Light My Fire

26. Luke

CHAPTER 26

Luke

Eyeing Wyatt, I ask, “She told you to stop texting her too? Damn. I had no fucking clue. I thought for sure she’d want to see you again.”

Though now that I think about it, Wyatt’s been moping around the firehouse for the last two weeks. I thought he was just giving me space, and I was pretty damn wrapped up in my own complicated emotions. Too busy moping in my own right to notice he was not his usual upbeat self.

“She told me that too,” Jackson says, holding his hand up for the bartender.

“Guess she needs space from all three of us,” I say. “Can’t say I blame her. We probably overwhelmed her by all texting her that same night.”

It’s actually kind of funny to think we all waited until her finals were over, then we blew up her phone simultaneously. When Wyatt and Jackson both admitted they texted her Friday night, I wonder now why it didn’t occur to me at the time we were all doing that.

Then again, we didn’t seem to overwhelm her at the cabin.

She was all on board then. But that was flirting and sex.

What happened at the cabin was supposed to stay at the cabin, but it didn’t. Not for me, and clearly not for these guys.

We’re at my favorite bar, Eddie’s, because we finally pulled our heads out of our asses and realized we need to clear the air about Brooke.

“I was texting her about the dogs,” Jackson says. “That’s a valid reason to reach out to her. If anyone overwhelmed her, it was Wyatt.”

“Hey,” Wyatt protests.

But he doesn’t really deny it.

“I thought you wanted to meet to tell us you’re going to Minneapolis to see her. Which I would be cool with, by the way. I know you and Brooke are a good fit for each other.” A better fit than me and her.

I’ve spent night after night turning it around and around in my head and in spite of what I confessed to Carrie about falling for Brooke, it doesn’t really change anything if she wants to be with Wyatt. Especially considering she asked me to stop texting her. Which I have respected.

Did it give me a jolt of both love and lust when she said she was catching feelings for me and missed me?

Hell fucking yeah.

Because I miss her too.

And I’m damn sure I’m either falling in love with her or I already am in love with her. Which, for me, is a little terrifying, I’m not going to lie.

Did that text also make me realize that she was right?

It’s too hard.

Yep. I agree with that.

“Here’s the thing,” Wyatt says, sounding excited. He’s actually bouncing his knee up and down rapidly, a sign he has too much energy to sit still. “She’s not in Minneapolis. She’s in Chicago.”

My shoulders stiffen, and my heart starts to race.

Here. She’s in town and we could see her, touch her?

I envision running my fingers through her silken strands of hair and leaning in to kiss her, my hand running up the smoothness of her bare thigh.

Jesus. My dick gets instantly hard.

It makes me want to throw all my resolve out the window and drive straight to her.

“Wait, what?” Jackson stops trying to get the bartender’s attention, drops his arm and swivels toward Wyatt, who is between us. “She’s here ?”

Wyatt nods. “For the next two years. She’s doing her internship here.”

I’m stunned. “Wow. Okay. How do you know that?”

“I called her to tell her I had to see her and I was booking a flight to Minneapolis.”

Of course he did. I snort.

Jackson throws a look of censure his way. “She asked you not to text her.”

“I didn’t text her. I called her. She picked up so obviously she wanted to talk to me.” He sounds smug.

If I was a dick, I’d point out that she probably would have picked up for me and Jackson too but I don’t because Wyatt can say he’s not jealous all damn day, but he is. That’s why he lost it in the kitchen when he walked in on me with her. Yes, he thought I was being too rough with Brooke, but he was also upset that she was into me, too.

“So if she’s in town, why are you at Eddie’s with us?” Jackson asks. “I would have thought you’d just go straight to her.”

“Because she said she can’t date just one of us.”

There is a pause while we all digest that.

“So…”

“She wants to date all of us?” Jackson asks. “I can get behind that if it means I get to spend some time with Brooke.”

“I think we should just tell her she can date Wyatt.” I drain my beer in two big swallows.

This doesn’t change anything.

“We should do what’s best for Brooke,” I add firmly.

Jackson looks reluctant. “I don’t think we should decide for Brooke what is best for her. That’s her call.”

“Okay, then this is best for me,” I say. “I don’t want to date her.”

I’m lying and they both know it.

But I need to protect Brooke. I failed at the cabin. I never should have touched her. Because now I want more and I know in the end, I’ll only hurt her.

“I think the best thing is if we all talk to her together,” Wyatt says. “I can date her solo, or we can all date her. I’ll do whatever it takes to spend more time with her. She’s the one for me.”

His words are simple, determined.

It must be nice to be so confident that you know what you want and it will all work out.

I felt that way once upon a time.

Before I had the rug pulled out from under me.

I rub my forehead. I’m getting a damn headache. “She said she doesn’t want to talk to me.”

“She said that to me too,” Wyatt said. “Then she agreed to see me. So I think what’s happening here is she’s attracted to all of us and is just not sure what to do about any of it. We should present a united front and make it clear she can have whatever she wants.”

I’m going to fucking regret this.

But I’m going to regret it more if I don’t do this.

That’s pretty damn clear, given the way I’ve been feeling the last two weeks.

“Okay. Tell her to meet us here.”

“I have a better idea,” Jackson says. “I’ll invite her over to my place to see the puppies. Then we can all talk to her.”

“You’re going to ambush her?” I ask. “That’s fucking rude.”

“It will show us all where we stand,” Wyatt points out.

“It’s not an ambush,” Jackson says. “She likes seeing us all together. She likes knowing we’re all cool with whatever. Which we are. Right?”

“Don’t look at me,” I protest. “I’m not cool with a fucking thing right now. But I do want to talk to her. I didn’t like the tone of her last text. She sounded upset.”

Some guy accidentally jostles me, passing by my bar stool. I glare at him when he doesn’t apologize.

He glares back.

“Watch where the fuck you’re going.” It’s misplaced anger, but he’s a convenient target for the tornado of emotions I’m feeling. The last two weeks have sucked.

Something about my expression clearly warns him off because he keeps on walking without another word.

I’m torn between wanting to see Brooke alone, so I can get her naked. I’ve been having a lot of fantasies about tying her by the ankles to my bed, her slim legs spread so that I can see her tight little cunt, her arms tethered to my headboard…

I shift on my stool.

But at the same time, I like the idea of having the guys with me as a buffer, so I don’t tie her to my bed and keep her there forever.

“She’s meeting us—well, me—at my condo in thirty minutes,” Jackson says, setting his phone down on the bartop.

“That was fast.”

“She must really want to see you.” Wyatt blows out a breath, like he isn’t sure how to feel about that. He lifts his hand resolutely and indicates to the bartender he wants to close his tab. “Let’s go. Brooke awaits.”

This is either going to be a fucking disaster or something really incredible.

Might as well see which one sooner than later.

“I’m ready.”

“I’ll have a drink at home.” Jackson is already off his stool.

Half an hour later, Brooke is standing in the doorway of Jackson’s condo, frozen.

“Oh, hi,” she says after a pause.

It reminds me of the night we came upon her in the cabin, and she was so flustered.

“You know Luke and Wyatt,” Jackson jokes as he closes the door behind her.

Jesus. I fight the urge to roll my eyes.

But Brooke gives us a soft laugh and tucks her hair behind her ear. “I thought I was coming over to check on Henley and the puppies. I hope I’m not interrupting a guys’ night.”

Her tone puts my fears to rest. She sounds flirty, not angry.

“We’re here because of you,” I tell her. “Let me take your coat.”

I hold out my hand, and she peels off her jacket and passes it over to me. I lean in and kiss her cheek. “It’s great to see you,” I murmur.

Brooke shivers and turns her head quickly so that we’re eye to eye. “It’s great to see you, too. I…”

“What, Angel?”

But she shakes her head and turns to Jackson. “You could have warned me.”

He pulls her into a hug. “Nah. I couldn’t risk you saying no. We need to talk, Brooke. We’re all tiptoeing around each other and that isn’t good for any of us.”

“I don’t want that.”

“Neither do we,” Wyatt says firmly.

He goes right in for a kiss on the lips.

Brooke kisses him back, sighing against him as she grips the front of his sweatshirt.

It surprises me how much it turns me on.

I also realize that this might be the perfect solution—I can be with Brooke but if Jackson and Wyatt are dating her as well, it’s not all on me. I don’t have to be the perfect, full-time boyfriend. I can still have my space and breaks to regroup so that I don’t fuck this up.

I can’t meet her expectations one hundred percent of the time, but a third? I can manage that.

Brooke pulls away from Wyatt. “No, this isn’t… we can’t…”

“Why can’t we?” Wyatt rubs his thumb over her bottom lip. “Just come inside and see the puppies and let’s talk.”

Brooke nods and I watch her ooh and ahh over how much the puppies have grown and changed. She examines each of them, and Henley, her fingers gentle but sure, her eyes sharp with intelligence, as she assesses the dogs.

There’s no way I can stay away from this woman.

Jackson’s condo is bright and light and has high ceilings. There is plenty of room for us to give Brooke space, yet we’re all crowded around her. Moths drawn to a flame.

We’re jockeying to be the closest to her. I’m not sure Wyatt and Jackson are aware they’re doing it, but I certainly am. We all want to be the one this girl turns to and gives a bright smile.

“They’re all doing fantastic,” she says. “Jackson, I’m so impressed with how you’re taking care of them.”

Jackson looks like he was just handed the grand prize. “Thanks, Brooke. The instructions you gave me made it easy.”

Then because I’m impatient as hell, the second she stands up and goes to the kitchen sink to wash her hands, I follow her.

“There’s no reason you can’t date Wyatt,” I tell her, cutting to the fucking chase. “Look at the guy. He’s dying here.”

Wyatt glares at me. “I can speak for myself.”

“Then speak.”

“Brooke, I want to be with you. I have since the first minute I laid eyes on you at Blake’s retirement party. I know you said we should leave it alone because you have feelings for me, but that’s exactly why we should see where this can go.”

Brooke frowns and turns to me. “Is that what you want, Luke?”

No. I want her with me, tied to my bed and gazing up at me with those soft, loving, and very sensual eyes.

“I want whatever you want.”

“Jackson?” She turns to him. “What do you want?”

“I want to date you, too. Luke and Wyatt don’t have a problem with that.”

Wyatt looks pained, but he shakes his head. “No, I don’t have a problem with that.”

“Me either.”

She stares at me again, but I don’t say a word.

“How would that work, exactly?”

“Do you want a drink or anything?” Jackson asks. “I should have offered you that sooner.”

“No. I’m fine.” Brooke leans against Jackson’s kitchen island. “This is a lovely apartment, by the way. I love the light.”

“Thanks. I think I’m going to rent it out when I move into my house.”

“I can’t believe you bought a house.” She gives him a sweet smile. “You’re a good dog dad.”

“Gotta give these guys some room to run once they’re bigger. Though Luke is taking Angel.”

That was a moment of weakness. I don’t know what prompted me to offer that.

Though I’m kidding myself.

I know exactly what prompted it. I wanted a reminder of Brooke.

Brooke walks over to me. Her eyes glance over my lips before she stares up at me. “Do you want to date me, too, Luke?”

She slips her hands into mine and I just about drown in her deep eyes. Whatever plan I had to shove Wyatt at her evaporates. Again.

“Yes, Brooke. I want to date you.” My voice is husky. “I want to do everything with you and to you. I want to date you, fuck you. Worship you.”

Brooke goes up on her tiptoes and kisses me. It’s sweet, submissive. “So date me,” she whispers. “Fuck me.”

Her words kick me in the gut.

This woman.

Fuck.

Before I can scrape up a response, she turns and crosses her arms. “What do we do now? You all want to date me and I want to date all of you. I’m not going to choose one of you over the others. I just can’t . I have feelings for all of you. So what do we do about that?”

I guess we’re all dating her.

There’s no way any of us are going to walk away.

None of us can quit her.

I rub my chin and let Wyatt take it from here.