by Bianca Vix
Damn it. He should say something to make this better. But it was probably best to keep quiet, before he messed it up worse.
Chapter 7
After Miles found the strength to see Claire out, he made his way back to the living room, stopping only in the kitchen to get some water and find some aspirin. Extra strength. He only ever used it after a particularly rough game, and it was the strongest he had.
It didn’t even make a dent in the pain in his head. Dragging himself to the sofa, he flopped down like he was boneless.
Clicking the TV on, Miles checked his phone. At least a quick check of his schedule confirmed that he didn’t have to be anywhere today.
Thank fuck.
There was a lot more voicemail than he’d expected. He listened to all of it, message after message from his teammates, talking about last night. Yeah. Everyone noticed that he’d let loose way more than usual, and they were teasing the crap out of him.
Hilarious.
Tossing his phone aside, Miles flicked through channel after channel. No matter what he stopped to watch, he couldn’t get Claire off his mind. Why not? Now that his head was clearing, he remembered pretty much everything about last night. Even talking to Claire at the bar. Not every single detail was coming back to him, but he’d enjoyed being with her. Out of everyone he could have spent his time with last night, he remembered spending as much as he could with her.
On an off chance, Miles scrolled through his contact list. And he found what he was looking for. Claire’s number, right there on his phone. He couldn’t quite recall how it got there.
But there it was.
He stared at it. He felt bad about the way he’d acted this morning, sure. But aside from that, he was feeling something else. Something unfamiliar. He couldn’t quite put his finger on it what it was. And when it came to him, he couldn’t believe it.
Miles wanted to see Claire again. That was strange. He almost never wanted to spend any time with someone he’d already slept with. And while he didn’t like the phrase One and Done, it wouldn’t be wrong to say it about him.
So why was he feeling differently about Claire?
Probably just the hangover. It would pass.
But then. There was something about her, something…different. He wanted to see her again. The thought astonished him, but there it was. Sure, she was really pretty. Of course she was. But there was something more than just that. The way her eyes sparkled when she looked at him. He could get used to that.
Whoa. Where the hell had that thought come from? There’d be no getting used to anything. All he knew was that he wanted to see her again, and he couldn’t deny it.
He tapped at her number, waiting for her to pick up.
“I was surprised to hear from you,” Claire said, gazing at him from across the table.
Of all places, Miles had brought her to his favorite restaurant. So far, she seemed to like it. “Look, about the other day,” he began.
She cut him off before he could continue. “It’s fine. You seemed like you might’ve been just a little bit hungover that day?” Claire was laughing at him.
He couldn’t stop a grin of his own from crossing his face. “Was it that obvious?”
“Pretty much.”
“I’m glad you decided to come out with me in spite of that,” Miles said.
The dinner went very well. A lot better than Miles had expected. He wasn’t much for dating or all the rules that seemed to go along with it. But he figured it went well.
And now that they were back in front of her building, sitting in his parked car, he hoped it would go even better.
“Mmm,” Claire breathed as Miles gave her a deep kiss.
He couldn’t keep his hands off her. She was so damn sexy in the tight dress she’d worn.
“Would you like to come up and have a drink?” Claire asked him, a little breathless as they broke apart.
“More than anything.”
Their hands were all over each other the entire way up to her apartment. Miles was undressing Claire almost before the door closed behind them.
And then, they both froze when they heard her name.
“What the hell?” Miles said, letting go of Claire. “You live with someone?”
“No, I certainly don’t.” Claire spun around to face the man standing in her living room as if he belonged there. “What are you doing here?”
Miles took a look at the guy. And if he’d been caught off guard a moment ago, Miles was completely stunned now. He couldn’t speak as he stared at the man who was coming towards him.
“What…” Miles began, but he couldn’t say anything more. The guy was staring right back at him too, looking just as shocked.
“Miles, I don’t live with Reid. He’s my ex, and he certainly shouldn’t be here. You should’ve given me back your key a long time ago,” Claire told him.
“Hello, Miles,” Reid said, meeting his eyes unflinchingly.
Miles swallowed hard. What exactly was he supposed to say now? Because he knew this man. Although ‘knowing’ him was a stretch.
Reid was the guy he’d picked up that night at Oasis.
What the hell was going on?
Chapter 8
But whatever the hell he was doing here, there was no way Reid was going to interrupt the rest of Miles’ night with Claire.
“Just five minutes. I don’t mean to interrupt your…date.” Reid looked pointedly at Miles as he spoke.
Miles stared right back at him, unfazed. Yeah, one of them needed to leave, and Miles had already decided it wasn’t going to be him. There was no way he was going to let anyone get in the way of him spending the night with Claire.
Especially not this guy.
“This isn’t a good time,” Claire told him.
“Just five minutes. That’s all I’m asking.”
Claire gazed at Miles, who shrugged. “If that’s what you want to do, I have no problem waiting for five minutes. If not, he can leave right now.”
“Since Miles doesn’t mind, then fine. Let’s get this over with. But you know what, Miles can hear what you have to say too. I’m not going to ask him to leave on your account.”
Reid shook his head. “Doesn’t bother me. Good to see you again, Miles.”
“You two know each other?” Claire glanced between them. “How?”
Neither man spoke. Each one was waiting for the other one to say something first. Like hell Miles was going to tell Claire how he knew Reid. That would’ve been a one-way ticket out the door, and that was the last thing Miles wanted.
How could he skirt the subject without lying? That was a different problem.
“We’ve met before,” Reid said, shrugging. “Just recently.”
Claire picked up on the way he was dodging her question. “Are you kidding me?” she said. “I really want to know. Just exactly how do you know each other?” Now she was looking at Miles, expecting him to come clean.
Oh, fuck.
Miles cleared his throat. “He and I met at Oasis.”
She could draw her own conclusion from that. There was no need for details. Oh, well. If this wasn’t going to go anywhere, which it probably wasn’t anyway, it might as well be sooner than later. Although Miles had hoped it would have been later. Reid’s timing couldn’t have been worse.
“It’s a gay bar.” Reid supplied, like he was trying to be helpful.
Dumbass.
“I know what it is,” Claire said. “Did you two…oh, never mind. It doesn’t even matter. You know what, let’s just sit down and talk this out. This is just too weird.”
Miles couldn’t have agreed more. This was exactly why he didn’t date. Well, not that this kind of situation had ever happened to him before. Not ever. But still, there was always something weird that could happen. And usually did.
And now he was supposed to sit and chat with a guy he’d already fucked, and the woman he was hoping to sleep with tonight. Who was that guy’s ex on top of it.
Awkward. So, s
o awkward.
Miles went with them into the living room, but almost immediately he changed his mind.
“You know, I should just leave you to it. It looks like there’s something you have to get figured out, and I don’t need to be here for that.”
“Miles.” Claire turned to him, the look on her face telling him that she didn’t want him to leave. “This won’t take long. And then it’ll be over with. Please don’t go.”
He didn’t want to go. He really didn’t. But this was not what he signed up for. Coming between them and whatever their relationship was now. It clearly wasn’t finished.
“I think Claire deserves the truth,” Reid added in. “Don’t you, Miles?”
Miles rolled his eyes hard, but he sat down.
“Fine. But let’s make this quick.”
“I’m surprised you’re dating again, Claire,” Reid said.
“Reid, just tell me what you came here to say. That’s not your concern.”
“Yeah, I know. Sorry. But this what I want to talk to you about.”
Miles sighed. “I’m going to go. You guys really don’t need me here for this.”
“I agree,” Claire said. “But Reid should be the one to leave. We can talk about this another time. Give me a call and I’ll answer.”
Reid didn’t move. “Claire. I still want you. I miss you so much. I want us to get back together.”
What the hell? This was unbelievable. Was this guy seriously doing this right in front of him?
“No,” she said. “We can’t. Not the way I want us to be. Nothing’s changed with you, has it?”
Reid shook his head.
“Then there’s nothing more to say. I don’t want the kind of relationship that you want. And I know you can’t change who you are.” She glanced at Miles. “When did you two meet?
“Just recently,” he said.
“So, you are still sleeping with men then?” Claire asked Reid.
Miles eyes widened. She already knew about that? And she didn’t seem to have a problem with it. Well, not enough of a problem to kick Miles out over it. Enough to break up with Reid, apparently.
“Yeah, but this changes everything.” Reid tilted his head at Miles. “Looks like you found another guy who likes guys. Or hasn’t he told you about that yet?”
Miles’ eyes narrowed. This guy was really starting to piss him off.
Claire shook her head. “We only just started going out. It’s not that big of a deal. Not unless he wants the kind of thing you want.”
“Maybe he does.” Reid held Claire’s eyes.
“Yeah, what’s that?” Miles asked, exasperated. Christ, this was getting annoying. If he was going to have to sit through something like this, at least he should know what they meant when he was getting dragged into it too.
“The reason we broke up.” Reid glanced at Claire, and she didn’t try and keep him from answering. “I realized I like men just as much as women. And I needed to figure out what that meant. So Claire and I ended our relationship. But I don’t want to let her go. I miss her too much. I want to be with you, Claire. More than anything.”
“Not just me.” Claire added. “And I don’t want to be with a man who goes out and sleeps with other men. If I’m going to be in a relationship, I want a commitment.”
“And what kind of a commitment are you going to get with him?” Reid gestured at Miles, who scowled back at him. This guy was a piece of work. “No different than what you’d get with me.” He stared at Miles if he could see right through him. “We’re the same.”
Miles glared at him. “We’re not the same. You don’t know anything about me.”
“I think I know the only thing about you that really matters,” Reid said. “And that’s something we have in common.”
Chapter 9
This was so, so not the way Claire had wanted the evening to turn out. Not at all. After going out for a great dinner with Miles, they were supposed to be in bed together by now.
Alone.
Instead here she was, trapped in her own living room with not just Miles, but her ex. On top of that, Reid knew Miles. How they knew each other, she didn’t really want to imagine.
Although she had a pretty good idea.
But whatever had been between them before, the way they were looking at each other now made it clear that things were different. Miles was acting openly hostile to Reid. Reid looked like he hoped to piss Miles off however he could.
Was this what it felt like to have two guys fight over you? Because she’d always thought it would be a lot more fun. Maybe if they were wrestling. Shirtless. Mud wrestling? Or with some kind of oil involved.
Claire gave her head a shake. This was getting ridiculous. Her small apartment wasn’t big enough to hold all the hostility between the two men. She had to get this resolved, and fast.
“Look, Reid. I don’t want to be in an open relationship. I said it before and I’m saying it again. Nothing’s changed.”
“I know you don’t.” Reid’s eyes softened the moment he turned to face her, and he gave her a smile. That smile of his that she missed so much. A twinge of sadness rose up in her. She did miss him. She could admit it, at least to herself. But never to him.
He didn’t need to know that. They were over.
“I don’t want an open relationship either,” Reid continued.
“What? Since when? That’s not what you said when we broke up.” Mentally, Claire gave herself a smack in the head. This was not the time to discuss this. She should be insisting that he leave, so she and Miles could be alone.
But she couldn’t help herself. Curiosity was getting the better of her. And Miles wasn’t storming out, at least not yet. “So what do you want? Just out of curiosity,” she added.
Miles wasn’t looking happy. This evening was obviously not going the way he’d planned it, either. Finding out like this that he was into guys too…she couldn’t even process that right now. That was the sole reason Claire had broken up with Reid.
It was the last thing she needed now. That is, if she was looking for relationship. Which she wasn’t. Definitely not. Lora might’ve been right. She might not be completely over Reid yet, although Miles was starting to make her think that she was getting there, and fast.
Claire was getting to like Miles more than she thought she would. She didn’t need to have a relationship for the two of them to have some fun. And from what she could tell, that was all he was up for himself. So that was going to work out perfectly.
Now if she could only stop wanting to know what Reid had to say, he could leave and she and Miles could get back to what they had come upstairs to do.
“Maybe you should take no for an answer.” Miles glowered at Reid. “It’s over, according to Claire.”
“Is that right?” Reid swung his head back to face Miles. “Because I think I have a good solution. One that Claire needs to hear before she goes too far down the wrong road.”
What the hell was he up to? She couldn’t take much more of this, but Reid went on.
“I want a commitment with you. You and another man.
“What are you talking about?” Claire rubbed at her temples.
“You know what I mean. Something just like your friend has.”
“My friend?” She was puzzled. “You mean Lora?”
“That’s right.”
Miles’ expression changed at that. Of course he must have known what Lora’s relationship was about. Blake was a friend of his.
“What are you talking about? What Lora’s got going on is completely different. The three of them are in a relationship, and they aren’t open to anyone else. Oh. Or is that what you mean? You want to get together with me and someone else? Another guy?”
“That’s what I mean,” Reid said. “All it takes is three people that are passionate about each other. And I’m pretty sure you still have feelings for me, don’t you.”
Miles broke in. “She’s with me now. No feelings left over for you.�
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“Maybe that’s true, maybe it’s not. But you never know what can come out of one hot night together.”
Miles’s face reddened when Reid said that.
Well, now Claire had her answer about how they knew each other. The two of them had been together. How strange was that? Her ex and her current man had slept with each other.
The room was starting to get a little warm. Was she imagining it, or was something changing? The tension between Reid and Miles seemed to be turning into something else, shifting from hostility to…what?
Could it possibly be sexual? They seemed to be too irritated with each other for that. But as Claire looked between them, she could see it. Yes. She was right. Something was different now.
Did they want each other still? Again Claire rubbed at her eyes. Why was it so hard to find a guy who was just into her? Why was there always something to make things complicated?
Reid broke into her thoughts. “We could give it a try.”
“Give what a try?” Claire asked Reid.
“Three at once. Have you ever had a threesome, Claire?”
“No, I haven’t,” Claire snapped. “Have you?”
“Yes, I have. And it was hell of a lot of fun. I’m sure Miles knows what I’m talking about.”
Miles narrowed his eyes, but ignored the question.
“You two didn’t…” Claire couldn’t even finish her question.
“No. Not us. Not together,” Reid said.
He couldn’t possibly be suggesting what she thought he was. Could he? Another glance in his direction was enough to convince her otherwise.
Reid was seriously suggesting the three of them sleep together.
No way. Not going to happen.
Chapter 10
Claire wanted to laugh, but she couldn’t. The conversation had taken a surreal turn. She shot Miles a quick glance. He must be thinking that Reid was crazy, and maybe her too for not kicking him out yet.
But Miles’ expression wasn’t what she expected. Not at all.
He seemed like he was actually intrigued by Reid’s suggestion.
Maybe she shouldn’t have been surprised by that. The two of them had already had sex. Miles seemed like an open-minded guy. Reid wasn’t making a secret out of the fact that he was bi.