Any Given Sunday

by Mari Carr

  “Just now. Thought we’d grab some stuff off the truck and start helping.” Riley turned around and put her box on top of the heavy one Aaron was already carrying. “These say books, so I’m assuming they go in the office we just passed.”

  Lauren nodded, confirming Riley’s assumption.

  “Put those in there, sugar, while Lauren gives me the tour.”

  Aaron groaned. “If I fucking pull a muscle, Riley, you’ll be sorry. Probably be laid up for weeks. No boom-boom.”

  Lauren laughed at Aaron’s taunt as Riley started to grab her box back. Aaron chuckled and moved away before she could retrieve it.

  “Gotcha,” he teased as he walked to the office.

  “Asswipe,” Riley muttered, though her face betrayed the truth. Lauren didn’t think the honeymoon would ever end for those two. They’d eloped in Vegas over two years earlier, but they still only had eyes—and hands—for each other.

  “Thanks for coming over to help, Riley. I really do appreciate it. Actually, I don’t know how we could have moved all this stuff if it weren’t for your family.”

  Riley took her arm and propelled her up the stairs. “Gotta be some perks to having four overgrown, overbearing brothers. Top of that list is that they can move all the heavy shit. So we’ll start the tour upstairs. What are the sleeping arrangements?”

  Lauren led her toward the first room at the top of the stairs. “Sean and I have the master bedroom and until the guys finish building the basement apartment for Chad, he’ll be in the guest room.”

  “Mmm hmm,” Riley hummed.

  Lauren tried to figure out what was going on in the woman’s head. She’d been making odd comments about this move ever since they’d announced it to Sean’s family. Lauren suddenly wondered if she hadn’t been as good at hiding her secret lust for Chad as she’d thought.

  “This is the master bedroom. It has a great bathroom through those doors—big-ass Jacuzzi tub and everything.” Then she sighed at the pile of boxes lining the walls, the dismantled king-sized bed and the drawer-less dressers. God only knew where the drawers had ended up. “Jeez. It’s gonna take ages to get this place put together.”

  Riley was standing at the doorway, looking down the hall. “Where is Chad sleeping again?”

  “A little farther down the hallway, on the right. The guest bathroom is toward the end. What’s the obsession with sleeping arrangements, Riley? You know as well as I do it makes sense for Chad to move in with us until he and I graduate.”

  In addition to being Sean’s sister, Riley had become one of Lauren’s dearest friends over the past few years. Despite that fact, sometimes Lauren struggled with Riley’s unusual view of the world and life in general.

  “All I’m saying is, are you sure you don’t want to share a room with Sean and Chad? Let’s face it. You’ve got the hots for both of them. There’s a lot of pent-up lust hovering in the air whenever the three of you get together. It’s sort of stifling really.”

  Lauren sat down on a box, resting her elbows on her knees. “I’m committed to Sean, Riley. We’ve been together over two years. I’m not about to make a pass at his best friend.”

  Riley claimed the box next to her. “I’m not saying you should throw Sean over for Chad. Just add another man to the mix.”

  “Jesus. You know, we’re not all as crazy as the Collinses. Most of us mere mortal beings just get through the days living normal lives, either alone or in pairs. Besides, I’m attending school to become a doctor. Of psychology. Not sure how living in a ménage would go over with my patients when I open a practice.”

  “I don’t see anything weird about living in a threesome. Look at my brother Killian. He’s been happily shacked up with Lily and Justin for years. I’ve always thought you, Sean and Chad were destined for the same.”

  Lauren shook her head. “Killian’s deal is the exception, not the rule. I don’t know of another person in the world living in that kind of setup.”

  “So that means no one else is? Pardon me, babe, but you don’t know that many damn people. I bet there are loads of threesomes out there making it work.”

  “Why am I having this conversation with you? How do I let you drag me into stuff like this? The point is moot. I’m in love with Sean. We’re eventually getting married and living happily ever after. The end.”

  Riley refused to be deterred. “And Chad?”

  “Chad will hopefully be what he’s always been. Our best friend. And God willing, he and I will achieve our dreams and open a practice together. This move hasn’t changed anything except our address.”

  “I don’t buy it.”

  Lauren rolled her eyes. “What don’t you buy?”

  “If you and Sean are so committed that you’ve decided to buy this house together and start shacking up, if this is just the first step toward marriage, then why bring Chad into the mix?”

  “I’ll admit the timing wasn’t ideal, life-wise, but look at this house, Riley. It’s gorgeous. Sean was helping Killian and Justin do some construction work on it so the former owner could sell. Sean took one look and knew it was our dream home. It’s an easy commute to the pub for Sean and close to the university. When he brought me here to look at it, we knew we wanted it.”

  “It is beautiful. I guess I’m just worried you’re both rushing things a bit.”

  Lauren sighed. She’d been feeling the same way lately. Sean hadn’t exactly pushed her into buying the house, but he’d been so excited when he’d shown it to her. His enthusiasm had been infectious. Now that she was here, the reality of what she’d committed to was hitting her.

  “Like I said, we weren’t looking to buy a house until after I graduated in the spring. We couldn’t leave Chad high and dry with just two more semesters to go. With Chad and me only working part-time while we finish grad school, having him rent the basement apartment helps us make the mortgage until I find a job. Besides, Chad couldn’t afford the college apartment without a roommate, and while I know he wouldn’t have minded advertising for one, it didn’t seem fair to put him in that situation. He and Sean have lived together since high-school graduation.”

  “So this house-sharing deal is definitely a short-time thing?”

  Lauren nodded. “Yep. Just until Chad and I earn our doctorates and find jobs.”

  Riley reached over and grasped Lauren’s hand. “I’m really happy for you, Lauren.”

  Riley’s words and her kind touch proved to be too much. Suddenly Lauren heard things falling from her lips that she hadn’t meant to share. “When Sean brought me to see this house, he had a picnic basket with wine and bread and cheese. After taking me through the whole house, we sat on the floor in the living room. He pulled out the food, poured us some wine and told me he loved me and wanted to spend the rest of his life with me.”

  Riley laughed. “God, that’s sappy. Sounds just like my baby brother.”

  “It was completely romantic. I looked at him and I knew. God, Riley, I knew all the way to my soul I wanted to live this lifetime with him.”

  “And now you are,” Riley said.

  Lauren looked down, tried to find a way to explain. “I made a choice. Part of being an adult means you have to make difficult decisions.”

  Riley’s eyes narrowed. “You chose Sean.”

  “And I don’t regret that. Not for a minute,” Lauren interjected.

  “But you still want Chad.”

  “I’m attracted to him. I’m close to him. I just think my feelings for him are going to have to remain in the unrequited column.”

  “No,” Riley said. “If you did that, you’d be lying to Sean, lying to yourself. Why would you let this relationship continue to grow with something like that overshadowing it? This is why the timing is right for you to do a little experimenting. I still say you should go for a threesome.”

  “No. Besides, even if Sean were onboard with the idea—”

  Riley interrupted her. “You know Sean would go for it, don’t you?”

 
; Lauren shrugged noncommittally even though she knew her impulsive boyfriend was probably even more liberal-minded than his sister, who was currently attempting to push her into a ménage. Yes, she thought, Sean would definitely be open to the idea. She wasn’t sure how she knew. It was just a feeling she got whenever she saw Chad and Sean together. They were closer than any two men she’d ever met. They shared everything, spent hours at a time together talking about everything and nothing. There had actually been a few occasions when she’d felt like an outsider in their relationship.

  She also suspected Sean was aware of her attraction to Chad. Though he never overtly mentioned it, he’d definitely seen her checking Chad out on more than one occasion. Once he’d even winked at her as if to say “caught you”.

  Then she considered Chad and realized the idea was impossible. “You told me yourself how upset Chad was when Lily hooked up with Justin and K. He was pissed off by the whole concept.”

  Riley considered her argument. “I don’t know if he was pissed off by the ménage or the fact that it was his sister. Guys have pretty powerful protective instincts when it comes to sisters. Besides, he’s obviously over it. He’s always hanging around Lily and the guys.”

  “I think it’s safe to say he’s accepted it…for her, because it clearly makes her happy and Chad adores his sister. That doesn’t mean he’ll embrace it for himself. Besides, he’s in the same boat I am. We’re studying to become psychologists. I’m not sure living in a ménage would be good for any practice we might want to build.”

  Riley shrugged. “That’s a lame excuse.”

  Lauren laughed. Trying to talk sense to Riley was always a waste of time. “A happy threesome is something only your family would try and succeed at. I’m just plain old Lauren Chase from Bethesda, Maryland. I think it’s safe to say I better pack it in now while I’m ahead and enjoy my normal relationship with Sean.”

  “Never pegged you as someone to settle for safe.”

  Lauren narrowed her eyes. “I hardly call spending the rest of my life with your brother ‘settling’. Sean’s amazing, wonderful. He’s everything I ever dreamed of in a man.”

  Riley leaned against the wall. “I have no doubt the two of you are well suited. But something’s missing. Even I can see that, and you’re forgetting something very important.”

  Lauren rose at the sound of feet climbing the stairs. “What’s that?”

  “One-third,” Riley stressed the word, “of your happily ever after is a Collins. I think both of you will harbor a lifetime of regrets and what-ifs if you don’t explore the idea before you get married. In fact, you probably should have done it before you bought the house.”

  Aaron appeared at the doorway. “Hiding out?”

  Lauren was grateful for the man’s timely interruption. Talking to Riley could sometimes be mentally exhausting.

  Riley laughed at her husband’s accusation as he walked over to them. “You know my aversion to anything resembling hard work. What do you think?”

  Aaron rolled his eyes. “Just wanted to let you know Sean and Chad are looking for you, Lauren. Something about where to put the television. Lily’s down there, fighting the good fight. She doesn’t seem to think you’ll like their living room setup.”

  “I better go put out the fire.” She turned at the door in time to see Riley kissing Aaron on the cheek as he grabbed her ass. She grinned. “Thanks for the advice, Riley.”

  “Dear God,” Aaron said, horrified. “You aren’t taking Riley’s advice on anything, are you?”

  “Hey.” Riley feigned offense. “I give amazing advice.”

  Lauren nodded. “You give insane, impossible advice, but I do appreciate your concern.”

  “You’re not listening to it though, are you?” Riley asked.

  Lauren shrugged and headed out the door.

  “You know it’s only as impossible as you make it, Lauren,” Riley called out after her.

  Riley’s words drifted to her several times throughout that day…and the weeks that followed.

  * * * * *

  A month later, all the boxes were emptied, the closets full of clothing, the kitchen full of food. The only thing still packed away was Lauren’s true desires. And she was getting damn tired of it. Riley had planted a seed that had grown into a vine threatening to choke the life out of her.

  The sound of Sean setting the kitchen table drifted down the hallway. Dinner was almost ready. She welcomed the idea of taking a break. She sure as hell wasn’t accomplishing much right now.

  She watched Chad read something off the computer screen, his face the picture of concentration. They’d spent hours…hell, weeks of their lives together like this, working on projects, debating a variety of subjects, dreaming about their shared career plans. They were so similar sometimes it was scary. They could finish each other’s thoughts and there were times when she swore he could read her mind.

  Chad rested his head on his hand, the pose drawing her attention to his muscular arm. Her imagination and lustful dreams of late were becoming more vivid with each replaying. Chad eating her pussy while she gave Sean a blowjob. Sean taking her from behind as she sucked on Chad’s cock. Chad and Sean both taking her—filling her ass and her pussy at the same time.

  She rested her head against the back of her wingback chair and sighed, her mind filled with the latter image.

  “Lousy book?”

  She looked up to find Chad had turned in the desk chair and was looking at her. They’d both hit the office right after returning from class. Chad had set up his laptop and was working on a paper, while she was supposed to be studying for a test.

  “What?” she asked.

  “That’s the third time in five minutes you’ve sighed. I figure either something you’re reading is upsetting you or the book is boring.”

  She lifted the large textbook off her lap and flashed the cover at him.

  He grinned. “Boring it is.”

  She hadn’t read a single word since she’d come into the office and plopped down in the cushy chair in the corner. She had the same paper to write as Chad, but she was struggling to set her mind to it.

  “Need help?” Chad offered.

  She shook her head. The assignment wasn’t difficult. “No, I understand it all. I just…” Her words faded away unfinished.

  Chad frowned and rose. Crossing the room, he claimed the ottoman at her feet, his close proximity sending all the blood flowing to her hot spots—her nipples tightened and her pussy dampened. “You know, I’m starting to worry about you, Lauren. You haven’t seemed like yourself since we moved into this house. Are you regretting your decision to let me bunk here? I know you and Sean were looking forward to setting up house. Don’t wanna be in your way.”

  Damn psych majors, she thought. Chad was far too perceptive, too in tune with her emotions for her to hide anything for long. Only thing he seemed oblivious to was her desire to shove him to the floor and ride his cock until they both passed out. “Of course I don’t regret you being here. I love living with you guys. I know I spent more time at yours and Sean’s apartment over the past couple of years than I did at mine, but actually having the three of us under one roof full-time is fun. I’m sort of surprised how well everything’s turned out.”

  Chad chuckled. “Yeah, me too. I mean, Sean and I have been roommates forever, but I have to admit I worried about changing the dynamics, adding you to the mix.”

  She gave him a hurt look and he quickly continued. “Don’t look at me like that. I know we all get along, but you know how it is. You can be good friends with someone and still not be able to live with them. That’s not true here. The three of us,” he paused as if looking for the words, “we fit.”

  She nodded slowly, wondering exactly how well they would fit, say…on her bed. She cast the thought aside, afraid of giving herself away, and forced herself to answer lightly. “Yeah, I’d say, with the exception of the foosball table in the dining room, everything is pretty close to perfect.�
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  Chad’s eyes darkened. For just a moment she wondered if he weren’t hiding something too. Sometimes she got a feeling she wasn’t the only one playing her cards close to her chest; that Chad and Sean were harboring some secrets as well. Unfortunately she couldn’t figure out what those secrets might be. While Riley still swore Sean and Chad would be receptive to a threesome, neither of them gave her any indication they were unhappy with the status quo. She appeared to be the only horny one in the house, walking around with her mind in the gutter 24/7.

  “Yeah,” Chad said softly, “everything’s perfect.”

  She narrowed her eyes, studying his face. His tone of voice betrayed his words and left her scrambling to figure out what he thought was off. “Chad,” she started.

  He covered his seriousness with a light laugh. “We’ll move the foosball table eventually. Sean and I are getting close to finishing the basement. Once that’s done, I’ll take my stuff and the foosball table and give you both a bit more space.”

  Sean and Chad had worked wonders in the basement, creating the dream bachelor’s pad complete with a small kitchen, living area, bedroom and its own outdoor entrance. Sean was pulling out all the stops, declaring that after Chad moved out it would become his man cave. The two spent ages plotting the future poker games and sporting-event parties they’d hold down there.

  She gave him an annoyed look that was just for show. “You guys always say that and yet that foosball table is still in my dining room. I swear I’m about to cover the damn thing with glass, throw a vase of flowers on it and call it my dining room table.”

  “That could work,” Chad said. She tried to hide her surprise when he reached over and took her hands in his, the gesture out of character for him. While everyone within a twenty-mile radius could tell what Sean was feeling on any given day, Chad was more reserved and solitary. She was accustomed to Sean’s continual, playful touches, but it was rare for Chad to touch her.

  “You’re sure you’re okay with me living here?” he asked again.