Page 43 of Three Bossy Boyfriends (Honeysuckle Harbor #3)

Tucker

Finley is clearly incredibly happy.

The night we all spent together was, admittedly, amazing. Something I’d definitely do again.

Except…I think there are two other men in love with the woman I’m pretty sure I’m falling in love with, and suddenly I’m in the middle of something I have no idea how to handle.

One minute I’m taking Finley out on our second date, thinking about how much I like her and how happy I am that we’re getting along and have moved past curses and snark and distrust, and the next thing I know Finley is basically telling her father that the four of us are in a relationship and he’s approving of that and giving her a job that will keep her here which means we can keep doing what we did and…

I sit back in my chair, suck in a deep breath, and tell myself to calm the fuck down.

This spiraling has been happening ever since breakfast the day after our crazy hot night, and I have to face the truth—I’m probably going to lose Finley.

Because it’s very clear what she wants, and it’s not what I want.

At least not now. This is going so fast. We’re just getting started, and she’s asking me to commit to a foursome when I’ve never even been that serious about one person.

And I like Christopher and Evan. They seem like nice guys.

I’m cool with Finley liking them too. I’m even surprised at how fine I am with that.

But I don’t really know them. Certainly not well enough to say, “ Sure , let’s have a relationship , let’s live together, let’s spend all our time together and talk about a future. ”

I don’t even know if Christopher likes pizza or what holidays Evan celebrates, if any. I feel like I should know at least a few basic facts about the guys before we talk about a serious future.

I realize that I’m spinning out, and I really don’t want to.

I need to talk to someone about it.

“Hey, Tucker.”

I look up as Evan pulls out the chair across the table from me.

“Hey, Evan. Thanks for meeting me.”

Evan seemed like the natural choice. He knows the situation, he’s part of the situation, and he’s very easy to talk to. He’s just an easy guy to be around.

I see why Finley likes him.

Though if she didn’t, my life would be easier.

“I love this place,” he comments as he picks up a menu.

“Oh, good. Me too.” I chose the restaurant in downtown Charleston rather than a spot in Honeysuckle Harbor. I realize now it’s because this feels more neutral. And there’s less chance we’ll run into someone I know.

I’m not ashamed of being seen with him. It’s not that.

I just don’t want people in my life to start assuming things that aren’t true.

Again, not because they’ll be judgmental or because I’d be embarrassed, but because I don’t want anyone hurt.

I don’t want my family to get their hopes up about a long-term relationship here that might not work out.

“And I’m happy to meet you,” Evan says. “Is everything okay?”

The server sets down waters for both of us. I order a soda, and Evan gets an iced tea.

“Do you need a few minutes with the menu?” she asks.

The place is busy, but we’re after the lunch rush, so there are a few empty tables around us. It’s a burger and sandwich place, but has a nice ambiance and a more relaxed vibe than the diners and fast-food places.

“Are we eating?” Evan asks.

He’s suspicious. I don’t blame him. My text was short. Simply, Can we have lunch? And considering we’re both dating and falling for the same woman, he’s probably wondering what this is about specifically.

“Yeah, I’m starving,” I say, opening the menu, hoping to diffuse any tension. “But I need a minute,” I tell the server with a smile.

“I’ll grab those drinks then,” she says and moves off.

I scan the menu for a moment, but I’m too worked up to really focus. Can’t go wrong with a burger, so I close my menu and lean in. “So, I have some questions.”

He looks up, clearly notices my expression, and nods. “I figured.”

“It’s about the rules you mentioned the other day. And…” I sigh. “And the fact that I think I’m going to fuck things up with Finley and I need to be sure you and Christopher really care about her and that you really want a relationship with her and will be there for her.”

He closes his menu and sets it to the side. “Okay, wow. So you’ve been doing a lot of thinking.”

I nod.

“And worrying.”

I blow out a breath. “Yeah.”

“Okay.” Evan leans in. “Tucker, this has to work for everyone or it won’t work for anyone. No one can be uncomfortable or upset.”

“Are you ready to order?”

We both look at the server. I should have picked a place where we wouldn’t be interrupted to have this conversation.

We place our orders, and the server leaves us alone again.

“You’re not happy with the rules as we discussed the other day?” Evan asks.

I shake my head. “It’s not that. Exactly.

The rules make sense. You and I can see Finley whenever we want to.

We can take her out individually. Or we can all be together.

Finley basically calls the shots.” I pause.

“I get the impression that Christopher is more interested in being with Finley only when you’re also there. ”

He nods. “That’s accurate. Finley is a part of my relationship with Christopher. But Christopher isn’t necessarily always a part of my relationship with Finley. Does that make sense?”

“Yeah. It does.” I frown. I want them to both be there for her, though. If she breaks up with me, I want her to be loved and love fully and big and be completely taken care of. She clearly cares about them both. “And I know that Finley wants all of us.”

“Yes, she does,” Evan agrees.

“And once you get past her crispy outer layer, it turns out she’s soft and mushy and sweet inside.”

Evan grins. “Yes, she is.”

I laugh. “I didn’t mean that sexually.”

“You didn’t mean it only sexually.”

I grin and feel a little weight lift from my chest. “Okay. Not only sexually.”

“But her soft, mushy, sweet insides are making you nervous?”

“I just didn’t expect her to fall so hard and fast, and to want a relationship like this.

” I blow out a breath. “Or any relationship. Not so quickly. This is all moving really fast, and it’s a lot more than I ever imagined.

I feel like she and I are just getting started, and now she wants two other guys I barely know. ”

“We don’t have to rush anything,” Evan says. “Again, we all have to be comfortable.”

“But…I’m not.” I feel relief just saying those words. My shoulders relax a little. “I’m not comfortable. I want Finley to be happy. I want her to have what she wants. But I don’t think I want the same thing.”

“Okay.”

Now I’m on a roll. “I don’t think I want to be a foursome,” I say bluntly.

“I like you and Christopher. It has nothing to do with that. And I had a great time the night we…were all together. It’s not about feeling awkward with you guys in the bedroom.

It’s more…the big picture, I guess. I think about how Ford and Harrison and Liam and Ivy are all together.

Living together, making decisions as a family, they’ll be raising kids together.

I don’t want that.” He winces. “I’m sorry. ”

“Don’t be. Your feelings are your feelings,” he says. “You don’t have to apologize.”

“But don’t I have to be open to new things and ideas?”

Evan shrugs. “I don’t think you’re not being open. You’ve spent time with us, you’ve discussed rules, you’ve been open to all the conversations, you’ve had sex with us.”

“Okay. Yeah, I have.”

“And now, you’ve realized how you feel about it.”

I nod. But I care more about Finley’s feelings. Finally, I ask, “Do you love her? Really? Like you love Christopher?”

He doesn’t even hesitate. “Yes.”

“And you’d live with them both? Make a family with them?”

Now he takes a second. “Yes,” he says slowly. “If I could have it my way completely. But I can’t. They’re my partners . And I don’t think that’s what they want.”

I frown. “What do you think they want?” I swear, if Christopher is going to be a problem, I will…I’m not sure. Talk Finley into choosing me? Fuck. She’ll probably just break up with all of us.

“Christopher wants me,” Evan says. “And he’s more than fine with including Finley because she makes me happy.

She gives me things that he can’t. Just like he gives me things she can’t.

He understands that. So he’ll invite her into our relationship.

He cares about her. He’ll protect her and take care of her and love her.

But not the same way I do. And Finley, well—” He pauses and smiles.

“She also wants you . So she won’t want to be a family with just Christopher and me. ”

Well…fuck.

I blow out a long breath, and slump back in my chair. “So I have to do the foursome thing, make a family with all of us, live together, kids, the whole thing, because there’s no other way for her to be fully happy.”

His brows arch. “I didn’t say that.”

I frown and sit forward again. I’m so fucking restless. “Then what did you say?”

“I said Finley won’t live with just Christopher and me, or make a family with just Christopher and me, because she’s also in love with you. Something would be missing for her even if she was with us. But that doesn’t mean you have to be in love with us, or live with us, or any of that.”

“Dammit,” I mutter. “This would be so much easier if I was bi too, wouldn’t it?”

Evan barks out a sharp laugh. “Well, that still doesn’t mean you’d want or fall for Christopher or me.”

I give him a wry grin. “It would help.”

“Tell you what, if you ever get an inkling or want to try kissing a guy, you just let me know.”

Now I’m the one who laughs. “Thanks, Evan. That’s really generous of you.”

He just grins.

I’m a little sleep deprived, I’ll admit, but my neck is tightening again with frustration. “So what do we do?”

“We share her.”

“Yeah, I know.” I wave that away. “I get the sex thing. I mean with everything else.”