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TRIPP

The last thing I expect to find when I get home early from class is my stepbrother dicking down my—what are we exactly? I still don’t know.

Calling Amelia my girlfriend sounds right, but I also know we haven’t really discussed what this is between us. But whatever it is, I know it should feel weird, or awful to walk in on her being fucked by Dane.

But that’s the fucking problem.

I’m not mad. I mean, I am a little shocked, agitated, sure. I’m a myriad of emotions, but I’m also hard as fuck.

Which is why I had to turn around. I had to get the fuck out of there before either of them noticed. I should feel downright ashamed at what I’d walked in on. Jealous…something.

But all I can think about is what she looked like, back arched, breasts on display, being fucked. All I can think about is wanting to march back in there and fuck her until she comes for me.

What the fuck?

“Tripp—” she calls out, and I freeze in the hallway.

I close my eyes as I try to adjust my erection, but the touch only makes it worse. My cock jumps and I try to think the most unsexy thoughts.

When I open my eyes, I can see her standing in front of me, her gaze hazy and filled with tears. And then I smell the faint scent of alcohol on her breath.

“Are you drunk?” I ask, panic rising within me. I don’t think Dane would take advantage of Amelia, but?—

“No!” she says. “I had two glasses of wine! That’s not enough to get me drunk and even if it was, it’s not enough to get me naked!”

I scoff. “Oh, I see.”

“Tripp, I’m sorry, I?—”

Her voice grates on me and I hate seeing the tears in her eyes. I don’t want to see her cry.

“It’s…fine, Mia, I?—”

“No, it’s not. I shouldn’t have?—”

“What? Shouldn’t have fucked me?” Dane’s voice pulls my attention.

“It’s complicated!” she shouts.

And then I realize two things. The first is that Amelia has feelings for Dane.

I should have known, should have seen it from the beginning. They did meet before, and we all know the story by now. Missed connection and all.

Apparently she still has those feelings, because why else would she run from me only to jump on his dick?

The second is that I have no right to tell her what she can and can’t do. Or more accurately, who. I don’t even know what we are or what this thing is between us. How can I be angry with her for doing something with Dane when we don’t have clear boundaries or definitions between us to begin with?

“I thought you had class, Tripp,” Dane growls. “You’re never home early.”

I purse my lips, hearing the accusation in his voice. The audacity. What, did he just think he could sweep Amelia off her feet and what? Steal her from me?

No, she’s not yours, Tripp. You don’t even know what you are to her!

I think about our conversation this morning. I felt like we were on the same page, but maybe I was wrong.

Because I’m pretty sure getting dicked down by Dane is a whole other book.

“What the hell are you two bitching about?” Richie gripes, and I freeze. Amelia lets out a small gasp. Richie stands in the hallway, looking between the three of us.

“Richie,” she says faintly, and I can see the worry in her eyes. But there’s something else there. Her breath catches and she bites her lip. And I don’t know how I know, I just…know.

“Not him, too…” I growl.

“What?” Dane’s voice elevates as he looks back and forth. “What the fuck are you talking about, Tripp?”

“I don’t know, Dane. Why don’t we take a show of hands? Who here has made Amelia come?”

I raise my hand as Dane scoffs at me and Richie hisses, “What the fuck?”

Amelia hides her head in her hands, and I can’t help but laugh. “Oh, so just me then, huh? Guess you two have some things to learn.”

“Shut the fuck up, asshole!” Richard yells as he steps forward. “You think you know more than I fucking do? You don’t know shit about women, Tripp. You’re a fucking kid.”

“I’m twenty-four! I am not a fucking kid! And I know more than you obviously, because you didn’t raise your hand!”

Richie’s eyes glare. “Show of hands if you made Amelia come without taking off her fucking clothes.” He raises his hand high and she screams into her hand.

“Oh my God, stop!” she yells. She flashes her gaze at Richie and then at me. “Both of you, what the hell is wrong with you?” she yells.

“I think the better question is what is going on with you ?” Dane asks, his voice faint.

“Don’t look at me like that, Dane,” she says.

“Like what?” he asks, looking between Richie and me.

“Like I don’t have your fucking cum in my panties right now.” She glares at him, then she glares at the both of us. “All of you. No one standing here is innocent. You all think you can just sway me, that you can tempt me and what, win your way into my fucking pants?”

“Amelia, that’s not—” I say.

“Of course not,” Dane says, his voice hurt.

“It’s not a competition,” Richie says, and we all look at him.

“Thank you,” Amelia says, but Richie only scoffs.

“It’s not a competition because no one can compete with a man who actually knows what he’s doing.”

“Oh for fuck’s sake, Richard,” Dane huffs.

“No! You three listen to me!” Amelia says, her voice echoing in the hall. “I came here because you all asked me to. Because I needed you.” She looks at each of us. “And you said that you were fine with me and my daughter being here. That we’d make it work.”

“That was before I walked in on you and Dane doing the fucking horizontal tango,” I say.

Her eyebrows furrow.

“What?” Richie’s voice darkens. He looks at Dane, then at Amelia, and I swear if the tension in the room wasn’t so thick, I’d laugh.

The situation, however unorthodox, is funny.

But it’s also tense as fuck because one thing is apparent.

We’ve all tasted Amelia Corbett in one way or another. We all have feelings to some varying degree. And we all want her to pick us.

Knowing she’s been with Dex is one thing. But knowing she’s been with Dane and Richie too…

I wish I could say it didn’t bother me, but it does. But not in the way one would think. I don’t care if she wants them. I just want her to want me. I don’t want to be left out of the equation or discarded before I’ve even fully taken my shot.

I meant what I said. I like Amelia a lot. I want to see where this thing between us can go.

But can I do that knowing I’m not the only one?

“I have no right to tell you what to do with your life, Mia,” I say, shifting my stance. My voice is softer now, and Richie and Dane both look at me.

“What you do—” I glance at Dane and Richie. “Or rather, who you do it with, is none of my business…”

“But…” she says, and I don’t miss the way her gaze falls on my mouth, or the way it continues to travel down my body before she looks up at me.

My heart is in my throat as I look at her. I know what I’m about to say is either going to be a relief, or it’s going to get me punched. Probably by one of my stepbrothers. But as I look at Amelia, I know I have to say it. If I don’t, I’ll regret it.

“I want a fair shot,” I say, holding my ground. Her eyes widen and Dane’s eyebrows shoot up. Richie curses.

“What?” Dane asks, nearly speechless.

“I can’t stand here and tell you that you’re mine. That you belong to me and no one else, because you’re not some thing I can own or control. You’re a person with feelings, and feelings are…”

“Complicated,” Amelia says, her voice shaking.

I nod. “Yeah, sometimes they are,” I say. I look up at my stepbrothers, at the expressions on their faces. Curious, guilty. Hopeful.

Complicated, indeed.

“So all I ask is that you give me a fair chance. I won’t push you, you know that. And I’m not going to demand exclusivity. If you want to see other people, Amelia, you can see other people. I’m fine with that, as long as I get to see you too. Just…don’t shut me out, baby.”

There’s a thick silence between us.

“I second Amelia having a choice in the matter,” Richard says gruffly. “As long as you’re okay with sharing the spotlight with someone who?—”

“Oh shut up, Richard,” Dane says. “We get it, you think you’re God’s gift to pussies.”

I roll my eyes. “Richie…”

“I’m just saying. This isn’t about us. It’s about Amelia,” he says, stepping forward. She gazes up at him, which isn’t hard to do. Richie is huge. And standing over Amelia, he looks like the damn hulk.

I don’t miss the way her eyes sparkle or her mouth slightly parts as he reaches out a hand and strokes her cheek.

“It’s about what my baby girl wants ,” he says softly, before flashing me a glare. “Not what we want.”

Dane chortles. “At least we can agree on that.”

Amelia sighs, and I realize my hand is still settled on her back while Richie’s stroking her cheek. He’s invading my space. Touching her, staring at her. But still she makes no move to shift out of my hold or away from him. In fact, it’s the opposite. She moves closer to me, dragging Richie and his touchy hands with her.

“You’re okay with me…and Amelia?” Dane asks, his voice the one to break the silence. “You’re okay with?—”

“I’m fine with what makes Amelia happy. ” I say. “And if you assholes make her happy, I’m not going to stand in the way of that.” I take two steps closer to Amelia. Gazing down into her eyes, I note the wistfulness there, the hope.

The sweetness along with the remorse.

“But I’m not going to stop pursuing her, either,” I say solidly as I stare up at Richie, burning my gaze into his. He grunts out a sound as she pulls away from him, turning to look at me. The moment she looks at me, time stands still, and I know things are about to get a whole lot more complicated.

“I meant what I said earlier, Mia.” I grab her by the chin. “If you want me, all you have to do is ask, baby,” I whisper to her. I glance at Dane with a smirk. “I’m not mad. I’m just…shocked, that’s all.”

“Shocked is the fucking understatement of the year,” Dane gripes, as Richard bites out a rather sarcastic “Seriously, Tripp?”

“Tripp,” Amelia breathes as she looks up at me.

“What you’re implying is that you are okay…dating the woman I’m also in love with?” I don’t miss the confusion in Dane’s voice.

I nod, my cock still aching. Amelia leans into me and I nod, closing my eyes.

“Both of you are just…fine with this?” Dane asks, looking between Richie and me.

“Maybe it’s not such a terrible idea,” Richie says, crossing his arms.

“What?” Amelia’s voice breaks the spell, and I realize she’s been awfully quiet.

Richie grunts a contented sound. “Think about it,” he says. “You’re not looking for a relationship right now. We all know that.”

The hallway is suddenly very quiet and Richie continues. “No, what you need is support. That’s why you’re here. Because you’re rebuilding your life.”

His words are not lost on me. They’re heavy, and I feel the weight of them as I’m more than sure Amelia does.

Richie looks between me and Dane, then at Amelia. “Part of rebuilding is figuring out what you want. And to do that, sometimes you have to do things that challenge you. But you also have to do things that feel right. I’m not asking to marry you, Amelia. Hell, I’m not even asking to date you, like some people.” He glares at me, then at Dane.

Amelia blushes, but I notice her eyes are trained on him. She doesn’t look away.

“I’m just asking for the chance to be the guy you need sometimes.”

I don’t miss the way Richie’s eye twitches when he says sometimes . I’ve known the guy long enough to know when he’s keeping shit to himself. I’d bet my Mustang he wants to be more than that. But Richie’s got his own problems. Divorce will do that to a guy, I guess.

So I get it. He’s trying to protect himself. Because this is complicated.

On so many fucking levels.

“If that’s enough for you, Amelia, it’s enough for me,” he says.

She nods. “Yes, I think it is,” she says as he slides his hand into her hair.

“Then I’m in,” Richie says.

“I guess I am too.” I open my eyes and stare down at Amelia. “If you’re okay dating me too.” I offer her a smirk. “Someone has to offset all those grumpy old man vibes,” I tease.

The smile that graces her face is the softest one I’ve ever seen. Her wistful, teary eyes gaze up at me and my heart beats a little faster. No one’s ever looked at me like that.

“Is that what you want, Tripp?” she asks. “To… date …me?”

I offer her a smile. “I think I’d like to date you, Amelia. Yes. Officially.”

I settle a hand on her waist and pull her closer, not missing the grunt that echoes in the hall from Dane or the sarcastic sigh emanating from Richard.

“But only if that’s what you want,” I say. I feel strangely exposed waiting for her answer, and it seems like an eternity until she answers me.

She nods. “I think…I think I’d like that, actually.” She turns to look back at Dane, and I don’t miss the hurt in his eyes. “Are you okay with that?” she asks shakily, staring at Dane. “With this…arrangement?”

We wait for his answer and Amelia shifts closer to Richard and me.

Dane’s gaze meets mine, and then he glances down at Amelia for only a second before he answers her. “I’m not going to pretend it’ll be easy, but…if this is what you want,” he breathes, “what you really want, Amelia, then I will be whatever you need me to be.”

He looks at her the way I imagine every woman wants a man to look at her. The desire, the longing, the love in that one look is irrefutable, and a part of me almost feels bad about shoving my way into Amelia’s list of choices.

Almost.

“It’s not that uncommon, you know,” I say, wrapping my arms around her. She falls into me with ease. I meet Dane’s steady gaze. “Plenty of people do the open relationship thing. Or the multiple partners thing.”

Dane scoffs, crossing his arms. “Still, it’s?—”

“Complicated,” Amelia says softly.

Dane looks at her, his shoulders falling. “Yeah.”

Amelia looks between us and then up at Richie. It’s only then I notice that Dane has kept his distance, but Richard stays still. His hand brushes against mine and I realize he’s holding her too.

That should piss me off. But I know for this to work I’m going to have to be open to this very scenario. Seeing them touch her. Kiss her. Fuck her. My cock jumps, remembering the sight, and I shift my stance to quell any burgeoning erections.

“So maybe we just do what feels right, then?” she asks.

Dane chews his lip. “As long as we’re all on the same page, as long as we’re honest…as long as we agree to do what feels right.” he says.

“As long as you’re happy,” I tell her. “We’ll just do what feels right, okay? No sidestepping or shady shit.” I shoot Dane a glare. “If we have a problem, we tell each other. That goes for all of us.”

I have to give the man credit where it’s due. He did plan this out perfectly, he just didn’t know I’d get out of class early. Usually I have class until ten and then I head out afterward, but after everything this morning…

I just wanted to see Amelia. I wanted to come home and make up for the awkwardness of last night.

But things are much more awkward now, that’s for sure.

“Okay,” she says, and Dane echoes the sentiment.

“Agreed,” Richard grunts.

“And if at any time it doesn’t feel right…with any of us, just tell us,” I say.

She nods, biting her lip. “Okay.”

I trace my fingers over her lips, bringing her face up to kiss me. She doesn’t startle, doesn’t shift. Only relaxes in my hold. I feel the weight of her worries, of her heightened emotions as I settle one hand on her hip and the other on her neck, kissing her eagerly. She sighs as we break apart, looking up at me from beneath her lashes.

I glance at Dane, licking my lips, and then I let her go.

Richie rolls his eyes as he shoves his hands in his pockets and heads for the kitchen. “I’m fucking starving,” he mumbles.

“Now if you don’t mind, I have a shower to take, and dinner to heat up,” I say. I remove my shirt, not missing the way Amelia’s gaze roves over me or the way Dane rolls his eyes at me.

“Un-fucking-believable,” he mutters as I laugh and Mia shakes her head.

“Good night, Mamma Mia,” I whisper as I kiss the space below her ear, my voice dark and full of interest.

“Good night, Tripp,” she says, her voice faint as I leave her and Dane just as I found them.