Page 19 of Pucking Tangled

NINETEEN

Owen

They made it back to the house still riding the high from their win, while Owen silently contemplated how they were going to address the elephant in the room.

Mia greeted them at the door with Skeeter by her side. Both excited to see them. Mia gave them each a hug that lingered a little longer than normal.

She rattled on for a bit about how excited the game had been and thanked Luca over and over for inviting her to come. It was clear that they had grown close, and something was building under the surface.

As the night wore on, the tension grew thicker around everyone until Mia eventually excused herself.

She said it had been an emotional whirlwind of a day and she was tired.

No one protested. They wished her a good night, then went their separate ways to shower and get settled for the night, but not before Owen made sure they all saw his text.

Owen: House meeting. The four of us only. Kitchen. Thirty minutes.

They all silently acknowledged his message and scattered.

Now Waylon was leaning against the fridge with a beer in his hand.

Luca was fidgeting like a toddler on one of the barstools while Casey paced back and forth, nervous energy radiating off of both of them like smoke.

Owen stood at the counter with his hands crossed over his chest, staring at the House Rules posted on the fridge that had been recently modified.

11. If you’re gonna fall for someone in this house, do it all the way.

Mia was obviously on to them.

Like always, Owen spoke up first, breaking the silence and taking the lead. “I’m pretty sure we all know why we’re standing here. And I think it’s time we stop pretending.”

“Pretending what?” Waylon started. “Like we’re all not falling for the same girl?”

Luca let out a barely audible gasp but remained quiet.

“Yeah. That,” Casey sniped.

Owen wasn’t the least bit surprised that Casey was in a foul mood.

He had been almost unhinged, feral, when they were finally alone.

Even an orgasm couldn’t help his boyfriend settle down.

The realization that Luca had made a move hit Casey like a ton of bricks.

He told Owen that he was afraid that after all this time, he’d lost his chance .

Luca’s demeanor shifted. The rookie flexed his hands a few times and his shoulders tensed.

“Luca, is there something you want to say?” Owen pushed.

He swallowed hard. “I—” Luca cleared his throat. “I haven’t said much because…because I didn’t know how to.”

“Just say it, man,” Waylon said, his voice surprisingly gentle for being the most abrasive guy in the group.

“I like her. A lot.” Luca’s voice cracked just slightly. “But it's not just that. I…I’ve never done this before.”

Waylon raised a brow. “Never done what? Hooked up with a roommate? Happens to the best of us,” he smirked.

“No,” Luca shook his head, cheeks flushing. “I mean… I’ve never been with anyone. At all.”

You could have heard a pin drop as his admission lingered.

“You’re serious?” Waylon blinked.

If the situation wasn’t so personal and private, Owen would have laughed—but only at Waylon’s expression as he processed what Luca had just told them.

Luca nodded, eyes locked on the floor. “It’s not like I planned it this way. I just—I don’t trust easily. And I always wanted my first time to be with someone who actually meant something to me. Mia means something to me.”

“She means something to all of us,” Casey quipped.

Ignoring Casey for a moment, Owen stepped up behind Luca and squeezed his shoulder. “That’s not something to be embarrassed about.”

“Hell no,” Waylon added, almost defensively. “If anything, it makes you the only one of us not completely emotionally screwed up.”

“I don’t think that’s much to brag about,” Luca snorted.

“This…this right here is why we’re having this conversation to night. Because this thing that’s going on with Mia is way beyond her just being our roommate now.”

“No kidding,” Casey muttered under his breath, and crossed his arms tight across his chest.

Owen caught the tension but didn’t push his boyfriend. Not yet. There would be time for that.

“Listen, I’m not going to stand here and pretend I don’t feel something for her.

Because I do. I have for a while now. Casey and I even talked about it,” Owen confided to Luca and Waylon.

“But I think we have to be honest and admit that Luca’s been the one really trying to build something with her. ”

“I wouldn’t say trying—” Luca started, but Waylon cut him off.

“Oh, please. You’re practically a golden retriever every time she walks into the room.”

“Is that why you always growl or damn near crack your teeth from clenching your jaw so hard whenever you spot us near each other?” Luca smirked, looking Waylon dead in the face.

Waylon playfully flipped him the finger.

“Guys, I don’t want to screw this up.”

“You won’t,” Owen said at the same time that Waylon quipped, “You will.”

Owen shot Waylon a warning glare. “You won’t. Because we’re all going to step back and let you figure it out.”

“No. No, the fuck we’re not.” Casey shook his head. “I’m all for letting Luca have his moment. But I’m not backing off. I can’t.” He narrowed his gaze on Owen. “And you don’t get to make all the decisions for everyone in this house.”

Ouch .

That wasn’t what he was trying to do. “I…I’m not…” Owen defended. “Mia’s special to all of us. She’s not a play thing. I’m only trying to…”

Waylon cut him off with a grunt, while he rolled his neck. “So, we’re seriously going to let Rookie have the first taste?”

“Hey!” Luca shot him a look, which only made Waylon smirk.

“Relax, kid. I’m busting your balls. You like her. She likes you. You deserve a real shot.”

Luca swallowed. “I don’t want to get between any of you.”

“I don’t think any of us want this to get ugly,” Owen mediated.

“As much as it pains me to say this,” Casey spoke up, “none of us would be having this conversation if we weren’t all already in the same damn mess. Mia has no idea that we’ve shared before?—”

Waylon let out a laugh. “Uhm. I’m pretty sure she does.”

Luca’s cheeks flushed brighter. “She knows,” he whispered.

“Fuck,” Casey growled.

“Not sure if that complicates things or makes it easier.” Owen smirked and shook his head in disbelief.

“This is brand new territory for all of us. Before, it was all fun and games. But, Mia…Mia’s different. We all want her. And, if what I walked in on the other day is any indication, she wants us too.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” Casey questioned Waylon.

He took a long drink of his beer before answering. “I was coming out of the shower and stumbled into her. She dropped her lunch. I offered to clean it up, and I made her a fresh plate. When I took it to her room…I uh.” Waylon squeezed the back of his neck “I found her pleasuring herself.”

Luca froze. “Seriously?”

“Hottest thing I’ve ever seen in my life,” he confessed.

“Did you touch her?” Owen asked.

“Not like that. Not the way I wanted to. Because of these damn rules.” He gestured toward the paper on the fridge.

“You mean the one with a new rule added?” Luca smirked while Casey stared at Waylon like he had two heads.

“You had a chance, and you didn’t take it?”

“I didn’t take it. She’s your best friend, and I was trying to do the right thing.”

Owen chuckled. “What a fucking mess we’ve gotten ourselves into. One that I think she’s clearly on to.”

“Okay. I think it’s pretty clear that the three of us are willing to share her…if that’s what she wants,” Casey quickly added. “But, Luca, what about you? Let’s say she’s on board and you get your moment. Are you willing to share her with us?”

Luca chewed on his lip for a beat. “Yes. I trust all of you. And there’s a big piece of me that thinks Mia needs all of us. To love her. To show her how she deserves to be treated. And I think she’s got a heart big enough to love us all, too.”

Casey gave a tight smile, “The only thing I’ve ever wanted is for Mia to be happy. If that’s with you, I’ll get over it. If it’s with us, then game on.”

“Then we’re all in agreement? You go first. No interference. No games. No side-eyes. No trying to one-up each other,” Owen started .

“But after that?” Waylon grinned. “We’re not sitting back forever. If she’s open to more—if she wants more than one of us—we’re in.”

“This isn’t about who gets to ‘win’ her. It’s about giving her space to choose,” Casey warned them all.

They each nodded in silence. The unspoken weight of everything they were choosing settled between them. They’d made a decision. And whatever came next, they’d face it together.

Waylon raised his beer. “To Rookie getting laid.”

Luca groaned. “You’re the worst.”

“Don’t overthink it, man. You’ve got this. Just...don’t be too damn sweet. Girls like a little edge,” Waylon added.