Page 45 of Triple Protection
Ellie and Hannah let out swooning sounds. Isabella takes a sip of her wine as she considers me.
"And what about the other boys? Where does that leave them?"
I think about it. I know what I want, and it seems like the boys are on the same page, but we've never said it out loud. I'm worried that if I do, she won't accept it. That loving two other men alongside her son would be a step too far.
"I love Brick and Liam, too. Just as they are, and just as they'll have me. I don't know what that means for our future, or what society will think, but I think you know as well as I do that they're a package deal. You can't love one without the others."
She nods in approval. Liam returns, carrying plates of tiramisu. He kisses me on the cheek as he sets my plate in front of me. Instinctually, I smile up at him and thank him.
"And what about Brick?" Isabella asks. I realize then that not only is she watching out for her son, but for the other boys too, and it makes me smile.
Before I can answer, before I can tell her how proud I am of him, how close we've gotten, how he accepts his prosthetic now more than ever and how we've worked around his phobia, Brick speaks up. He lays a plate of tiramisu in front of Isabella before settling into his chair with his own plate.
"Angela's my girl," he says simply, my man of few words. There is so much more to say. How much I love him, how safe he makes me feel, how special and important and wonderful he makes me feel. But Isabella's eyebrows raise, letting her thoughts shine through her expression. That seems to be enough for her.
"Well good. I always knew it would take someone special to put up with you three idiots, but it seems like you found your girl. I'm happy for you."
Passing the interrogation, the table gives out a collective, grateful laugh.
We say a warm goodbye to Isabella after dinner, and a goodnight to Hannah and Brian. The boys go to bed, too, but Ellie, Vikki and I stay up later, drinking white wine and catching up like old friends. We change into PJs, camp out on the couches and paint our nails while they tell me all about their lives, the boys in their lives, drama, work, everything - including embarrassing childhood stories about Liam. After hours of giggling, tears, and laughter, we're exhausted.
We get a little too drunk, and Brick brings us all blankets and pillows, so we can pass out on the couches. He slides his thigh under my head, in our usual position, and I snuggle into his abs.
"You're the best thing that's ever happened to me." I tell him, looking up at him through watery eyes. I smile to myself. "Well, one of the best."
He runs his hand through my hair, and with that, I close my eyes and pass out.
Chapter thirty-two
Angela
Angela
After nursing our hangovers in the morning and spending another two days getting to know each other and lounging around the pool, Liam's family drives back to San Fran. They all give me tight, loving hugs and we exchange phone numbers so we can keep in touch. Liam squirms a little when he figures out I've been added to the group chat with his mom and sisters that he's not a part of, but he lets me have it.
A week later we're at Camille's LA studio, preparing for the Her Secret photoshoot. The studio is in an older brick building, with exposed pipes and ductwork, but the floor to ceiling windows let in the perfect bout of natural, indirect lighting, which is why I suspect she picked this location. I have three sets of lingerie to shoot - a white set, a flirty sweet pink set and a black set. I'm in the pink set first and channeling my inner flirt. This set is fun, playful, sassy. I can imagine wearing it as a sexy little secret under a pencil skirt and blouse. Going to boardmeetings and killing it as a boss babe while wearing this number and having it be my fun little secret. I'd feel powerful, sexy, badass.
My boys are behind Camille and her throng of assistants watching, unrestrained lust darkening their faces.
"What the fuck was that?"
I lose my composure and shoot my eyes to Camille, whose nose is nearly pressed against her camera as she reviews the previous shots.
"Uh... everything okay?"
"Look at him." She says hurriedly, shoving her thumb at Liam. So, I do, and feel myself soften and a smile spread across my face. I can't control it. Liam is my best friend, playful, safe, fun.Click.
"Holy shit." She says, reviewing the images again. "Now look at him." She barks, shoving her thumb at Alex. Just with Liam, locking eyes with Alex makes my entire body shift. Where Liam is playful and fun, Alex is dark, deep, and sexy. My dark prince. My dark secret. He doesn't let anyone get close enough to know him, to see the dark parts of his soul, except for the boys and I. His deep, commanding bedroom voice plays in my memory and causes my nipples to peak.
"Fuck yeah, now him." She says, pointing at Brick. Brick is my peace, my home, my zen. Being near his solid, silent strength brings me a safety, a peace I'd never known before. When he's near, I know I can give him all of my worries, my stress, my anxiety because I know if he's near, there's nothing that can touch me. No one that can hurt me.
"Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god," Camille freaks out.
"What?" I ask, finally losing my patience.
"Honey, I don't know what you've got going on with your men, and frankly I don't care," she starts as she moves to stand beside me and show me the screen of her camera.
"This is you looking at the mountain," she flicks through pictures. "And this is dark daddy, and this is pretty boy." I chuckle at her nicknames and glimpse at the boys, who are shaking their heads and ribbing each other playfully. I look back at the camera as she flips back and forth between the pictures and sure enough, my energy, my face, my vibe, my entire body shifts when I look at each of my boys. I can't help it. My body reacts to them on a cellular level.