We all get into the car.
It’s quiet and then I finally, break the silence, “You really don’t think she’s coming to my exhibit, do you?”
Jake chuckles. “I imagine she is.”
Trevor nods. “It has to be, man. I mean you are the only artist I know of that has been too shy to go public.”
I bite at my lip. “Who would have guessed she would have tickets? I mean. Its nuts! What is she going to think when she sees all three of us there?”
Jake shrugs.
“Are you saying she will think we are there to see her?” Trevor teases.
The car goes quiet again. I know what they’re thinking. They are thinking about her. Imagining her smile. The way her brow crinkles when she’s confused. That little thing she does when she bits her lip. Yea, they are thinking about her as I do all the time. I know they like this woman, just like I do. I have never seen either of them act like they have this week. I, myself have acted like a lovesick kid. Yeah, they call me that but I’m 28 and no kid anymore. I’ve been with quite a few women. Not like these two marathon men, but I’m not a boy.
Yet, whenever I see her, I feel so good, then when I leave her, I feel bad. What is that? I am thinking love. Yes, it is way too soon, but I really feel this is a big deal in my life. I have never felt that way for anyone. I’m not like these two. I know what I feel and I always stay in touch with that. They are like dad and wouldn’t say what they really feel until you made them.
Well, look out big brothers…I am about to MAKE you.
I remain quiet for a moment, then I finally voice it, “Okay. Let’s have this out, guys. It’s about time we did.”
Jake stares at me.
Trevor sighs.
“I mean we all know, right?” I ask.
Jake grunts and looks out the window.
Trevor shakes his head.
“I mean it. We have to talk about this, before—before…” My words fade away.
Trevor leans forward. “Before what, kid?”
I shrug.
“He wants her,” Jake states bluntly.
I look over at him.
“And like you don’t,” Trevor snaps.
Now it is my turn to sigh. “Look. I do want her.”
They both turn to stare at me.
“Well, at least I will admit it. Dammit. She is just so…”
Jake leans forward and drops his bored, I don’t care look for once. “So…? So what?”
“She is like no woman I have ever met. She looks right at you, says what she thinks. Her voice is just so sweet and not fake. She is sort of shy at times, then she says something that is so true and it just slips out. Natural, smart. When she does look at you, she focuses on you. She doesn’t want the same things other women seem to want. I mean…she gets it. She’s real. And that look she gets in those eyes of hers when she laughs?”
“And that mouth,” Trevor continues for me. “It makes you just want to…” he halts.
Jake sits forward. “What? It makes you want to fuck it right? Have her moan right over your…” He looks startled that he just said this.
“See?” I exclaim. “You both want her too!”
Jake releases a frustrated breath and again, looks out the window.
“And it has never happened before,” Trevor adds.
I look up at him. “What?”
He shrugs. “We all want the same girl.”
Jake scoffs.
Trevor glares a him. “We do. I know that sounds crazy, but Micah is right, we need to talk about this.”
Jake shakes his head. “Well, it doesn’t matter.”
I stare at him in disbelief. “We all want the same woman and it doesn’t matter?”
Trevor nods. “I hate to agree with the old man, but he’s right.”
I raise my hands in frustration. “This is monumental. How on earth can we all want the same girl?”
“Doesn’t mat—”
“It does!” I cut Jake off. “This woman is special and no amount of denial, games or ignoring it is going to change that.”
My two older brothers look over at me.
“I mean. I know it has only been a week, but for me, it feels like fucking forever. I just want to be around her all the time.”
Trevor nods. “Okay, I admit. I find myself at her desk and wonder how I got there.”
Jake laughs. “Try hiding in your office. From a woman who looks like her, no less!”
I laugh. “Well, we hid from Miss Drop Her Panties.”
Jake snickers at my nickname for his last EA. “That was different. I didn’t want to fuck her.”
Trevor and I stare at him.
He shrugs. “Of course, I want to. Have you looked at Jenna? I mean that body. Like back, front, hell, just kiss her till I…” He halts.
“So, what do we do?” I ask.
“Do?” Jake asks.
“Yes, I have wondered too,” Trevor says as he turns to Jake. “Have you thought about it?”
Jake stares back at him, not appearing to know what the hell he is talking about.
“You have, right?”
I look between the both of them.
Trevor rolls his eyes and continues. “Let’s say for the sake of possibilities that Micah lands her.”
Jake looks startled.
“Yeah.” Trevor nods. “You have to sit at every family gathering as he has her by his side, holding her hand, her smiling at him, in love with only him.”
Jake looks away. “I never thought about that.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” I ask.
Trevor looks back at me. “If you snag her, then we have to be around you both at some point. Then…” he doesn’t finish.
I now see his point. “Well, what if one of you snags her as you so stupidly put it. Jenna isn’t the type to be just sexed and…” I halt.
The car goes utterly quiet again.
“Okay, so…she’s a virgin.” Jake nods.
I feel surprised at hearing this from him.
“Oh, I heard her. I mean a virgin? Come on!” Jake shakes his head. “A woman that looks like she does? Like she was made to make love to and she slips below the male radar for this long?”
“No, dude. I really believe she is,” Trevor confirms my opinion.
Jake sighs. “So, that leaves me out.”
We both stare at him.
“How so?” I ask.
Jake doesn’t look at us. “I do not do virgins.”
Trevor laughs.
Jake turns his glare on him. “Unless…”
Trevor stops laughing and glares back at him. “You will not collar that woman and make her act like you are god…” His fists are clenching at his sides.
Jake looks upset suddenly. “Fuck you, I would never do such a thing.” He rolls his eyes. “So sweet, natural and I bet she tastes like…”
“…Liquid honey,” Trevor finishes for him.
I look between my brothers. “Okay, so we need to be careful with her.”
“Hell, yeah!” they both exclaim.
I almost jump in my seat at this reaction. “You two REALLY like her!” I mean I guessed it but I thought maybe it was just sex as these two were like dad, jump in and out of bed with a different woman like other men change their underwear. But they both want to protect her and that means more than just wanting sex with her.
The car goes quiet again, and I wonder how they are going to react to what I say next, “Okay, so what if we share her?”
They both turn to stare at me.
Trevor starts to laugh. “Are you crazy?”
I shake my head. “I am totally serious.”
Jake rubs his jaw as if he considers this. “Mmm…”
Trevor looks over. “No, man! That—I mean that isn’t…”
“Okay then.” I nod. “If you won’t, then she is mine.”
They both again, turn to stare at me.
“I mean… just think of it. I only get to kiss her, hold her, be with her. You two would be her brother in laws.”
They both sit up in their seats.
Yep, I knew it! I hide my smile. “I already plan on breaking our rule. I mean I have to. What if some other guy gets her?” I watch their faces closely as I spill the next part, “Like say… Pete.”
They both look thunderous. Like they might punch me in the head or something.
I nod. “See? You never thought of this, have you? I mean maybe she won’t take to us or can’t, cause you heard her. She doesn’t date her bosses or coworkers. That leaves us three out.” I need to convince them. I have thought about this for three solid days. I mean it does sound crazy and all, but it would kill me if someone like Peter Powell got a hold of her. Then he would ruin her. Plus, she is mine and I won’t lose her to some dickhead. “I mean like tonight for instance.”
They both again look at me.
“There are going to be at least 50 men there. Rich, good looking and do you think someone like her will go unnoticed? I mean just look at her, then when she speaks and they hear that voice, then wander over and look into those sweet eyes?”
Both men look thunderous again.
“Yeah.” I nod. “I’m going to make sure that does not happen. If you two have no balls and are gonna wuss out, leaving her to the wolves—?”
Both men narrow their eyes at me, they reach forward and grab me up.
“Hey!” I yell.
They laugh.
Jake clutches my head and gives me a noogie on my scalp while the Trevor tries to give me a dammed wedgie.
“You think you’re going to dare us into this, kid?” Jake laughs.
“Yeah, outsmart the better looking brother, like me?” Trevor adds his laugh.
“Better looking?” Jake rolls his eyes.
“Let me up!” I seethe. “I mean we aren’t fucking ten anymore.”
They both laugh hard but let me go.
I sit up and try to straighten my hair out and get my underwear outta my ass.
They keep chuckling.
I scoff and finally look at them. “So, we need a plan.”
They both glance at each other and then give me a nod.
YES! I knew they liked her as much as I do and if any of us will have her or if we hope to keep her, this is the only way.