It was a beautiful morning. But then again, I would probably consider any morning after a night of great sex pretty damn beautiful. Still, the sun was out, the birds were singing and the air was perfumed from all the flowers blooming around us. I practically skipped home.

Even though it hadn’t been easy to leave Austin in bed that morning, I had to go to work, so I had reluctantly kissed him goodbye and headed home to change. The last thing I was expecting to see when I arrived at my apartment was Luke sitting on the front stoop.

I froze as soon as I saw him, but it was too late.

He stood and waved, coming to meet me halfway down the block. “Hey, Mia!” He swept me up in a hug. When he let go, I tugged at my shirt self-consciously. I looked like the poster child for the walk of shame. It couldn’t have been more obvious that I had been out last night with someone. But if my brother noticed, he didn’t say anything.

“Your roommate said you were on your way back,” he told me as we walked back to the apartment.

“You saw Grace?” I asked.

He nodded. “She offered to let me wait upstairs, but I didn’t want to disturb her morning routine.”

“Did you want to hang out now? I have to get to work,” I told him as we arrived in front of my apartment. “But maybe we could grab a drink after. Or a burger. I feel a Shake Shack visit coming on.”

Luke chuckled. “So, we’re just going to pretend that you’re not coming back from some guy’s house?” he asked.

Dammit.

“I am an adult,” I told him. “I’m allowed to spend the night with other people.”

Luke raised an eyebrow. “That’s it?” He smirked. “You’re not going to tell me anything about this guy?”

I definitely did not want to be having this conversation. “There’s nothing to know,” I told him, searching for my keys.

“Secrets, secrets are no fun,” he said, sing-song, like we were kids again. “Secrets, secrets hurt someone.”

“If you keep prying,” I warned him, “someone’s going to get hurt, but it’s not going to be because of secrets. It’s going to be because I punch you in the arm.”

Luke laughed and held up his hands. “Fine,” he said. “I guess I should be used to it. Austin is just as cagey about the girls he dates.”

“Or maybe we have reasonable boundaries, and you’re the nosy one,” I teased Luke.

“I am not!” he gasped, dramatically clutching his chest. “I just like to know what’s going on.”

I shook my head. “Get a hobby. Or a pet.”

He shrugged, but grabbed my arm before I could head into the building. “Speaking of Austin,” he said.

“Were we speaking of Austin?” I tried to make it sound casual, but Luke ignored me.

“I’m meeting him for lunch. You should join us.”

Nope. Definitely did not want to do that.

“Can’t,” I told him, shaking my head. “Remember, work?”

“I’m pretty sure you get lunch breaks,” said Luke.

“I usually eat at my desk,” I argued.

“That means you’re overdue for a nice lunch out.” Luke tugged at my arm like he had done when we were kids and wanted something. “Come on, Mia. One hour for lunch. We’ll do that Shake Shack trip. My treat? I haven’t seen you probably in forever.”

He pouted, and I couldn’t help but smile. I also knew that he wouldn’t stop unless I said yes.

“Fine,” I sighed. “You win.”

“Excellent,” said Luke.

“I hope you don’t use that tactic when you’re working,” I teased him.

He grinned. “Never,” he told me. “That’s only for you.”

---

I almost canceled lunch. I thought up a million excuses why I couldn’t meet them, but then, just as I was about to send Luke a text, I got one from him. It was a picture of him and Austin and an empty chair between them with a frozen custard shake waiting.

Dammit. Why did my brother have to be so thoughtful?

Unable to cancel now, I headed out towards the cafe, slightly nauseous with guilt. It was hard enough to keep Austin under wraps at work, but I really hated lying to my brother. Especially since I still didn’t really know exactly what Austin and I were lying about. Despite our amazing night together, we still hadn’t discussed what we were doing. The sex was amazing, but I was starting to worry that it was all getting too complicated for a friends-with-benefits situation. If that’s what this was.

Luke swept me into a big hug when I arrived. He was always super affectionate when he got back from long trips away. I got the sense that he loved his job, but it got really lonely doing all that traveling.

“Thanks for the drink.” I sat, doing my best not to pay too much attention to Austin.

It wasn’t easy because he looked—and smelled—so damn good. Like soap and the outdoors. I wanted to bury my nose in his neck and take a deep sniff.

We ordered at the window, and as soon as we were seated again, Luke leaned back in his chair with his hands behind his head.

“So who’s the guy, Mia?” he asked.

Both Austin and I nearly choked on our drinks.

“Guy?” I tried—and failed—to sound casual.

But Luke had turned his attention to Austin. “Have you met him?” he asked his best friend.

Austin looked a little gray. “What are you talking about?” he asked, his voice tight.

Luke sighed. “Really? The two of you are teaming up to keep secrets from me?” He took a sip of his soda before pointing his thumb in my direction. “This one was out last night. All night.”

I wanted to slide underneath my table and disappear.

“Oh really?” Austin seemed to relax a little. “All night?”

“Yep.” Luke shook his head. “And she won’t tell me who she’s seeing.”

“Maybe that’s because it’s none of your business,” I told him, shooting Austin a look.

One that he totally ignored.

“Well, that doesn’t seem fair,” he said. “He is your brother after all.”

My mouth dropped open. All the shit he had given me about keeping this a secret from Luke, and now he was going to tease me like this? I did not understand men.

Austin continued with a playful grin. “I’m sure your brother just wants to make sure that this guy is good enough for you. And if he isn’t, he’ll have to answer to Luke.”

“Exactly.” Luke pointed a finger at Austin. “That’s the only reason I’m interested.”

“Also because you’re nosy,” Austin added.

I laughed, and Luke frowned. “I am not,” he argued.

Austin took a sip of his drink. “Extremely nosy.”

The two of them exchanged a look and both started chuckling. I got a sweet twinge in my heart watching the two of them have a good time together. It was clear that their friendship was important to both of them, and I began to see exactly why Austin had been so nervous about Luke finding out about us.

But I also didn’t want to lie anymore.

I made it through lunch without any drama, but I couldn’t stop thinking about it all day, and after work, I texted Austin seeing if I could come over—checking to make sure Luke wasn’t staying with him. He responded that it was all clear, and I headed over to his place.

He greeted me at the door, wearing nothing but a pair of jeans and smile. I kissed him hello—loving how normal it felt—and followed him into the apartment. He reached for me, but I stepped back, putting my hand against his chest.

“We need to talk,” I told him reluctantly. “And I need you to put on a shirt before we do that.”

He grinned. “Does my nudity distract you?”

“Yes,” I grinned.

His smile only grew as he pulled on a shirt. We settled down on the couch together, and Austin faced me, giving me his full attention.

“I don’t want to lie anymore,” I blurted out, unable to think of any other way to say it. “I don’t like keeping this secret from people—especially Luke.” I picked at a rip in my jeans. “We need to figure out what this is,” I said, feeling a tremor of nerves. “Because if this is just a fling to you . . .”

I didn’t really know how to finish that sentence, but Austin did.

“. . . It’s not,” he said, looking me in the eye. “I know we haven’t talked about it yet, but whatever this is, it’s real.”

I felt a flood of happy relief.

“I’m crazy about you,” Austin continued, and my smile grew wider. “And I want to see where this leads us. Even if it means telling Luke.” He grimaced.

“What if he’s upset?” I asked.

Austin gave a shrug. “Then he’ll just have to deal with it. You were right, you’re a grown woman, and it’s not fair of me to make you sneak around, just because I won’t man up and face him. You deserve more than that.”

There was a lump in my throat as I took in his words.

“OK,” I agreed. “We tell him. But not until after my article is published. I can’t risk it, not with my job on the line. I know I shouldn’t care, but . . .”

He smiled. “I get it,” he said. “You’ve worked really hard to get to where you are. I wouldn’t jeopardize that, I promise.”

“OK.” I exhaled, touched that he understood. “So, we’re really doing this?” I asked, a tremor in my voice. “You’re not going to just turn around and leave on tour, or go back to the woods and act like it never happened—”

“We’re doing this.” Austin scooped me into his arms and kissed my neck. “I’m not going anywhere. Except to take you to bed,” he added with a devilish grin.

“Hmm.” I pretended to think about it. “I don’t know, I have a pretty busy schedule.”

Suddenly, Austin stood and threw me over his shoulder. I shrieked, and he slapped my ass. “Make time,” he said, already striding towards the bedroom. “Because this is going to take a while.”

I couldn’t wait.