Red Zone: Boys of Fall

by Mari Carr

  Sadie laughed, glad that they could return to their usual teasing so quickly after such an intense almost-fuck-up. “I could always go with stoic, stodgy, serious, predictable or boring.”

  Before she knew it, Joel had pulled her toward him, tickling her as she giggled and tried to bat his hands away. She continued to wiggle, fighting to crawl off the opposite side of the bed, until he pulled her toward him, her back resting against his chest. He wrapped his arms around her in a friendly, relaxed manner, a far cry from their previous touches.

  “I guess I should get up and call for a cab to take us back to the ranch.”

  She shook her head. “No. Sleep it off here. We’re going to have to deal with the awkward morning after for this fiasco at some point. Might as well get it over with right away.”

  He tightened his grip, accepting her invitation without words. Then he finally said, “You’re still not going to go out with me, are you? Or Oakley.”

  She twisted in his arms, wanting him to see her face as she tried to explain. “The thing is…I can’t choose, Joel. I like you and Oakley. A lot. And as I think you saw tonight, I’m attracted to both of you. You say choose, but it’s just not that simple.”

  He nodded slowly, though she could see her words didn’t make him happy. Hell, they didn’t make her happy.

  She needed to lighten the heavy mood. “Let’s face it, put together, you and Oakley make the perfect man.”

  Joel chuckled, the sound short-lived when Oakley walked back into the room.

  Sadie glanced at him over her shoulder, wanting to put a smile on his face again as well. “Damn, Oak. That didn’t take long. You know that doesn’t really speak too highly of your stamina.”

  “Shut up and scoot over,” Oakley said, no heat behind his words. He spooned her, snuggling close to her in a way that was far too comfortable. Sadie could sleep just like this every night of her life.

  She sighed. “You mad?”

  “Naw,” Oakley said. “I could never be mad at you, Sade.”

  She snorted. “Yeah, right.”

  “Fine,” he amended. “I could never stay mad at you.”

  She closed her eyes. Alcohol was a fickle friend. Now that the possibility of sex was off the table, it was taking the opposite route, making her very, very sleepy.

  Her last thought as she drifted away was of Advil. She should have taken two. And had some water. Because there was no way she wasn’t waking up without a headache.

  Fucking champagne.

  Fucking karma.

  Chapter Two

  Joel tossed a hay bale on the back of the tractor and tried to ignore Oakley’s constant whistling. The damn man had been in an annoyingly good mood ever since they’d left Sadie’s bed yesterday morning.

  Sadie had claimed the morning after would be awkward, but she’d been wrong. Apart from the fact they’d all had wicked hangovers, there was no uncomfortable silence or stilted conversation. They had just gotten out of bed, dressed and shared some dry toast and weak tea while teasing each other the same way they always did.

  That was one of the things Joel liked best about Sadie. She didn’t play games or pretend to be anything other than exactly what she was. The woman was honest, with a great sense of humor and just the right amount of humility. She didn’t take herself too seriously, but she wasn’t afraid to tell you what she thought of you either. It was incredibly appealing.

  However, unlike Oakley’s sudden, irritatingly cheerful demeanor, their night together had left him in a foul mood. Mainly because he knew exactly how much he was losing out on now. He’d always liked Sadie, always been attracted to her, but he’d never realized just how cool she was. Hearing that she couldn’t choose between him and Oakley was different from thinking she was uninterested and just trying to be a decent person. It made things harder, because now he knew she wanted him as much as he wanted her.

  Oakley’s whistling grew louder.

  “Dammit, Oak. Will you stop making so much racket?”

  Oakley paused mid-toss. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

  That wasn’t the right question at all. “Actually, I’m curious to know why you’re so freaking happy?”

  Oakley sighed. “You don’t get it, do you, Joel? You haven’t figured it out yet?”

  Joel had spent the past eight years of his life working side by side with this man. And sometimes, it felt as if they were still strangers. Joel would never get used to Oakley’s bizarre way of looking at the world. If Joel saw storm clouds, Oakley saw shade. If Joel saw an annoying deer eating all their vegetables in the garden, Oakley saw Bambi. And clearly, while Joel looked at Sadie and saw no possible future, Oakley found something different.

  “Figured out what?”

  “I heard what she said the other night. About liking both of us.”

  “You were eavesdropping?”

  Oakley shook his head. “Not the entire time. Me and Woody had to have a little chat first. I was trying to talk him off the ledge.”

  Joel rolled his eyes. Oakley had named his cock Woody—the least inspired name on the planet—and actually talked about it like it was a real person. “Then I also assume you heard her say she couldn’t choose. She’s never going to date either one of us.”

  Oakley gave him a look that couldn’t be described as anything less that pitying. It annoyed the crap out of Joel.

  “Who said she has to choose?” Oakley asked.

  Joel frowned, still confused. “You’re going to ask her to take turns? And what happens if…when…we both fall for her? Because you know we’re going to. We can’t spend the rest of our lives going out with her every other day.”

  “You’re so black and white, Joel. Think outside the box, man. We both date her. Together. At the same time. You were in that bed the other night. I dare you to tell me it wasn’t fucking hot.”

  Joel wasn’t about to admit that. Even if it was true. Mainly because his feelings about the whole situation were so jumbled and mixed up, he didn’t know what to think.

  That confusion was adding to his bad mood. He’d never made out with a girl in the presence of another person. Never considered sharing a woman with another guy sexually. However, that was all he’d thought about since the night of the wedding. He imagined it over and over, the idea keeping him in a constant state of semi-painful, half-hard dick mode.

  It was becoming awkward and embarrassing. Every time someone came around, he felt the need to readjust his jeans to try to hide his erection.

  “We were drunk.”

  “Bullshit!” Oakley said loudly. “You know as well as I do neither one of us was anywhere near as drunk as she seemed to think we were. Find another excuse.”

  Joel resented Oakley calling him out so boldly, even if the asshole was right. “I don’t share.”

  “Wrong. You’ve just never shared in the past. You’re backing away from it because there’s some fucked-up voice in your head telling you it’s wrong. Did it feel wrong, Joel?”

  “You gotta stop thinking with your cock, Oakley. That’s not how the world works.”

  Oakley shrugged. “Maybe it should.”

  “So what’s Woody’s big plan? We just walk into Pitchers, tell Sadie she can have both of us and we live the rest of our lives in some sex-filled threesome paradise?”

  Oakley slapped Joel on the shoulder, his face filled with delight. “Exactly!”

  Joel laughed despite himself. “You’re insane.”

  “I’m creative.”

  Joel reached for another hay bale. “Even if I did agree to that—which I’m not—Sadie would turn us down flat.”

  “You’re kidding, right? You’re the stick in the mud, Joel. Not her. I think she’d go for it.”

  Joel wanted to argue that point, but he wasn’t entirely sure Oakley was wrong. What had Sadie called him? Boring? Predictable? He had to admit, Sadie was more like Oakley than him. So what would she say if they presented her the option of a threesome?

  Joel
discounted the idea immediately. It didn’t matter what she would say. He wasn’t making that damn offer. He couldn’t. Christ. He was raised in a devout Catholic home by a very strict but loving mother. He’d read enough of the Bible to know there wasn’t anything in there condoning an orgy-like, ménage a trois relationship. What would his mom say if he pursued something so unorthodox? What would Coach say?

  “Shit. I can see the wheels are turning. Which means you’ve probably already talked yourself out of this. So, you’ve left me no choice.”

  Joel didn’t like the ominous tone of that. When Oakley took matters into his own hands, things always took a twisted turn—sometimes fun, sometimes scary. “What do you mean?”

  “I’m going to Pitchers tonight.”

  Clearly there was a hell of a lot more to it than just that. Joel took the bait. “What for?”

  “To see my girl.”

  It was on the tip of Joel’s tongue to correct Oakley, to say our girl. Because as much as he wanted to deny it, that was how he’d begun to think of Sadie. Regardless, he managed to refrain. Part of him was just contrary enough to tell Oakley to have fun while he stayed home. Sadly, that wasn’t the stronger part.

  “I wouldn’t mind tossing back a couple cold ones.” His nonchalance didn’t fool his best friend for a second.

  “Cool. Sounds like we’ve got a date.” Oakley went back to throwing the hay bales on the trailer. Mercifully, the work distracted his friend enough that he couldn’t see the impact his comment had on Joel.

  It wasn’t just the concept of a threesome that was holding Joel back. It was the way Oakley had looked at him the other night when Joel had taken off his shirt. They’d seen each other naked about a thousand times in the past. After all, they were roommates.

  But Oakley had never looked at him with anything more than a passing glance; the typical once-up-and-down guys do to see how they compare.

  The other night, Joel was certain he’d seen something more. Something that he really couldn’t handle.

  Desire.

  * * *

  It was close to ten o’clock before he and Oakley rolled into Pitchers. A couple of cows had gotten loose and it had taken them several hours to find the bastards, get them penned back up, figure out where they’d made their escape and repair the damn fence. Joel had insisted they call it a night and hit Pitchers later in the week, but Oakley wouldn’t be swayed.

  They walked in to find Sadie manning the bar as a couple of old guys sat nursing their beers, watching football highlights on the TV hanging behind the counter. A couple who appeared to be on a date was shooting pool. Other than that, the place was deserted.

  Sadie looked tiredly toward the door as it opened, but her face quickly morphed to one of pleasure when she saw them enter. Joel liked that she was so happy to see them.

  He and Oakley nodded hello to the other guys as they claimed stools at the opposite end of the bar. Sadie came over and leaned toward them. “What brings you guys in here so late on a Monday? I was just about to yell last call.”

  “Good,” Oakley said. “Yell it and get these people out of here. We’ll help you close up.”

  Sadie gave him a curious grin, but then she did as Oakley suggested. She poured them each a beer. Thirty minutes later, the place was empty save for the three of them. Oakley walked over to the old jukebox and threw in a few coins as Sadie finished washing the glasses.

  She glanced up when the bar filled with the sound of “For You”. Oakley was a hardcore John Denver fan and there wasn’t anyone in town who didn’t know it, as the man was infamous for belting out “Thank God I’m a Country Boy” whenever the spirit moved him. Which it did way too often.

  Oakley lifted his hand. “Come dance with me, Sadie.”

  Sadie considered the invitation, and then she put down her dishcloth and met Oakley in the middle of the floor. Joel remained at the bar, though he turned to watch as Oakley took her in his arms, tugged her close and they swayed together.

  He was reminded of the other night when Oakley and Sadie were kissing on the bed. Joel had stood apart from them, spellbound by how beautiful they were together. He hadn’t felt like an outsider or like he didn’t belong. Instead, it almost felt as if he were with them, a part of the kiss, the touch, the embrace.

  It was odd. And enticing.

  Oakley wanted to share her. It was a preposterous suggestion. Yet Joel had a sense that was the only way this thing shimmering between the three of them would ever work.

  And as much as he denied it, he wanted to try it. Desperately. He’d spent a lifetime towing the line, doing predictable shit, playing it safe. What would be the harm in breaking character…just this once…and indulging a fantasy?

  He rose as the song was about to draw to a close and walked over to them. As the last note faded, he reached out for Sadie. She didn’t resist the pull, stepping into his arms as if it were the most natural thing and accepting his kiss.

  Joel didn’t seek to do anything more than kiss her. He was still trying to figure out if it was right to initiate this, to follow Oakley down this path. When Sadie lifted her arms and ran her fingers through his hair, he stopped worrying about it.

  He’d wanted Sadie for years. Hell, his crush on her had started all the way back in high school. She was two years older than him and all the guys on the football team had been half in love with her.

  Of course that was half a lifetime and another Sadie ago. She’d been so different in school, more like the women she made fun of nowadays. Sadie had been Homecoming Queen her senior year, a fact that made Oakley laugh his ass off every time someone mentioned it to her.

  He pulled away and looked at her. She gave him a crooked, oops-we-did-it-again grin.

  “We’re going to have to work on our self-restraint,” he said, half-joking.

  “No, we’re not.” Oakley stepped closer. “You don’t have to make a choice, Sadie.”

  Joel gritted his teeth at the way his friend dropped the bomb, but forced himself to keep quiet. Oakley was all-systems-go on this crazy scheme of his.

  Joel was sort of hoping Sadie would reject it out of hand. At least that would save him the trouble of trying to sort out the feelings rumbling around inside him.

  “What are you talking about?” Sadie glanced back at Joel questioningly. He lifted one shoulder. Oakley would explain it way better than he could. Knowing Oakley, he’d find a way to convince both of them.

  “You’ll date me and Joel. At the same time.”

  She laughed, but the sound died away quickly when neither he nor Oakley cracked a smile. “You’re being serious? What do you mean? Like a ménage?”

  Oakley nodded as if it was the most obvious answer on earth. “Yeah. You, me and Joel.”

  Sadie opened her mouth, rejection clearly her goal, but Oakley forged on before she could speak.

  “Tell me you haven’t thought about the other night, Sade. Tell me you haven’t finished what we started about a million times in your head since then.”

  She bit her lower lip, the proof creeping out in the form of a blush. It was rare to see Sadie embarrassed. Joel enjoyed it more than he should.

  Just how had she fantasized about that night ending?

  Oakley moved closer and pressed his lips against Sadie’s cheek as he whispered, “Tell me.”

  She grimaced, then—as always—held back nothing. “I’ve played it out so many times I had to replace the batteries on my vibrator. Is that what you wanted to hear?”

  Oakley chuckled. “That was what I thought I wanted. Now I’m sort of hoping for a more detailed description.”

  She batted Oakley away playfully. “You’re the devil.” Then she turned to Joel. “Are you seriously okay with what Oakley’s suggesting?”

  Joel wasn’t sure of anything except the fact Sadie had called him boring. And passive. He had to admit that had stung. Enough that he felt the need to shake her impression of him.

  “Yeah. I am.”

  Sadie’s
shocked expression was nothing compared to Oakley’s. Sadie recovered first. And her answer was exactly what Joel had—and hadn’t—wanted.

  “Fine. We can give it a whirl if you guys are sure it doesn’t bother you to share. This is actually sort of the answer to a prayer. I’ve been in a bit of a slump lately.”

  “Slump?” Joel asked.

  “A sexual drought. That I’d be happy to see end with the two of you.”

  Neither he nor Oakley responded.

  Sadie’s brow creased. “Wait. That is what you meant, right? Sex? Because I’m not looking for a relationship or a commitment or anything like that. God. Nothing like that. I suck at it.” And then, before either of them could respond, Sadie answered her own question with a light laugh. “I’m sorry. Of course that’s what you meant. Because who dates two guys at the same time?”

  No one does. Joel had been a jackass to follow Oakley’s lead, doing exactly what he’d just yelled at his friend for today. He’d been thinking with his dick. Then, he realized Sadie had just confirmed what his gut had been telling him. Normal people didn’t enter relationships in threes, just pairs.

  “So should we put some parameters on it? A time limit?” she asked.

  Joel shook his head. “No time limit. We ride the train to the end of the line.”

  She grinned at his analogy. “I had no idea you had such an impetuous nature, Joel. You’ve been hiding this guy. I like him.”

  He was careful to keep a smile in place, too afraid she’d be able to see beneath the surface and figure out he was freaking the fuck out.

  “I don’t…” Joel considered his mom. “I don’t think we should advertise what we’re doing.”

  Sadie’s lips tipped up, her eyes widening. “No shit. I don’t think the good people of Quinn are ready for something quite so…scandalous. My dad would have a heart attack. After he murdered both of you, of course.”

  Joel tried to laugh, knew she meant her words as a joke. After all, she’d just offered him a sweet deal. He could have his cake and eat it too. He could sleep with Sadie and Oakley and keep it a secret from everyone else.