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T obias stared angrily down at the swimming pool.

That had gotten fucked up quick.

And why? Why had he exploded like that?

Because you thought Jenner was accusing you of hurting Immy.

He would never harm Immy and the fucker should know that. But he guessed that he’d also been on edge because he’d been worried about Immy. He’d known something was wrong, he just hadn’t known what it was.

And that had been riding him.

Worry over her . . . thinking that he’d done the wrong thing . . . it had all piled up and exploded when he’d seen her in Jenner’s arms.

Yeah, he’d been fucking jealous.

“That went completely wrong.”

Surprised, Tobias turned as Jenner walked out, carrying two beers.

Tobias raised his eyebrows. After Immy had rushed up the stairs, Jenner had followed. Tobias had wanted to run after her as well. But he’d already realized that he’d fucked things up.

He didn’t need to take it a step further.

He’d done enough damage today.

Fuck.

The last thing he’d ever want is to mess things up with Immy. And now he fucking might have.

Because he’d been too fucking arrogant.

“One way to put it,” he replied, reaching for the beer and opening it. He drank down half of it in one go.

“I fucked up,” Jenner said. “When Immy cries . . . fuck, I just lost my mind. Said things I shouldn’t. Christ, I’ve been going to therapy to deal with my shit, now I need to add temper issues into the mix?”

“You don’t have a temper issue,” Tobias told him. “Therapy?”

Jenner nodded. Then he sighed. “Yeah, I decided I needed to try therapy again. My father was an abusive prick and he messed things up in my head that I’m trying to unravel. Most of that stuff has to do with Immy.”

“It does?”

Jenner turned to him. “I love her. I’m in love with her. I know you know this since we had a conversation where I said I couldn’t fight for her. But?—”

“You changed your mind.”

“Yeah, and it seems it was a case of too little too late. Not saying that to make you feel sorry for me. Just trying to explain why I exploded in there. You’re getting everything I wanted. Just want to make sure you deserve her. But, clearly, you’re a better man than me.”

“Even though I’m a criminal and Alejandro owns me?” Tobias asked.

Jenner winced.

Yeah. Jenner was definitely a better man than him. It was clear that he felt bad for what he’d said to Tobias.

Tobias had just cared about his relationship with Immy and how he’d messed that up.

“I shouldn’t have said those things.”

“They’re fucking true, though. I don’t deserve Immy.”

Jenner let out a puff of laughter that had no humor in it. “No one does. Immy is the very best person I know and neither of us deserve her. Yet, here we are, both wanting her.”

“I’m not stepping aside. I get that she’s loved you forever, but that doesn’t mean I’m giving up on her. I want Immy. I love Immy.”

“You love her?” Jenner grew pale.

“Yes, I do.”

Jenner straightened his shoulders. “And you expect I’ll just step aside? When I love her too?”

“You were willing to not that long ago. You weren’t going to fight for her.”

“That changed.”

“Yeah. Why? And why wouldn’t it change again?”

“It changed when she kissed me.”

He stiffened. Fuck.

“So one kiss and you want her?”

“One kiss and I ran. And then I couldn’t look at her because I felt like the biggest asshole in the world.

I thought I was going to ruin her, to hurt her.

So I’ve been going to therapy and unraveling my feelings for Immy.

I’ve been separating my feelings from the threads of abuse at the hands of my father.

I love her. I might not deserve her. And maybe I should step aside. But I know she loves me as well.”

They both stared at each other.

Fuck. Fuck!

He could probably plant seeds of doubt in this man’s mind about Immy’s love. He could keep her for himself. But then what? He went back to New York with Immy?

Was that what she’d want? Would she want to be without her friends here? Without Jenner?

“I’m a bastard. I’m selfish and I always get what I want.”

Jenner blinked at him.

“I want Immy. And I’d do whatever I had to in order to get her.”

Jenner’s face tightened.

“But there’s something else I’ve learned about myself. When you love someone, you fucking put them first.” He didn’t like it, but it was the truth. “Also, I’ve learned that Immy has so much love inside her, it’s ridiculous. She certainly has enough love for two men.”

“What . . . what the hell are you saying?” Jenner asked.

“I’m saying that we share her. That we don’t force her to choose, but we give her what she wants. Both of us.”

Jenner let the shock of those words hit him.

Share her?

They couldn’t do that, right?

“How would we split up her time? What would that look like?” Jenner asked.

“I don’t know the ins and outs of it, man. Just know that she wants us both.”

Jenner thought about it . . . about what sharing her might look like. At the Camp, some of the men had multiple wives, including the Deity.

God, he hadn’t thought of those poor women in a while.

They’d looked so lifeless. So beaten down. He didn’t know what the fuck that bastard had done to them, he just hoped they’d gone on to a better life.

He knew that wasn’t a good representation of a relationship like that. What would it even be called? Polyamorous? Menage?

He let himself think about what it would be like if he was in a relationship with Immy . . . and with Tobias.

Maybe he’d get jealous sometimes. But there were also times when it could be a good thing.

Tobias could keep her safe, especially at concerts, when they were touring.

And Tobias wouldn’t let Jenner hurt her. Not that he was going to, he’d learned that through therapy. However, there was still a seed of doubt and he thought there might always be.

Tobias had been in a relationship with a Little before. Jenner had been taking classes so he didn’t mess anything up, but having Tobias there for those things would be a relief.

So what do you bring to the party?

Well. He knew Immy probably better than anyone. He actually thought he knew what had happened just before, even though it had taken him a moment to work it out.

He could support them all if necessary. He knew how to take care of her in other ways. Her health.

And he could love her. He’d love her so hard and so much that she wouldn’t remember a time when he hadn’t loved her.

“That could work.”

Tobias looked shocked. The other man was usually so guarded with his thoughts and feelings that it took Jenner by surprise.

“Why are you so shocked?” Jenner asked. “You suggested it.”

“Uh, yeah. I guess I just didn’t expect you to agree so quickly.

“I think this could work” Jenner said slowly. “I think between us, we could take care of Immy. And we both love her. If we didn’t do this, we could both lose her. And Immy needs us.”

“You think you could share her with me?”

“I don’t know exactly what that would look like,” he admitted.

“But I’ve actually been reading some of the books that Immy likes and she reads a number of menage and reverse harem books.

We can truly share her or work something out.

But the main thing we need to be able to do is talk. Communication and honesty.”

Tobias grunted and nodded. “Yeah. This is fucking weird, though, right?”

“It is. But I just wanted to say that I’m sorry again for the things I said before. I think you’re a good man, Tobias. You’ve been good for Immy. You’ve taken care of her. You’ve given her what she needs, protected her. You were even helping her with her Little.”

“Until that went fucking south. Still don’t know what happened there.”

“I think I might,” Jenner offered. “She was having a good time at the playground, I’m guessing?”

“Yeah, she was so happy. Laughing, playing, a bit upset with me for threatening to punish her, but . . . I didn’t think she was that upset.”

“It wasn’t that, I don’t think. I think it was sub-drop.”

Tobias stared at him for a long moment. “Fuck. Why didn’t I think of that?”

“You weren’t exactly scening, it probably wasn’t clear. But Immy isn’t used to letting go fully. Her Little is often present, but she’s always denied that she is a Little to herself. She was riding the high of giving in and letting herself just be . . . and then she had to stop.”

“And she fucking crashed. Fuck,” Tobias said, running his fingers through his hair.

“We need to be careful of that happening again,” Jenner said. “Watch that she doesn’t have to abruptly shift from Little to Big. It would do her good to spend more time in Little headspace. Could be it will always happen, but we need to learn how to help her through it.”

“Yeah, agreed.”

“So we’ve come to our first agreement. Maybe we should hash out some more things before . . .”

“Before we talk to Immy.”

“I know that Immy’s agreement is key, but it’s important we’re on the same page. It will help her feel more secure.”

Tobias nodded. “Agreed.”

Twenty minutes later, Jenner stretched. He felt exhausted but he was also buzzing. However, his doubts were growing too.

If Immy didn’t agree to any of this, then it could all fall apart.

“Let’s go talk to her,” Tobias suggested.

They headed upstairs and Tobias knocked on her door. “Immy? Immy, let us in.”

Jenner frowned. It wasn’t like her to hold a grudge for this long.

“Immy? Open up or we’re coming in,” Tobias said.

Still nothing.

That was strange. Tobias turned the handle and stepped in.

Shit. She wasn’t in here.

“Where the hell is she?” Tobias turned around and rushed downstairs.

Jenner pulled out his phone to call her, but it went to voicemail.

“Immy, call me. Immediately.”

“Her car is gone!” Tobias yelled.

Fuck.