“I’d like to know the answer to that myself,” Nick adds.
“I haven’t looked at another guy since you two came into my life, but I also can’t predict the future. I don’t know what will happen, but right now, I can assure you both that it’s just you two. No one else.”
Blake looks at me broodingly. “So how are we going to do this?”
“I don’t know,” I confess. “From what I’ve read, every relationship is different. We would just have to be as open as we can and learn from our mistakes. Rules are probably going to be a good idea.”
“I can tell you right now, I don’t want the three of us to spend time together at the same time,” Blake says in a carefully controlled tone.
Nick looks away, his jaw clenching, and his hands have tightened into fists. Blake’s announcement had hurt him.
Blake notices too, and he winces. “I didn’t mean that the way it sounded. I just meant that I don’t want to see you two together. Right now, that’d be like pouring salt on an open wound,” he explains.
Nick visibly relaxes, and I’m relieved that Blake had smoothed things over.
“Okay,” I say, wanting to get back to the business of setting rules. “So I spend time with each of you on my own, no group time. I think that’s reasonable,” I agree. Then I look at Nick. “That okay?”
He nods his acceptance. “How about no text messaging or calling Fallon during a time that she’s with the other unless it’s an emergency?”
Blake sinks back again, looking dazed. “I can’t believe I am agreeing to this.”
“Me neither,” Nick says with resignation.
“I know this is going to get complicating, and I’m quite certain I am going to mess up once in a while, but I can promise you this, when I am with you, you’re the only one on my mind. I’m going to prove to you both that you have no reason to be jealous of the other. I wouldn’t suggest this if I felt that I couldn’t make you both happy,” I state firmly.
Both of them are momentarily silent.
“What do we do about school?” Blake asks, speaking up once more.
“I can answer that,” Nick cuts in. “If anyone finds out she’s seeing both of us, there’s a good chance the fallout is going to land in her lap, and that won’t be pretty. You guys have already kissed in public, I can handle everyone thinking you are dating. She can see me in private; I’m not much of a socializer anyway,” he says in a detached tone that he likes to use when he’s hiding his true feelings.
“I don’t want to hide my relationships with either of you. I’m not ashamed,” I say steadily.
“We know,” Blake says. “But Nick’s right.”
I look at them uncertainly. “I hate that you both feel pressured into this.”
Nick shrugs warily. “Both of us like you too much to give you up, so this is what we’re stuck with.”
“What if you guys start resenting me?” I ask worriedly.
“We’ll worry about that if or when it happens,” Nick says with a shake of his head, telling me it’s not worth fretting over at this point.
I gaze at both of them, knowing that they are now mine, and my heart constricts. “You have no idea what you both have given me, and I will do everything under the sun to make sure you both are comfortable with this. I will never give you guys a reason to think that I favor one over the other,” I vow.
Nick holds my gaze. “This either works, or it’s going to tear us all apart, Fallon.”
“It’s going to work,” I say confidently. Anything else is unacceptable. Everything has changed, and I will do whatever is necessary to keep them in my life.
Blake, Fallon, and Nick’s relationships continue in the second installment of their story, Reckless—coming soon! Please consider leaving a review before you move on to the next novel on your device. It is very much appreciated. Thank you!
Shameless (Loving Fallon Book 1) Page 22