Double The Ache(12)

I click on another link. An interview with the hostess from the night before fills my screen. Apparently she overheard everything that was said—telling them that Wes and Dean wanted to run a train on me and the other guy wanted to join but they didn’t seem into sharing me. I can see the jealousy in the girl’s eyes. I close it out, feeling sad and humiliated.

There’s article after article about what happened. Most of it’s made-up crap, but some of it’s true. There’s a lot of speculation and I hate that people are shaming what Wes, Dean and I shared. People want answers to questions I don't even have answers to. I only just meet these men and people are talking about weddings and babies. Others are talking about sex clubs and swinging.

My heart flutters at the thought of babies and marriage, but my stomach knots at the mention of swinging and sex clubs. I don’t see Dean and Wes being into that, but what do I know? I lost my virginity to two men who were into sharing one woman. Who knows what else comes with that? They might be okay sharing me between them, but I’d never be okay with sharing them. Ever. The thought makes anger wash over me. I welcome it compared to the tears.

The taxi pulls through the gates and goes right up to the back of the stadium. I toss my money to the driver as I get out of the car, then head for the back door. Before I reach it my dad is coming out.

I barely get a hug before I’m being pulled inside and Wes and Dean are wrapping themselves around me. I melt into them, feeling better just being close to them.

“I’m sorry,” I mumble into one of their chests. I don’t know whose it is and it doesn’t matter.

“Little one. Everything is going to be okay,” one of them says.

“I don’t want you to get in trouble. This is all my fault. I never should have gone on that stupid date,” I say into Wes’s chest. I can tell it’s him now by how broad it is. Arms lift me up and I cling to him, never wanting to let him go, always by their sides. I feel safe here.

“We aren’t doing this here. Give us a moment,” Dean says, I’m guessing to my dad. Wes moves down the long hallway before stepping into a room and shutting the door. He sits me down on the counter.

“Your tears are killing me,” Wes grunts. Dean uses his thumbs to wipe at my face. I lean into his chest, needing his touch just as much as Wes’s.

“She just wiped her nose on you,” Wes laughs. I have to bite back a grin because I did.

“I don’t give a shit,” Dean says.

Hands run along my back. “How much trouble are you guys in?” I ask. I pull back and look between both of them. They have worried looks on their faces. “Oh god, it’s bad, isn’t it?”

“Slow down.” Dean cups my face before he leans in and kisses me softly and sweetly. When his mouth leaves mine, Wes is there next. I feel myself start to calm again. I keep working myself up.

Wes pulls his mouth from mine and I want to be back in their giant bed, hidden away and not being forced to deal with this. Last night was so perfect. Not even twenty-four hours together and we are having to deal with all this crap.

“Are you—”

Dean cuts me off. “We could get suspended for a few games.”

“Really?” I ask, hoping it’s not true.

“Maybe not.” Wes elbows Dean. “The guy isn’t pressing charges. Without charges, the league likely won’t come after us.”

“He’s not? Why? Does he want money or something? God, this is all my fault! I shouldn't have gone on that date. Worse, I shouldn't have tried to make you jealous.”

Wes wraps his hand around my braid, pulling it back so I have to look at him in his eyes. “Everything is going to be fine. We handled it. The guy is a prick with a prick past to match. Don’t even think about him.”

I nod. I shouldn’t be turned on in this moment, but I am. Wes’s full lips quirk in a half smile. He’s probably reading my face.

I feel a finger under my chin, turning me to look at Dean. “All that matters is that we’re together. The rest is shit that we’ll sort out one way or another. As long as we’re together, the three of us are the only team that matters at the end of the day.”

“I’m going to fall in love with you two if you’re not careful,” I tease.

“Don’t pretend you don't already love us,” Dean teases back. My heart flutters because he’s right. I am in love with them.

A knock on the door pulls us from the moment. My dad opens it and steps into the room.

“You all right, Melly?” my dad asks, concern on his face.

“Yeah. I’m better. Are you upset?” I ask.

If Wes and Dean do somehow end up getting suspended for a few games and affecting his team, I’d hate for my dad to regret bringing me here and hiring me to help with the team. My dad has never been upset with me that I can ever recall.

“How about I tell you something and you can’t be mad at me for it. We’ll call it even?” My eyebrows rise at that. Dean and Wes lean up against the counter I’m sitting on, one on either side of me, facing my dad.

“What?” I wring my fingers together at why I might be mad at my dad. Maybe he’s going to fire me. Dean and Wes each take one of my hands. My dad watches their movements with sharp eyes.

“That’s something I’m going to have to get used to.” He shakes his head.

“We’ve already talked about this,” Wes growls.

“What’s done is done. She’s ours,” Dean adds.

I smile as I wonder what all they talked about. I’m guessing it was before I got here.

“Yeah, let’s see about that after she finds out the terms of your new contract extension.”

“What does that have to do with me?” I glance around the room at everyone. All of them have a guilty look on their faces. I take that back. Wes just shrugs, his face giving nothing away. Not even guilt.

“I called the boys this morning when news broke about everything. Told them to come in so we could talk.” My dad shoots a look at both of them.

“We were going to talk to you about it. Things just progressed faster than we thought they would.”

“I really don’t need those details,” my dad says, cutting Dean off. “After I saw the video I knew how serious they were about you. These boys don’t cause trouble. They keep their noses clean, so to get involved in a brawl meant something. I also knew there would be fallout. Nothing too big. Maybe two games’ suspension at most, if even that. Besides, I'd be more pissed if they had not handed the guy his ass after what he said about you.” My cheeks burn hearing that my dad knows what the man said.

Both Wes and Dean squeeze my hands.

“Players often move from team to team.” My dad keeps going. “Their contract is up soon and, well, I wanted them locked in. Not just because they’re well worth it but I don’t want them taking off with you. I just got you here.”

“Dad.” My heart melts at that.

“We aren't taking her from you,” Dean chimes in.

“We aren't sharing her with a bunch of people either,” Wes growls. I glance over at him, not knowing what the heck that means.

“The contract stipulated that you are their physical therapist,” Dad says, pulling my attention back to him.

“Well, if they play for the team, then of course I am,” I respond, at a loss as to where this is going.

“You’re only their physical therapist. You are always by their side in case they need you for something.”

I have a feeling it isn’t my physical therapy skills they will be calling on most of the time. I’m not sure how to respond. I don't know if I should laugh, scream or burst into happy tears.

“I…”

“You’ll still oversee the other two physical therapists we have on staff, making sure you agree with what they’re doing and setting the pace. You’re in charge of all of it.”

“Don’t be mad at us,” Wes says, leaning down. I look up into his eyes. “We’ve been looking for you for forever. We need you close now that we’ve found you.” My belly does a little flip.

“Give us this and we’ll give you everything you could ever want,” Dean adds.

“I have a feeling you two are going to tag team against me all the time, aren’t you?” I blush when I realize what I said. Dean laughs and Wes covers his with a cough. My dad mumbles something I don’t catch and don’t want to know.

Dean kisses me and I get lost for a moment until my dad clears his throat.

“Take her home and keep her hidden for a while. Let all this die down.”

“On it,” Wes says as he picks me up and carries me away without another word.





Chapter Eleven





Amelia





Luckily there’s an underground garage in our building. We got in without really being noticed. The dark windows of the SUV prevented people looking in and ensured we didn’t get photographed. I sit in the center of the bed looking down at my phone, which keeps going off every two seconds. I'm surprised the battery hasn’t given out already.

Wes and Dean are on the phone with their parents. Their phones keep blowing up with calls from them. They wanted to call them later, but I told them to call them now. They love their mom and dad and I didn’t want them worrying about them worrying. I wasn’t going anywhere. They could take a few minutes to call them.