of his taste on my tongue, and the combination of his and Ollie’s scents from when he’d been kissing me.

Something deep within had been sated that night, and had been angry that there hadn’t been a repeat performance ever since.

I’d avoided the bar the first couple days after, just to keep things from getting awkward. Then the holiday season kicked in, and I was too tired after the late shifts to go to the bar. The couple times I did drag my exhausted ass in, Axel was nowhere to be found.

I didn’t know what I expected. I knew he had to be as busy with work as I was. But the disappointment was strong.

I drove to my next stop, hoping that I’d run into Axel.

It wasn’t much, but the highlights of my day had become those brief seconds when I saw him or Ollie. Those interactions were like the stars—pinpricks of light peeking through the dark.

Something had to change, and I’d decided that as soon as the holiday season was over, I’d figure out which one of them I’d approach about dating.

I wanted both. But I knew better. Choices had to be made.

All I knew was that things couldn’t continue as they had been. The sense that my apartment wasn’t my home… the dreams of Axel and Ollie…

There was only so much a man could take, and I’d reached my breaking point.

I just had to get through Christmas.