Rivals: Episode Three Page 6

  “Thanks.”

  The air between us was painfully thick with awkwardness. It was then that I realized there was no anger involved in this situation. Why should I be angry at him? For something that was completely out of his control?

  Nah, if we were going to make the most of it, I really needed to let that shit go.

  “Listen,” I started, “I just want to clear the air between us; I’m not mad. Yeah, it’s going to be weird and charged, but I think that’s all temporary. At the end of the day, we both love that girl with everything we have and we’ve gotta give this an honest fucking try.”

  Xavier nodded and moved to sit down on the couch. He hitched an ankle on his knee and stared off to a place I couldn’t quite pinpoint.

  “And about…” For a second, I was going to stay quiet, but that wasn’t me. We needed to talk about all of it. “About Ara.” Xavier’s eyes stayed focused on something across the room, but his head tilt told me he was listening.

  “I swear, I didn’t know she was in a relationship. Fuck, I didn’t even know she was your sister. She had changed her last name for her law practice. I don’t know why, maybe she was running from something, but I really had no way of knowing.” I crossed my arms and looked out the window that framed Xavier on the couch. The fountain outside sparkled in the large outdoor lights Xavier had set up around the driveway.

  After a moment of quiet, Xavier moved. He sat forward, his hands held in a loose fist between his legs.

  “I get it. I do. It burns me inside to not have complete control over the situation, but there’s nothing either of us can do. About Kimberly or Ara. And the person responsible for Ara’s death has paid his dues.”

  I shifted where I stood and held a hand outstretched, fingers open. Xavier looked at my hand then up at me. And, to my relief, he accepted my handshake, reaching up and closing his hand around mine. He stood up and we shook, understanding that our futures were also tied together now. The past was buried and mourned while the future was becoming fresh and exciting again.

  “Well, I’m glad this conversation went the way it did because then the rest of what I had planned would have been pretty useless otherwise.”

  I cocked my head. “Planned?”

  “Yes, I have something to show you and Kimberly. In fact, we should go to her place now.” He moved around the couch and grabbed a set of keys that were hanging off some large, antique-looking fishing hooks.

  “I’ll drive this time.”

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  KIMBERLY

  I pushed down on the ENTER button and heard the buzz of the heavy door unlocking from the front of my apartment complex. Xavier called and said he was on his way, which I was expecting, but he also said Gaige was with him, which I wasn’t expecting.

  Why were they together?

  I rushed to the bathroom, walls a pale pink, and looked in the round mirror hanging above the sink, giving myself a quick once-over.

  Well, besides the fact that I’m forcing them into a relationship with me.

  Oh god. What am I doing?

  Was I getting buyers remorse? If I was being completely honest, I would admit that the thought of loving two men terrified me. How was I going to manage that juggling act without dropping both of the balls? There were already so many emotions, so much investment, it was terrifying to think I could break their hearts and mine in the process.

  And then the other part of me was yelling to be stronger. To choose one guy and move on, stop complicating things and just choose the option that seems easiest.

  It sounded lazy and scared of risks. Risks that could potentially pay out in huge ways.

  So I had to mute all that scared part of myself and stay confident in my choice. We were going to attempt this and make the best of it. I tried thinking of Gaige and how comfortable he seemed with all of it. That gave me some confidence. I straightened my back and brushed down a flyaway just as the knocks came from my front door. I ran over and unlocked the door, pulling it back.

  “Hi,” I said, sounding like an excited schoolgirl. I didn’t even know why they were both here.

  That thought sent my stomach into a flash dance of knots and tangles.

  “Hey, beautiful,” Gaige said, putting an arm around my waist and drawing me into him. It immediately made me feel ten degrees warmer as he planted a kiss on my lips. It also made me extra aware of Xavier’s gaze, who stood behind Gaige and watched as I separated from the werebear and he entered my apartment. I looked at Xavier, sensing some tension but seeing a small smirk pick up the side of his mouth. Those piercing eyes had the power to melt through any awkwardness and make me weak in the knees. He practically glided towards me and put a hand under my head, his thumb tracing the lines of my chin.

  “The things you make me do,” he said, grinning wide and leaning in. His teeth nipped at my lower lip as his hand slid up, his fingers tangling in my hair and caressing the side of my head. His tongue slipped in, immediately making me clench my thighs with a pang of lust. Both of these men were here, and it felt like there was a quiet competition on who could be the hottest kisser.

  I could get used to them outdoing one another.

  Jesus, who am I?

  Another quiver ran through my core as Xavier stepped away and looked at me with such a consuming gaze, as if he had already fucked me ten times over in his head. I couldn’t help but giggle as I stepped aside and let him in. This whole situation was flooding me with endorphins and making me absolutely giddy.

  “So, uhm, how are you guys?” I ask, closing the door behind me.

  “Better now that I’m with you,” Gaige answered, leaning back on the arm of my couch, his legs crossed at the ankles and his arms crossed over his chest. His muscles bulged out of the navy blue t-shirt, threatening to tear the fabric in half.

  I felt myself blushing. I suddenly had no idea what to do with my hands.

  “Do you guys want anything? Water? Lemonade?” I asked, wringing my hands together, unknowingly turning them a light pink.

  “Relax,” Xavier said, smirking as he no doubt sensed my nerves. “Come, sit down.” He motioned toward the couch. He took a seat, farthest from where Gaige was leaning on.

  I willed my Jell-O legs to move, wobbling towards the couch and sitting down with a less-than-graceful thump.

  “So, how are you?” I asked Xavier awkwardly. He couldn’t help himself from chuckling.

  “Kimberly, we talked.” He looked up at Gaige then back towards her, cutting straight to the point. “We both agree that you’re too valuable for either of us to lose. We’ve moved past everything that happened and I hold no ill will towards Gaige. In fact, if I had to choose someone for you, I wouldn’t think twice about Gaige after I saw the way he fights for you. I know you’re safe in his hands, as you are in mine.”

  I felt my eyebrows rise in amazement. It made me realize that a part of me was expecting this to go horribly wrong. But now, it looked like we were in the clear. I had gotten verbal confirmation that we were all going to actually try this. It was real now.

  Holy shit, holy shit, holy shit.

  “I feel like I can breathe,” I said, in an honest expulsion of emotions. I felt my eyes welling up with tears. “I was so scared that after everything we’ve been through, I was going to have to say goodbye.”

  “Never,” Xavier assured me, putting a hand on my knee, rubbing his thumb over the jeans. “The events over the past few days only solidified my decision to attempt this.”

  “Same,” Gaige said, nodding. “Obviously, there was some really bad blood between you and I,” he nodded towards Xavier. “But I think that only strengthens this bond. We’ve overcome all the bullshit and our only concern is you. Kimberly, you’re the love of our lives. We’d rob a fucking bank for you.”

  My heart skipped a beat.

  “Let’s not get crazy,” Xavier said, smirking and showing a side of him that he rarely let through. That joking, sarcastic air he had hiding underneath that controlled
exterior. There was still so much to learn about that man. And Gaige. Oh god, there was so much ahead of us, and I couldn’t be any happier.

  “I want to say I’m the luckiest girl in the world right now, but that would be a major understatement.” I let out a breath I hadn’t known I was holding.

  “It gets better,” Xavier said, flat-out grinning now. “After our night, I found myself surprised at how little I needed to think about the situation before coming up with an answer. I knew almost immediately that I was going to pursue you, with or without Gaige. And so, once I had gotten home, I decided we needed some time to get away from all this and focus on what was ahead. I got to researching and,” he stopped, looking at me and then Gaige and then settling back on my face. He reached behind and into his back pant’s pocket. He pulled out something that looked like a brochure.

  “I bought us tickets to spend a week in Santorini, Greece. I own a villa there with an infinity pool that looks out into the ocean. Quite a spectacular view. I would love for you to experience it.” He looked up at Gaige. “You as well.” And he smiled.

  It made my heart soar to heights unimaginable. I literally felt like I was going to float away with how happy this moment was making me. I never imagined myself, a girl with a love for desserts and Netflix marathons, to be going off on a vacation of a lifetime with two incredibly delicious men.

  “Thank you,” I said, unable to find any other words.

  “No need to thank me.” He leaned in and planted another hungry kiss.

  “I don’t know what I did to deserve the both of you, but I’m so, so happy that this is happening. I was always scared of love, but now all I am is excited. I’m so freaking excited.”

  “Me too,” Gaige said, grinning and showing those bright white teeth of his, contrasted with the dark beard that was growing in heavier.

  “Same.” Xavier smiled too. It was all I needed. A freak meteor could have made a sudden turn and crashed only into my apartment, and I still would have been happy. I would have gone with a huge smile on my face.

  Everything was good for once. I wasn’t in danger and life was exciting again. I was so terrified that things would settle into a routine and I would die having so many regrets. I thought I was going to feel like I had burned my youth away and lived an unsatisfying life devoid of adventure and excitement.

  I was looking at the complete opposite and I couldn’t be any happier.

  Thanks for reading RIVALS! This marks the end of season one and a break off a pretty crazy ride for these three. Kimberly, Gaige, and Xavier will come back around soon, but for now, consider diving into the deep end with my new serial: DEEP.

  In DEEP, we follow Lily Day, a recent college grad who falls for a secretive tech-billionaire, Cole Roman.

  Cole’s secret? He’s a steamy dark superhero with a turbulent past and a thirst for revenge. When their paths cross, chemistry is undeniable but so are their obstacles.

  Sign up for my mailing list to find out when DEEP and Season 2 of RIVALS gets published:

  Newsletter

  You can contact me anytime at: mg_walker@Outlook.com

  Have a great day!

  M.G.

  ___________________________

  SEASON 1

  Rivals- Episode One

  Rivals Episode Two

  Rivals- Episode Three

  SEASON 2

  T.B.W.

  SEASON 1

  Deep- Episode One