Page 84 of The Triple Play

Then he’s gone as well.

And I’m alone.

Forced to realize I was scared of hurting one of them, and now I’ve managed to hurt all three of us.

35

FOXXY

It’s starting to rain as I drive away from Olivia’s apartment building. Because of course it is. This is the West Coast, in springtime, and the weather is matching my mood.

This time, it wasn’t Griff deciding to give her space, it was me needing it. Needing a fucking minute to calm down before I did something embarrassing, like beg Olivia to give us a chance.

But I don’t know what else to do to get Olivia to see that what we have is real. I don’t know how to convince her it’s safe to let us love her. To let herself love us.

Because that’s how I feel. And I’m pretty damn sure Griff does, too.

Love.

The kind you don’t run away from. The kind you hold onto, as tightly as possible. The kind you fight for, against all odds.

Except, fighting for it only works if everyone involved is on the same side.

Still, leaving her right after fucking her? Probably not a great idea. Then again, for all I know, Griff stayed behind. Maybe that’s for the best. Maybe she’ll be more willing to try with just one of us, if both are too much.

Too fucking much.

I’ve heard it before.

I’m too intense. Too reckless, too loud, too crazy.

I slam my hand down on the steering wheel. “Fuck.”

Guess I’m the fool who actually believed I’d finally found a place, a person, where I wasn’t too much. And now I’m the fool who drove away from that person, leaving her with my best friend.

If they stay together, where does that leave me? I’m not sure I can handle seeing the two of them together, watching him touch her, love her, and not be able to do it myself.

Great, guess I’m the fool who’s gonna lose the woman of his dreams and his best friend.

A part of my brain recognizes I’m being crazy dramatic right now. Picturing the worst-case scenario and all that shit. And I know I should stop doing that until I’ve at least had a chance to talk to Griff.

Hell, maybe I should turn around and go back to Olivia’s apartment and push them to talk this out with me.

But I don’t do that. I drive home, pull into my parking spot, and turning off the engine. I don’t get out. Instead, I exhale slowly into the silence. My thoughts are noisy enough.

Movement to the side of my car draws my attention. There are two large trees in front of our building, and right now, an older woman I vaguely recognize is standing at the bottom of one, staring up into the canopy. The rain has picked up, and I’m guessing she’s gotta be soaked and cold.

Frowning, I get out of the car and walk over. “Everything okay?” I ask

She spins around, relief flooding her features when she recognizes me. I get it, it’s dark and raining, and a random dude just walked up to her.

“My cat is stuck.” She points upward, and I lean in, peering up to where she’s pointing.

Sure enough, I can see a light-coloured tail swishing back and forth about halfway up the tree.

“Do they go up in the trees often?”

She shakes her head and then shivers. I whip off my coat and hold it out. “Here.”