A HUM of excitement lives under my skin as I get ready for my first shift at the clinic. The last twenty-four hours have been a whirlwind of highs. First, Gerard loved my idea, then…I can feel the blush traveling up my neck. Then I’d had the best sex of my freaking life. I can’t even think about it without growing wet.
I sit on the bed, pulling on my socks. I’ve decided to wear my bright green scrubs, figuring the kids will love it. Sure, I want to get an internship and be able to work as a doctor, but I’m no less excited about starting at the clinic. If anything, it’s its own form of training.
My phone rings, and I grab it from the end table, surprised to see Gerard’s number pop up on the screen.
I quickly answer it. “Good morning.”
“Morning.” He sounds serious, and I stiffen. Did something change? Is he cutting my funding? “Mia, something was brought to my attention by security.”
My brows pull together, not knowing where this is coming from. It’s not like I left there and did anything crazy… I freeze, remembering exactly what I did.
“There’s video footage of you with what appears to be Alex Grayson and River Davis. As they both play for the Bruins, I have to tell you I’m concerned.”
A flicker of anger travels up my stomach. “I’ll be honest with you, Gerard. I’m not exactly sure that’s an issue.”
He huffs out a breath like he’s going to explain something to a child, and my teeth clench. It’s not like I’m in a position to argue with him.
“You are starting a children-based charity, and a part of something like that is being completely above board. It’s unprofessional to date someone who is actively involved with Prosthetics For Kids. You chose to make the players the headliners of your project and the media will spin you dating one as conflict of interest..” He clears his throat, and his tone is full of understanding. “I know it’s not what you want to hear, but if you’re going to keep the Astrocorp funding, we’ll be insisting on a no fraternizing with players rule. Everything must be completely professional. Do you understand?”
I swallow hard, tears burning the back of my eyes. “I understand. It won’t be a problem.”
Just saying the words feels like I’m shoving a knife through my sternum.
“I’m trusting you, Mia.”
“Of course. I know how important this is. I won’t let you down.” I’m barely able to keep the tremble from my voice. Thank God he didn’t video call, or he’d see the tears track down my cheeks.
“Good. Then I look forward to seeing you succeed,” he says, then lets me go.
I’m frozen on the bed, fist buried into my pants. I can’t do this.
“Hey, you ready, Kitten?” Alex walks into the room, and my face crumbles. I can’t hold back from crying.
“Holy shit. What happened?” He’s kneeling in front of me, thumbs running along my jaw, and it’s so comforting I sob harder. How can I possibly give this up?
“River, get in here!” Alex shouts between whispering encouragement. “Everything’s going to be okay. Just tell me what’s wrong, and I’ll fix it. Please, Mia. You’re scaring me.”
Alex climbs into the bed behind me, and River takes his place, kneeling between my thighs. His callused fingers grip my jaw, and he tilts it up to look at him. “Look at me, Love.”
I stare at the second button on his shirt. It blurs with the force of my tears.
“Mia. Look. At. Me,” River commands, and my eyes snap to his. There’s concern written across his features as he searches my face. His brows pull together. “What happened?”
My mouth wobbles. I don’t want to tell him. I don’t want to see their faces. I don’t want this to be our reality.
Frustration begins to build, burning below my navel. “Gerard called. Apparently, security saw us kissing in the lobby, and Astrocorp finds our relationship…” We hadn’t even called it that yet, and I’m already losing. I inhale and continue. “They’re implementing a no fraternizing with the players rule, or they’ll pull funding.”
Alex’s arms band around my middle, and he takes a raspy breath.
River’s Adam’s apple travels with his swallow, and he clenches his teeth several times before he asks, “Do you want to break things off?”
There is the barest hint of pain, but he covers it well. River’s always looking out for me, even now.
“No. I don’t,” I answer completely honestly, and I can feel Alex’s exhale on the back of my neck, and he collapses against me.
“Thank fucking God,” he says, lips brushing my nape.
Even River’s lips are tipped up in a smile.
“I’m not sure how that solves anything,” I say.
River brushes a loose strand of my hair behind my ear. “All that matters is you want this. Everything else we can figure out. Astrocorp doesn’t agree with our relationship. Then they don’t need to know. Do you want to be with us?”
I’m so tired of feeling helpless, like other people hold the power to control my life. Not River and Alex. They’ve always let me decide. “So, a secret? And you’re okay with that?”
Alex’s lips trail up my neck, and his breath fans over my ear. “Oh, I’ll be your dirty little secret, Kitten.”
“Fuck, that’s hot,” River says just before his mouth meets mine. I open for him immediately, and he deepens the kiss until my heart beats frantically in my chest, and a loud moan escapes my lips.
He backs off, nipping at my bottom lip before sucking it into his mouth, kissing the sting away. “Fuck Astrocorp. You’re ours.”
A shiver runs through me at his words. They’re way more possessive than anything we’ve declared, and warmth builds in my stomach at the idea they may feel the same.
Soon, I’ll take the risk and tell them they’re all I’ve ever needed.
An alarm goes off on my phone. “Oh. My. God. I’m going to be late.”
I completely forgot about my first day. Piper is going to kill me.
River shakes his head. “Car’s already out front. One day, you’ll believe me. We’ve got you.”
Piper comes through the back doors, and the big smile she’s wearing drops from her face. “What happened?”
“I look that bad, huh?”
“Worse. Now, spill.”
“You know Gerard? Well, he saw Alex, River, and I kiss, and apparently, Astrocorp has a no fraternizing rule.”
Piper puts her hands on her hips. “Brand-new rule, I’m sure.”
“You got it.”
She looks me over. “So you’re pretty deep with them, hmm?”
I nod, not bothering to hide it.
“What are you going to do?”
“The guys want to keep it a secret.”
“And what do you want to do?”
“I don’t want to give them up, but I also can’t just give up on Prosthetics For Kids.”
“So, what’s the problem, then? Are the guys giving you a hard time about keeping it low-key?”
“No, not at all.”
Piper shrugs. “Sounds like you have it sorted. But Mia, there’s going to come a time that all this will have to come out.” Then she grins. “Let’s hope you don’t need their funding by then.”
I smile because that’s exactly my plan.
