Total pages in book: 52
Estimated words: 47822 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 239(@200wpm)___ 191(@250wpm)___ 159(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 47822 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 239(@200wpm)___ 191(@250wpm)___ 159(@300wpm)
The silence that followed felt heavy. I could almost see the invisible thread of communication passing between them, that silent language they shared that excluded everyone else.
“You’re a special woman, River.” Byte’s words were spoken almost reverently. “No one said you’d come between us.”
I shook my head, tucking that same stubborn strand of hair behind my ear again. “I would, though. And I’m not trying to make myself out to be more than I really am. I’ve seen it happen before. When two people who are close -- friends, siblings, whatever -- start bringing other people into the mix, things change. Priorities shift.”
I shook my head when Byte opened his mouth to speak, needing to get this out. “You guys are a unit. You have whole conversations with just a look. I see how you support each other. It’s second nature to you. Maggie didn’t tell me anything about the two of you other than you were honorable men, hard-working, and exceptionally intelligent. But she left out the most important thing about the two of you. Together.”
I snagged Byte’s hand, reaching out at the same time for Crush’s. Surprisingly, Crush unfolded his arms and took my hand in his. “You’re almost symbiotic in your dynamic. I envy that relationship in so many ways for so many different reasons I can’t even begin to describe my feelings. The one thing I know with absolute certainty is that you need each other. To complete yourselves. While I have no illusions I could actually come between the two of you, I’m not willing to take the chance. No matter what this friendship turns into, I know my place among the three of us. And it’s not at the top.”
Both men shifted, glancing at each other, but they didn’t let go of my hand. “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t attracted to the two of you. You’re the kindest men I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting. I’m privileged to be able to spend this time with you, even if it feels a little one-sided. You’re giving me so much and I’m taking without giving back.”
“You’re dead wrong about not giving back to us.” Byte’s tone of voice was vehement, almost angry. His grip tightened on my hand, not to the point of pain, but it was clear he didn’t like my statement.
Crush reached out with his other hand and placed it on Byte’s where he gripped mine. “Calm down, brother.” I’d never seen this side to the pair of them. Byte had struck me as the peacemaker, where Crush was more like a blunt object ready to Hulk smash the opposition. “Let her finish.”
I chose to ignore the byplay for now. “I’m not going to put myself in a position where I eventually have to choose. I couldn’t live with myself if I caused a rift when the two of you practically finish each other’s sentences! No matter how unintentional. That would be the worst tragedy of the whole situation.” By the time I finished, I was practically in tears. For multiple reasons.
The silence lingered. The longer it continued, the more uncomfortable I became.
“You think pretty highly of your ability to disrupt our relationship,” Crush spoke for the first time, his deep voice rippling through me like rolling thunder. His expression remained guarded, but there was something in his tone that caught me off guard. Almost like amusement.
“That’s not what I --”
“I know what you meant,” he cut in, squeezing my hand gently. “You’re trying to protect us. And yourself.”
I started, relieved and surprised he understood. “Yes.”
“Noble,” Byte murmured, exchanging a look with Crush that I couldn’t decipher. “But unnecessary.”
“What do you mean?”
Crush’s jaw tightened again, the only visible sign of whatever emotion he was feeling. “It means we’re grown men who can make our own choices, River. We don’t need protection from you or anyone else.”
The intensity in his voice made me draw back slightly. This was going downhill fast. I must have really insulted them and that had never been my intention. “I didn’t mean to imply --”
“We know,” Byte interrupted, shooting Crush a warning look. “What my brother’s trying to say, in his characteristically blunt way, is that you don’t need to worry about us. The one thing in our lives we’ve always had is each other. We know how to protect ourselves and each other. Any problems we have regarding you, we can work out between the two of us. You’re not responsible for our relationship with each other; not unless you’re actively trying to sabotage us. We’ve been through worse together than a pretty girl getting under our skin.”
Heat flooded my face at his words. “I’m not --”
“You are,” Crush said, his voice softer now. “And that’s part of the problem, isn’t it? You don’t see yourself clearly.”