She needed to search him out and tell him to forget her babbling. This wasn’t Charisa and Derek in the other room, and she shouldn’t have dumped her life story on this guy. Not Luke. Hell, he was famous and she was just another screw. She found a T-shirt in his closet and slipped it on. The hem went past her knees. Luke was tall.
Before searching for the guys, she looked through the bathroom for an extra toothbrush and took care of the business of cleaning up. With her hair brushed and her mouth minty fresh, she could approach Luke and spell out what she’d really meant. Putting a guilt trip on a guy this soon into a relationship wasn’t fair. Plus, did she even want to be in a relationship with him, with a guy? Fuck, she didn’t know, and it was all too complicated and too soon.
Nichole braced herself and opened the door, stepping out into the main room of the apartment. Laughter sounded in the kitchen, so she moved past the leather couch and around the side table.
From this angle she could observe the two men. Her heart stalled and her whole body went cold. Bryan was pressing his face into Luke’s back. Cum dripped down Luke’s hand onto the countertop. Both men appeared spent and totally into each other.
She wouldn’t do this again. She wouldn’t be the third wheel. Derek had considered her the outcast even though she’d been there first. She’d lost her home, her girlfriend and her lover. She couldn’t go through it again.
Before they caught sight of her she raced back to the bedroom and started pulling on her clothes. The door banged open behind her. Fear gripped her chest. Another angry brawl would be too much. Bryan and Luke could have the apartment to themselves and she wouldn’t make a stink about leaving.
“You’re up. I thought that was you in the den.” Luke came to her and wrapped his arms around her.
She stiffened and tears filled her eyes. This couldn’t be happening again. Bryan caught her gaze as he moved closer to them. The shock in his eyes frightened her. She pushed against Luke’s chest, knocking him away. He let go but didn’t move from her.
The need to run pulsed through her. Images of Charisa and Derek flitted through her mind—of the way they’d seemed so happy without her. They had smiled at each other, then told her she wasn’t wanted or needed there. They’d called her sick. Hello, she’d been in the relationship with them and that meant they’d been sick too.
“I can’t do this,” she whispered.
Luke held up his hands. “Please don’t leave.”
“You don’t need me.”
Bryan moved closer and dropped to his knees. The pain in his eyes made her back up a step. Wild emotions ran through her mind. She shook her head and put out her hand.
“No, I need to leave,” Nichole said.
“Wait, let me say this,” Bryan said.
Even though Bryan was kneeling on the floor, his eyes were at her breasts’ height. The desire to run her fingers through his hair scared the hell out of her. They didn’t want her. Their little fuck session in the kitchen had shown her that much.
Bryan raised his eyebrows. “Please?”
“Fine.” Even though he hadn’t had time to utter another word, she already regretted letting him talk.
“Four months ago I lost everything. I’m not emotionally stable and I doubt you are either.”
“I’m fine,” she countered.
“I’m not saying you’re not sane, but I can tell you’re sad,” Bryan said.
She shook her head, more tears gathering in her eyes. How could he tell? She’d been so careful to play the part.
“What happened?” Luke smoothed his hand across Bryan’s shoulders.
Bryan glanced at Luke, but turned his head back to her quickly. “My ex had a baby. She fingered me as the father. We lived together for two years and I loved being a daddy. I loved my little boy.” His voice cracked and his eyes filled with tears.
“Last year she moved out, taking Michael with her. She got a DNA test that proved I wasn’t the father and that the real father had come back for her. He took my son and the courts wouldn’t back me up. I have no claim on my little boy. I know what hurt is. I had dreams about our future. Now I have nothing.”
“Shit,” Luke said.
Nichole couldn’t speak or even move. Maybe Bryan had an idea what she was going through. Not exactly the same, but close. She’d dreamt of raising kids with Derek and Charisa, and now they would be bringing up their own children without her.
Bryan reached for her and she went to him. They hugged for a long moment before Bryan pulled her down onto his lap.
“What happened with you?” Bryan whispered in her ear.