Page 29 of Filthy Rich Brother’s Best Friends (Filthy Rich Harems #5)

Lola

F or the first time in months, I feel whole.

I may have woken up alone this morning, but I don’t feel lonely. My muscles protest when I move, and the ache throughout my body is deep. I’m sore in places I didn’t even know could ache.

I don’t regret a second of it.

My studio may be a mess and my living situation is far from ideal, but I’m feeling tentatively hopeful about my love life. A love life I was adamantly against just a few weeks ago. Funny how I went from wanting no men to begging three to give this a chance.

I reach for my phone and I’m surprised to see the corner of a folded note tucked just beneath it.

Don’t forget to eat. We’ll talk later—anything you need, I’m here. — J

Jude…I hold the paper to my chest for a second before I set it aside. A text buzzes through as I unlock my screen.

Miles: Hope you’re okay. I’m around if you want company.

Another message comes through from Reid. This one doesn’t have any pretty words or promises. It does, however, have a link to a playlist. I tap it and listen to the first track.

I sink deeper into the mattress and let it wash over me. The vocals have a raw edge I feel all the way through me. It’s exactly the kind of music I like.

I’m not used to this kind of peace. It feels fragile. And I am scared that if I move too quickly it could disappear. But I want to stop self-sabotaging. I want to let this in and hold onto it for as long as I can.

I read their messages again and smile.

My fingers hover over the keyboard for longer than I want to admit before I finally type out the words I’ve been thinking about since I woke up.

Lola: Dinner tonight? I think we need to talk about everything.

They respond immediately.

I let my phone fall to the mattress beside me and close my eyes. I know we still have a lot to figure out. None of this is going to be simple. But I want this more than I’ve wanted anything and I’m willing to put in the work if they are.

Reid stabs a fork into one of the cartons and leans back against the counter. Jude pulls plates down from the cabinet. Miles sets a glass of water beside my seat and brushes his fingers across my shoulder before he sits down.

The table is full: dumplings, noodles, sticky rice, spring rolls. I ordered too much, but I’m sure these three will finish it off.

I sit between Jude and Miles. Reid’s across from me. He keeps looking at me with his super-intense stare.

We eat for a few minutes without saying anything important. A few mumbled comments about how good everything tastes. Jude asks Reid to pass the sauce. Miles starts to hand me a napkin, then changes his mind and dabs a spot off my cheek instead.

My heart feels almost as full as my stomach.

Eventually, I push my plate back and rest my hands in my lap.

“We need to talk,” I say stiffly, even though they already know that.

They all offer me their full attention.

“I don’t want to pretend this is simple,” I continue. “It’s not.”

Jude’s hand finds mine under the table. He doesn’t interrupt, which I’m thankful for. I want to get this all out before I lose my nerve.

“I care about each of you. I don’t have an easy way to explain how or why, but I do.” I exhale slowly. “I just need to know where we stand.”

Miles speaks first. “I’m in.”

Jude nods beside me. “Me too.”

“I don’t know what it’s supposed to look like yet, which is not easy for me,” Miles says. “But I do know I want this.”

Jude tilts his head and gives me a big smile. “I’ve never done anything like this before, but I’m not going to run from it just because it’s new. I’m here. All in. I’ve known from the moment I met you that you were meant to be mine. I can see now that you’re meant to be theirs, too.”

My gaze moves to Reid. He meets it without blinking.

“I meant what I said earlier,” he tells me. “I don’t know how to do this. But I know I’m not walking away.”

There’s a pause before he adds, “I’m not—I know I haven’t always been easy. You and I have always clashed. And I have a past that isn't exactly sunshine and rainbows. But I’ve wanted you for as long as I’ve known you, Lola. I want to try.”

My throat is too tight to speak for a second.

“Okay,” I say, once I trust my voice. “So we figure it out together. We check in. We talk when things get hard. No one gets to shut down or pull away without explanation.”

“Open honesty,” Miles says. “Even when it sucks.”

They all look at me.

I lift my chin. “Yes. Complete honesty and I’ll start. I’m struggling with my business. I know you all already know this but I want to fully admit that’s what’s going on. I’m not asking for help, but you need to know that I am going to put everything into trying to save my studio.”

“Whatever you need, please let us know, Lola. We want to help you succeed as much as you want to stand on your own. Part of this needs to be you asking for help when you need it. You have all three of us to lean on. Don’t shoulder everything alone, okay?” Jude says.

The emotions that rush through me are intense. I need this kind of support so much but it still scares me.

Jude continues. “So…boundaries? What do you each want?”

“No one else—just the four of us. I know that’s asking a lot since I’m not exactly monogamous here, but I can’t do this if you guys are with other women.”

Jude gently brushes the back of my hand. “You’re not asking too much, babe.”

“I have no desire to be with anyone else anyway,” Miles adds. “That ended the second you kissed me.”

“I haven’t touched anyone else since I first touched you, Lo-lo. I don’t want anyone else. You’re…you’re it for me.”

The relief fills me. What did I do to deserve this?

“Thank you.”

“You’re ours,” Jude says quietly. “We’re yours.”

I sigh. There’s something else I need to say.

“This thing with Gigi…” I glance at Reid. “It’s going to blow up.”

Reid’s jaw tightens, but he nods. “Yeah. I know.”

“She already warned me off you. She’s not going to just let this slide.”

“I’ll handle her,” he says. “It’s my mess.”

“You sure?” Miles asks.

“I should’ve cut it off sooner. I didn’t. That’s on me.”

“And if she takes it out on Lola?” Jude asks.

“She won’t get the chance.”

Reid seems super confident that he can make this go away. But I know Gigi and I’m not so sure. I’ve seen her in situations like this in the past and she shredded anyone that got in her way.

“And then of course Wes is also an issue in all of this,” I say.

All three men nod solemnly.

“I’m pretty sure he’s not going to be happy about any of this, but I’m a grown woman. He’ll have to accept it.”

All the guys nod but I know they’re worried about that part more than anything.

Eventually Jude reaches for another dumpling. “So we’re doing this, then. For real.”

“We’re doing it,” Miles confirms.“One step at a time.”

I nod. “One conversation at a time.”

Reid lifts his water glass. “To us.”

I lift mine too. “To us.”