It looked just like the pictures of prom that we’d missed last week. I hadn’t wanted to spend the money on the tickets or the fancy dress, not when we were still trying to save every spare cent. Besides I didn’t really have anyone I wanted to hang out with other than these two guys here with me now. Everyone else would just be a long-forgotten acquaintance in a few years anyway but not Merrick and Kellan.
I hadn’t thought I’d let on the sliver of disappointment I’d felt at not being able to attend. Not that I really wanted to, but it was just something that was instilled as a core high school memory and was something we’d all be missing out on.
“We’re not really big on dancing but we figured we could give it a go,” Merrick mumbled, glancing around the room almost nervously before he met my eyes. “For you.”
With that, soft music played in the background, coming from the speaker Kellan must’ve just turned on, and Merrick extended a hand for me to take.
I placed my hand in his gingerly, my heart jolting at the light touch. Something about this felt different. We’d held hands so many times, hell I’d just been curled up against his naked chest, but this—this felt the most dangerous of all, like something was about to change so irrevocably we’d never be able to turn back.
But still, I allowed him to pull me closer and I inhaled a shuddering breath as he wrapped me into his embrace, slowly swaying me to the smooth melody. One hand kept hold of mine while the other slid to my waist. His throat bobbed as he looked down at me, my heart jolting at the look of open vulnerability he gave me. So often he hid behind his gruff façade, having to grow up far too soon when his father left, but this was the real Merrick only I saw. The man who could go from pounding someone’s face in one moment, to swaying with me to the slow melody wrapping around our bodies, drawing us close with every lyrical note.
“Giana,” Kellan whispered as he slipped in behind me. His chest pressed against my back, sandwiching me between the two of them. One hand curved around the other side of my hip, while the other rubbed soothing circles with his thumb on my bicep.
I closed my eyes and turned off my mind, relaxing into their embrace. A wave of euphoria washed over me at the feeling of both of their strong bodies pressed against me. I let myself be in the moment finally, and all the remaining tension slipped away.
“I love you, Giana,” Kellan murmured, his lips brushing against the shell of my ear with how close he’d gotten. My lips parted as I sucked in a startled gasp, my eyes flashing open. Those words were raw and pained, a confession he wasn’t sure would be received well.
My gaze met Merrick’s, and rather than pain or betrayal, there was acceptance in his hazel eyes … happiness.
“I love you, Giana,” Merrick whispered, the words stealing away what little air remained in my lungs. “We always have.”
My bottom lip trembled, and moisture welled in my eyes as I stared back at him and felt Kellan’s breath on my neck, warm and reassuring just like him. I tried to speak, but my tongue felt thick in my mouth, my vocal cords shaky.
This was it—the moment I’d both wished for and dreaded. Do I question them and break this moment? Or do I lay my heart on the line and accept whatever may happen.
“Before you say anything,” Kellan whispered, as though speaking any louder would pop the bubble surrounding us. “We’ve both known we each had feelings for you for a while. We don’t want you to choose.”
A sob racked my chest at his words, my brows creasing in disbelief.I must be dreaming right now.
My hand slipped from where it clasped Merrick’s shoulder to cover my mouth, trying to hold back the tears that had already begun streaming down my cheeks.
“Giana?” Merrick asked, uncertainty clouding his gaze now.
I had to make a choice, and now. There was no going back from this, but would there really be any going back after their confession?
“I love you,” I whispered, my hand dropping from my face to cover Kellan’s where he was still rubbing my bicep. “I’ve loved you both for a while now, I just never wanted to ruin our friendship or choose between you two.”
Merrick’s shoulders slumped in relief, all the uncertainty creasing his face fleeing with my confession. His rough palm clasped the back of my head, fingers tangling through my hair as his lips lowered onto mine. He poured every drop of his emotions into me, his mouth hungrily devouring mine as if he’d been parched for far too long, and I was all the water and all the air he needed.
Kellan cleared his throat behind me, and I pulled back from Merrick reluctantly, turning to the other man who held my heart in the palm of his hand. Merrick let loose a disgruntled huff but didn’t say anything as he pressed his bare chest against me, his skin rubbing against my shoulders. My fingers itched to explore his pecs, abs, and biceps now that this final barrier had been shattered around us.
Their hands shifted on me but refused to let go, as though any loss of contact may break the spell around us, and I was grateful for it. I never wanted them to let go, not now, not ever.
“You have no idea how long I’ve waited for those words to come from those luscious lips,” he groaned, wasting no time as his mouth found mine, the kiss tender, soft, and seductive, a subtle burning heat compared to Merrick’s all-consuming one.
I moaned into Kellan’s mouth, my lips parting under his as Merrick kissed up the curve of my neck and sucked on the sensitive flesh. Kellan’s tongue delved in to stroke against mine, and a languid heat rolled over me as the two of them built that flame higher and higher.
Kellan and Merrick. My two best friends—and the men I’d been in love with for as long as I could remember—took control of my body, and I lost myself in the bliss of us coming together, now and forever. Because this was a love that could never be broken. We couldn’t ever be torn apart. Our souls would be tied for eternity, coming back together for lifetimes to come.
“Justdropmeoffhere, the engine will wake—” A giggle slipped from my lips, cutting off my words as Kellan kissed up the curve of my neck, each caress light and sweet. I played with our fingers still twined together as we sat beside each other in the back seat, a goofy grin splitting my face. I swear I’d slept with it plastered there, and I’m sure it wouldn’t fade for the rest of the day as I replayed everything that happened last night.
“I hate this. I wish we could see you before graduation,” Kellan groaned, his fingers gently nudging my chin up so he could place a lingering kiss there. I sighed into him and he swallowed the sound, tugging me closer by the hand still tangled with his.
“This isn’t fair,” Merrick grumbled, the sound of him collapsing back in his seat making me reluctantly pull away from Kellan and end our sweet kiss much too soon.
I glanced at the time on his phone propped on the dash and grimaced. I only had a few more minutes to sneak in before Greg and Pam were up for the day.
“Come here, mister grumpy,” I teased, and he huffed out an annoyed sigh but still turned in his seat to face me.