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Gwen

W hat had I done? Leaning against my closed door, I bent down and hyperventilated. The taste of Clark and Tenzin still lingered on my lips. I just told them I liked them. When had it gone from bathtub lust to wait for me? I want a relationship with you both?

It was true. I wanted to be with both of them.

Clark’s kiss had been eager. Tenzin’s tentative, but sweet.

I craved more…

Could the three of us even make a functional relationship? What did I know about being with more than one guy?

I took a super quick shower, mostly to wash off the stink of my nightmare, which still clung to my skin. There was a knock on the door right as I’d pulled on some leggings, with a sports bra, and a tank-top.

“Come in?” My heart pounded.

The door opened and Clark slipped in, wearing workout clothes and holding a little white kitten.

“Meet Snowball. I have her litter box set up in my bathroom, and her food and water in the kitchen by the washer. Tomorrow we can go to the pet store and get her some toys. Maybe order a cat tree?” He held out the little kitty.

“Hi, Snowball.” I bundled the tiny, soft thing into my arms and she sniffed me curiously. My heart melted.

Clark beamed as he got closer to me. “My sisters, um, also told me I should finally tell you that I like you and I’m willing to wait.”

His cheeks pinked, and something about his eager, but bashful expression made me want to kiss him.

Instead, I planted a kiss on Snowball’s furry head. “Your sisters are smart.”

He got us a cat. She was perfect, small and fluffy.

And he liked me back.

Wait, finally? How long had he liked me?

“The idea of you two being jealous of each other made my stomach churn. Would you be okay if I liked you both?” I scratched Snowball’s little head.

“Yes, I’d be okay with you liking my crush. But did you have to say you’re fine with us liking each other out loud like that? I mean, he might not like me. We don’t even know each other.” His embarrassment was evident. Also cute.

“I’m okay with it. I might want to watch sometimes. The idea of you two kissing gives me a lady boner,” I admitted. So did the idea of me being smooshed between them.

Clark’s face brightened. “I enjoyed seeing him kiss you. Why didn’t you tell me that your friend Tens was the Yeti?”

“It started off innocently. He’d signed with the Knights, but wasn’t ready to make it public due to his ex. Then it just became funny. You should have seen Carlos’ face.” I laughed.

“I can imagine,” he replied.

“As for the kiss, I can’t believe I did that.” I ducked my head, focusing on Snowball.

Clark’s arm slipped around my waist. “I’m happy you did. Like I said, I can wait. I’ll work on getting to know Tens. I can’t promise we’ll end up lovers. But can you imagine being railed by him?”

I looked up into his eyes, framed by his black glasses. “I have imagined that. Usually you’re railing me together.”

His eyes looked like they’d bulge out of their sockets. “Gweny.”

“I’m sad, not dead.”

“You’re still sad?” His hand smoothed my hair.

“Not about my ex. It’s more like I’m mourning the time I lost and the decisions I made, because I didn’t realize we were only playing house. I thought we were actually building our lives together.” I leaned into his touch. It was more than that, but it was a good start.

His forehead tipped to mine. “I’m right here. So, is this good for yoga in the park?”

“Your outfit is great. I’m going to throw my bedding in to wash while we’re out. My room smells weird from the nightmare.” If I could smell it, Clark definitely could.

I put Snowball down, tossed everything in the washer, drank my coffee, then grabbed my stuff. There was a knock on the door.

Tenzin stood there, dressed in a T-shirt advertising fishing gear and workout shorts.

“I… I hope I didn’t freak you out,” I told him, belly twisting.

“Only a little?” Tenzin admitted.

“We can forget it happened for now. Bring it back up when we’re ready?” I offered.

He nodded. “I’d like that.”

Me, too, Tens, me, too.

“Hydrosteel might sponsor you? That’s great,” Tenzin said as we sipped our coffees and walked around the zoo after yoga in the park.

“They’d make a great sponsor. I hope they sign you. I like the blue hydrogels,” I replied. Which were little squeezy packets of electrolyte gels and one of the company’s many sports hydration products.

“Hopefully tonight’s event will go okay.” Clark nodded. “I’m helping my family upgrade their business and paying for my siblings’ educations. Another sponsor would be helpful.”

Tenzin nodded. “Your family fixes farm machinery?”

“Yep. We have the family tractor repair business, and a small engine repair shop that is mostly the domain of my teen sisters with a little oversight from one of my grandfathers.” His eyes lit up. “One of my sisters holds the state title in chainsaw carving.”

“Sounds fun,” Tenzin replied. “I attended high school in Nashville. It was a shock to move there from the Himalayas. But I loved it. One of my favorite things was going to fairs, where chainsaw carving isn’t uncommon.”

“You grew up in the Himalayas? I didn’t know that.” Clark blinked.

I liked seeing them get along.

“That’s why they call me the Yeti,” Tenzin explained. “Most of my parents were scientists, working at a research station there. They met at university. Though one of my moms was a mountain guide.”

“I saw that ad from the Yeti Soap Co. The one with you in the shower.” I waggled my eyebrows.

Tenzin laughed. “I didn’t know that was out.”

“Oooh, I like their shower gel. Some of my parents met at the university. Ma was studying social work. My dads were all studying business and engineering,” Clark replied. “Ma dropped out when one of my grandmas died. Grandma was an omega and everything went into a tailspin. My dads helped Ma out, and, well, never left the farm. Everyone finished their education eventually. They found Mom at a mixer at the Omega Center.”

Packs could go to shit when their omegas died. I’d seen firsthand what my mom’s death did to my dads. In some ways, it was better that my nonna and her pack died all together.

“What about you? I know your dads are assholes, but the few times you’ve mentioned your mom, you seem like you really loved her,” Tenzin asked me.

I sighed as I led them toward the tiger enclosure. “Yeah, I miss her so much. She attended Posey, an omega school here in New York, and was in the choir. She met one of my dads at a reception after one of her concerts. He chased her around the world, running into her on accident . Babo’s a hopeless romantic.” I rolled my eyes.

“He introduced her to his pack, and eventually, she graduated and moved to live with them, mated them, and had the eight of us. They loved her a lot and I’ll admit some of their assholery is directly connected to losing her. I just don’t like it focused on me, even if I’m the baby of the family.”

“That makes sense.” Tenzin squeezed my hand.

“Where did you live when you weren’t with your nonna upstate?” Clark asked.

“Vancouver. That’s why I’d never play for the Belugas and also, why I’m afraid of Canada. I know Quebec is on the other side of the country, but what if I run into someone I know and they tell the dads they saw me?” Fear shot through me.

Clark put an arm around me, snuggling me to him. “I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

“You’re an adult, you have nothing to fear from them,” Tenzin assured.

I took a deep breath, enjoying the safety of his embrace. “I’ll keep telling myself that.”

“Um, are you doing the calendar again for Bare Armor?” Clark didn’t meet Tenzin’s eyes, as we leaned against the outer rail of the tiger enclosure.

“I am. Will I see you there this week?” Tenzin replied. “It should be fun.”

“Maybe you’ll be roommates.” I grinned. “And there will only be one bed.”

Clark laughed. “Sorry, but Gwen thinks we should hook up.”

Tenzin got that deer-in-the-headlights look. “I… I’m not ready for any of that.”

“Sorry. Keep it in your head, Gweny.” Clark bumped my hip with his. “You can tell me when we’re alone,” he whispered.

I couldn’t help but giggle and I took both their hands. “Now let’s go see Marty. Maybe today we can take him for a walk.”