Home > DEEP 6 (Multiple Love #4)(7)

DEEP 6 (Multiple Love #4)(7)
Author: Stephanie Brother

Shrugging, I force an even expression onto my face, relaxing my clenched jaw and lowered brows. "Nothing. I mean, I'm just helping out while her car is in the shop."

"Yeah? Just helping out?"

"Just come out and say what you mean," I bark.

Andrew leans against the wall, his hand sliding into his pocket as though he's trying to make himself appear relaxed and easygoing. "This is Sandy." He emphasizes her name, and my stomach clenches.

"Yeah."

"This is you and Sandy," he repeats, even though I got his meaning the first time.

"I know, man. What do you want me to do?"

Andrew cocks his head, and his ice-blue eyes fix on mine. With his pale blond hair and tan skin, he looks like a Disney prince just waiting for his princess. A prince with lots of tattoos. "I want you to be careful, okay. You're in a good place. This…we've all worked for this. I don't want you risking the progress you made, okay?"

"I'm good. You don't have to worry about me."

Andrew shakes his head. "We're brothers from another mother," he says. "I'll always worry about you, the same way I worry about Arden and Able and Greg and Damien. This is who we are. We've got each other's backs, no matter what."

"I know," I say. "And I've got yours."

"So, just listen when I tell you to be careful."

My fist balls the soft fabric of the bedcovers in my palm. "Sometimes it's impossible to be careful, Andrew. Sometimes, your heart rests in someone else's hands even though you don't want it to."

"I get it," he says. "Sandy…she's special."

"Special?"

"The whole package. Pretty, smart, a good person, funny…don't forget you've told us all about her, and now we get to see her in the flesh."

"And you agree?" I ask.

"She's just about perfect," Andrew says, and although a sliver of jealousy runs through me, it's also a big relief. These guys are important to me, and so is Sandy. If they could like each other, it would mean a lot.

"She is."

"But she's going to leave," Andrew says softly, and the pain I feel at those words is seismic. I turn away, heading to my room, pushing away the truth in his words, as though if I ignore him, it won't be the case. He follows me, lingering in the doorway.

"She doesn't have to," I tell him.

"Are you ready to open up to her? Are you ready to tell her what happened?"

I shake my head, using the distraction of pulling the covers from my pillows to avoid looking at him. "Until you can be honest about that, she won't understand, and she won't be able to forgive."

His words freeze me. "I know," I say softly. "Even if she knew, it doesn't automatically mean she'd be able to forgive me or to trust me again."

"Nothing you ever told me about her would make me believe she'd hold a grudge like that."

"But forgiving someone and trusting them again are two very different things. Sometimes, the trust part is impossible."

"If I thought you were ready…" Andrew trails off, and I know what he's trying to say. It's my boys that pulled me back from the darkness. They don't want me to slip into that place again, and I don't want to go there either. My throat burns, and any more of this conversation is just going to make it worse. I need to change the subject.

"The wedding was good," I tell him. "Sandy's friend Connie married four guys. They're all brothers."

"Four guys?"

When I turn to Andrew, his face is a picture. "Yeah. Four. They already have a kid together."

"Imagine growing up with four dads," Andrew says, shaking his head.

"It'd be better than growing up without," I say. When he nods, I know it's coming from a deep place of understanding. Every man in this house knows what it's like to need a father and be disappointed.

"Very true."

"There were two other groups like that at the wedding too. Connie's best friend Natalie is with three dudes, and another girl, Melanie, is with five."

"Is it catching?" Andrew jokes. "I mean, how do people even get into that situation?"

"I guess it starts with the men. There has got to be a lot of love and trust there to want to share a woman."

"And a woman who can divide herself between multiple men."

"That's just it. I watched these groups while Sandy was dancing. They work as a team. Better than any true couple I ever saw."

Andrew nods, his hand moving to his chin. He rubs at his day's growth of stubble. "I can see how it could simplify things. Like, have you ever thought about what it will be like in this house if we all had girlfriends?"

"Six women living here, you mean?"

He shrugs and shakes his head. "That would never fucking work. We'd have to sell the place and buy our own apartments."

"Fuck that," I say. "Bros come first."

"So maybe the group idea isn't such a bad one."

A look passes between us that feels heavy with intention, but before I ask Andrew if he really means what I think he means, he's turned and walked away. His feet thud on the stairs as he goes back to the game, and I'm left alone in my room, with sheets to deal with and a whole heap of confusion too.

 

 

5

ANDREW

 

 

Sandy is waiting by herself in the kitchen, so I head there, wanting to make the most of the time I have while Tyler is busy upstairs.

She’s perched on the edge of the couch as though she doesn’t feel comfortable enough to rest back and relax. In her pretty dress, she looks like an angel who fell from the heavens. The skin on her bare shoulder’s glistens. Maybe it’s a cream that she’s used, or maybe she just radiates from within. I’m not an expert. I just know that if I could, I’d kiss her right there and watch her shiver.

But that’s not what I’m here for. I’d never go there unless Tyler was cool with it. Sandy was his girl. He might have left her, but it wasn’t because he didn’t want to be with her or because he didn’t love her. Sometimes life deals us a shitty hand, and we lose the advantages we accumulated before.

“Hey,” I say softly as soon as she notices me. “I’m Andrew. I just wanted to come and make sure you’re okay.”

“I’m great,” she says. “Just waiting for Tyler. I told him I’d stay in a motel. To be honest, I would have preferred it, but he wouldn’t agree. I just don’t want to put you all out.”

I wave my hand, then rest it on the table, leaning just a little, so I appear more relaxed. “It’s no trouble. There’s plenty of space.”

“That’s what Tyler said.” She smiles, but it’s with restraint. “Can I ask you something?” She glances at the door as though she’s worried that Tyler might appear at any moment.

“Sure.”

“Has something happened in Tyler’s family? I mentioned his brother and sister, and he looked like he’d seen a ghost.”

Shit. I can’t believe she’s asking this outright. All I wanted to do was to tell her to be cautious with Tyler, not to spill all his secrets, but what do I say now? If I tell her that I can’t say, she’ll probably end up asking Tyler. I don’t think he’d be able to deal with that question without breaking down, and no dude ever wants to break down in front of the girl they love. I close my eyes, torn over how to respond, and Sandy waits without pressing harder.

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