Page 42

Story: Well That Happened

Rilee

Fletcher’s gone.

His Uber barely clears the curb before we’re all standing in the living room like recently released hostages, blinking into the silence.

“Well,” Caleb says, stretching like he just finished a ten-day prison stint. “That was fun for absolutely no one.”

Hunter flops onto the couch like he’s been holding his breath for three days straight. “I think I aged like six years.”

Grayson doesn’t speak. Just sinks into the armchair with a sigh and shuts his eyes like his soul needs a reboot.

And me?

I’m standing in the middle of the room, arms crossed, staring at them all.

Then—without saying anything—I walk over to Hunter.

He looks up. “What—?”

I kiss him.

Not a peck. Not some shy little maybe-this-is-okay brush of lips.

A real kiss.

Slow. Deep. Bold.

His hand immediately curls around my waist, and for one dizzy second, the world tilts.

Then I pull back, turn, and walk to Grayson.

His eyes open. He blinks once.

“Your turn,” I say simply.

He doesn’t need more than that.

Grayson stands, cups my face, and kisses me like I’m gravity and he’s finally letting himself fall. He doesn’t rush it. He never does. It’s careful, like reverence—and damn if it doesn’t make my knees weak.

I exhale shakily when he pulls back.

Then I pivot to Caleb, who’s already grinning like the smug menace he is.

“Took you long enough,” he says.

I kiss him too—hot, playful, full of tongue and zero shame.

When I finally step back, I swipe my thumb across his lower lip. “There. Now we’re even.”

The room is very, very quiet.

“I just…” I pause, pressing a hand over my heart. “It feels so good not to hide it anymore.”

Hunter’s jaw ticks.

Grayson shifts like he’s trying to decide if he should be breathing right now.

And Caleb?

Caleb announces, “Well, I’m officially horny as fuck.”

Everyone groans.

“Jesus Christ,” Hunter mutters.

“Why are you like this?” Grayson deadpans.

“I have a medical condition,” Caleb says, unrepentant. “It’s called being in love with a goddess and watching her kiss two other dudes in front of me.”

The room goes dead silent.

My stomach does a weird little flip.

“What?” I say—too fast, too high-pitched.

Grayson looks at Caleb like really, man?

Hunter mutters something under his breath that sounds suspiciously like “unbelievable.”

Caleb just shrugs. “What? I’m emotionally evolved.”

I stare at him. “You can’t just drop the L-word in the middle of a kiss parade.”

“I absolutely can,” he says cheerfully. “And I meant it.”

I rub my temples. “Okay. We need rules.”

“More rules?” Caleb says. “Because the last ones involved pretending to be monogamous and I’m still emotionally scarred.”

“New rules,” I say, lifting my chin. “Now that Fletcher’s gone.”

Hunter sighs from the couch. “Go ahead. Lay down the law.”

“Number one…” I glance around the room, making sure they’re all really listening. “This thing between us—whatever it is—it only works if we’re honest. No hiding. No games. We’re in this together, or we’re not.”

A beat of silence.

Then—three nods. Three sets of eyes locking with mine, each one full of something different: warmth, gravity, fire.

“Number two,” Caleb says, all too eager. “No pants after 7 p.m.”

I blink. “That’s your contribution?”

His mouth curves into a grin. “Some of us express our love through physical acts.”

I roll my eyes.

“Number three,” Hunter adds, like he’s been sitting on it all day. “No hogging Rilee.”

I raise a brow. “Is that directed at someone in particular?”

He shrugs, but the corner of his mouth twitches like he already knows the answer.

“Number four,” I say, cutting a look at him, “If anyone starts getting weirdly jealous or territorial, we use our words. Not our fists. Looking at you, Maddox.”

Hunter raises a brow. “I didn’t even say anything.”

“Yet.”

He grumbles. “Fine.”

“Number five,” Grayson says quietly, leaning forward. “Whoever finishes the almond milk and doesn’t replace it forfeits cuddling privileges for forty-eight hours.”

Caleb gasps, hand over his heart. “That’s cruel and unusual.”

Grayson shrugs. “It’s justice.”

“Number six,” Hunter adds, stretching out like he’s making an official announcement. “She’s gonna need breaks—like recovery time. So keep that in mind.”

Caleb scoffs. “You wound me.”

Grayson murmurs, “It’s a valid concern.”

I just sit back and stare at them.

These boys and their ridiculous rules.

Their dry humor and over-the-top flirting. The way they look at me like I’m something worth orbiting.

It’s insane.

Too much.

Completely overwhelming.

And maybe the best thing I’ve ever stumbled into.

I’m falling—fast.

Still unsure how any of this works. Still terrified it might crash.

But for tonight?

I’m happy as can be.