Most of all I hated that she had to be so selfless to make him happy. If he cared about her enough, then he shouldn’t have agreed to the ridiculous shit they are—using one another. He should have just told her he would wait for her. I would have.

She squeezes my leg tighter and scoots closer. “I know. I know. I asked him to just be patient and give us a year. We are both young and I’m in no rush to be anything serious. I know you don't understand the reasoning behind why Lucas and I have this relationship. It just works for us. I don't feel pressure for more and it's fun. I don't feel like I have to pretend with him like so many others, you know. He doesn't push me or take more than I'm willing to give. We’re both okay with that.” She stops to flash me a devilish grin. “Hell . . . we even mess around with other people sometimes just to get worked up for each other. It’s such a damn rush. So as you can see there is nothing for Lucas to be jealous about when he can take it out on someone else. It will be fine.”

I almost finish my beer off and let all her information sink in. Why does this shit piss me off? All this time I thought it was only Lucas having fun on the side. I never thought to ask her about it. “Alright, let me get this straight. So you let these other guys put their hands on you and Lucas just lets them without wanting to strangle them?”

My chest hurts at the thought. I have a strong instinct to protect her. The thought of other men getting off on her just for the hell of it pisses me off. “You never told me that shit. I didn’t think you needed it. I can’t say I like this little game either. I hope you’re using protection. Shit, Tripp.”

“It’s not as bad as you make it sound. Just because I’m a girl, it doesn’t mean that I shouldn’t be allowed to have a little fun once in a while too. You have your fun and I don’t judge you.” She shakes her head and pushes my arm, offended. She does have a point there. I have no right to judge her, but it’s hard as hell. “We’re young, Alex. There is nothing wrong with exploring. It’s only happened like two times, but you get the point. It’s not like I suck them off or have sex or anything, jeez. It’s just kissing and a little touching. Lucas is the only one I have slept with and we always use protection. Always.”

Still, I can’t help but to picture her doing dirty things to other men. The thought infuriates me. The bigger shocker is that I’m surprised he allows it, and that he wants it too. I would fucking kill someone if I were in his shoes. I always knew there was something wrong with that dick’s head.

“Yeah, well if I were your man . . .” I pause to tilt back my beer. “You better believe I would be the only one pleasuring you. I protect and take care of what is mine, and you wouldn’t need other men to please you. I would be yours . . . anytime, anyway, and any fucking where.”

Her face turns red, and for a brief second I can see her trying to catch her breath. My words had some kind of an effect on her, and I’m not sure what that means, or what I want it to mean.

“But that’s just me.” I add. “You know what kind of man I am. I don’t share. I guess if that’s what gets you off, then why not?”

“Why do you sound so mad? You knew what kind of relationship Lucas and I had. Nothing in regards to Lucas and I has ever been set in stone. We’re just having fun while we can. There’s no reason to be mad. It all stops soon and then we both have to decide what to do from there. We either both fully commit or we just stay friends. This was an easy way to keep things light instead of ruining our friendship if it didn’t work out. Less pressure on both of us.”

She takes a long sip of her drink, while watching me with curious eyes.

I’m more than mad. The thought of Lucas treating her that way makes me want to choke the life out of him. “I just don’t get how Lucas has known you for six years and he doesn’t have the same urge to protect you as I do. Tripp, I would hurt anyone that hurt you. You mean more to me than just fun. I’ve watched you grow up over the last thirteen years. You’re one of the most important people in my life. I’ve always been there for you and always will be. Even when I left . . . to take care of that shit, I still called you and worried about you almost every day. Things have changed a little since then but not really. The only thing different is that you’re in a relationship now, or fucking him at least. I’m still your best fucking friend. I will always protect you.”

She’s right. It’s not as bad as I make it sound, but I can’t help it. The thought of more than one guy being able to touch her makes my blood boil. I understand her completely, but at the moment, I’m choosing not to.

She grabs my arm and rests her head on it. “That’s why I love you so much. I know that you will protect me and the same goes for you. I will always have your back. That’s why I don’t only want you to move in with us, but I need you to. I know you’re making enough money at the tattoo shop and that being in that house still hurts you. Come stay with me, please. Let Memphis and Lyric take the house. It will be fun. I promise.”

I look at her and swallow, but don’t say a word. My head is spinning so fast right now that I want to throw my fist into a wall. This is stupid. I’m going to make a stupid decision because I care about her too much. I have a feeling that being in the same house with them and seeing Lucas bring home other girls is going to make me despise him, even if she does say it’s their thing. Not to mention Tripp bringing other guys as well. I can’t handle that shit.

“Please! I know you love to swim. You can bring as many girls to the house as you want. You can even have sex in the pool and I won’t even care. I just want you there. Anything goes . . .”

I suck in my bottom lip and smirk at the picture in my head. I guess it doesn’t seem all that bad when she puts it that way. Plus, I can look out for her. “What girls?”

“Oh please.” She grins. “You don’t just have girls begging to get into your pants. You have girls biting each other’s heads off like damn zombie bitches to get a taste. I’m pretty sure there have been a few fights to the death for you. You’re sexy as sin and you fucking know it.” She pokes at my cheeks and smiles when I smile. “Look at those sexy dimples and strikingly handsome features. I have seen you grow up from a dangly little boy with scraggily hair to one of the sexiest men I have ever laid eyes on. I tell you this all the time. You know I hold nothing back. Please, my gorgeously handsome best friend.” She gives me puppy dog eyes and bats her long, thick lashes at me.

And just like that, I’m hers, and I’ll do just about anything that she asks. Plus, she’s right. I think it’s time I let Memphis and Lyric have some privacy. Fuck! She knows how to work me. “So where is this damn house?”

She practically jumps out of her seat with excitement. “I knew that would get you. It always does.” She grabs my hand and pulls me out of the booth. “I have a key. I’ll take you there now so you can check it out.”

“Alright,” I huff, while tossing down some cash. “This better be fucking good, Tripp . . . And this is the last time that eye batting shit will work on me.”

“Uh huh, sure.” She smiles, knowing that I’m full of shit. “Follow me, Stud.”

What the hell am I getting myself into?

MY HEART IS RACING SO damn hard that it’s making it hard to concentrate on the road. Alex is following behind me in his massive truck and I can’t stop looking back at him through the rearview mirror to check his expressions. I never meant for him to get upset about Lucas asking me to move in with him, or about our open relationship. There was no way I would have agreed to live with Lucas unless I knew for a fact that Alex would move in as well. Alex and I just have that connection. He would do just about anything for me and the same goes for me over him.