Defying the Odds: Risking It Book 3

by Autumn Reed

  She grinned. “Amazing, actually. It took them a while, but they finally got their shit together, and she seems really happy. I’m still not sure how sweet, innocent Haley ended up with five hotties, but they clearly adore her.”

  My eyes widened. “Five? Wow. She’s braver than me.”

  Jessica glanced around. “Are you still with Cole and…sorry, I can’t remember the names of the other two.”

  “Oh, um, I’m still with Cole and Shane. It’s currently complicated with Nicholas.”

  Her smile turned sympathetic. “I hope you figure it out. If Haley’s situation has taught me anything, it’s that you can turn things around even when it seems hopeless.”

  “Thank you. I hope so.” At least, I thought I did. I was beginning to wonder.

  We chatted for a few more minutes before I set off again to find Simone. When I finally spotted her at the bar, I latched onto her arm, not wanting to give her the chance to disappear.

  “I’m getting ready to leave. Thank your dad for hosting this dinner. It was amazing.”

  “It was, wasn’t it?” She gave me a hug. “Lunch next week?”

  “How about lunch and shopping?” I told her about my gift card, and she squealed in delight.

  “We can finally go on a proper shopping spree! I can’t wait!”

  I wanted to laugh at her enthusiasm, but I couldn’t hide my own excitement. Though I still thought the gift was way too extravagant, I intended to enjoy every moment of spending it. And I really did need work clothes, so I wouldn’t waste it all on impractical shoes and dresses. Just some of it.

  When I met my boyfriends at the front of the restaurant, I linked my arms through theirs. “Let’s go home, Ps.”

  Technically, home was still my apartment, but it didn’t feel like it anymore. I just wanted to be where Shane, Cole, Snow, and Ace were.

  Chapter 15

  “Alone at last,” Shane said when the three of us walked through the garage and into the townhouse.

  “Um, did you forget about Cole?” I lifted several fingers and asked, “Do we need to get your eyes checked? How many fingers am I holding up?”

  Shane pulled me into his arms and licked a spot on my collarbone that was always ticklish. I squealed and tried to push him away, but he held on tight. “I can see Cole just fine. But thank you for your concern.”

  “If you’re sure…” I let obvious doubt creep into my voice, and he licked me again.

  “We’ve been waiting all day to get you alone so we can give you your graduation gift,” Cole clarified.

  “You didn’t have to—”

  Shane smooshed my lips together. “Don’t even start that. You’re going to accept our gift, and you’re going to like it.”

  I nodded, and he released my lips, replacing his fingers with his mouth. I opened to him, and his tongue tangled with mine. I could feel Cole’s eyes on us, and if anything, it made the experience hotter. Though I was used to making out with one in front of the other, I hadn’t gotten so accustomed to being watched that it didn’t affect me. I doubted I ever would.

  When we eventually drew apart, I was breathing hard, and my knees were weak. I kicked off my stilettos and sank onto the couch. Although I noticed that my dress had ridden up to the tops of my thighs, I didn’t bother adjusting it. “Okay, I’m ready.”

  “For?” Cole asked with raised eyebrows.

  “My present, obviously.”

  “Obviously,” he deadpanned before disappearing upstairs and reappearing with a beautifully-wrapped rectangular box.

  I thought of the necklace he, Shane, and Nicholas had given me for Valentine’s Day and wondered if this was a replacement. As much as I adored the diamond pendant, I hadn’t been able to make myself wear it since Nicholas left. It represented something that no longer existed. Still, I wasn’t sure how I felt about the prospect of replacing it.

  Almost reluctantly, I removed the metallic paper and opened the box. I was so relieved to discover an envelope instead of jewelry, it took me a minute to process what they’d given me—three plane tickets to Greece for September.

  Shocked, I looked between them. “How did you know I’ve always wanted to visit Greece?” I couldn’t remember having ever mentioned it.

  “The large, framed photo of Santorini in your bedroom tipped us off,” Cole said with a wink.

  “And we confirmed with Chris that it’s at the top of your list,” Shane added. “I guess we chose well?”

  “Well doesn’t even begin to describe it. This is a dream come true.”

  Cole grinned in satisfaction. “Glad to hear it. We wanted to take you somewhere this week, but we know you’re excited to start your job. So we decided to put it off for a few months. That way, we can plan the details of the trip together. And Chelsea already approved your two weeks off.”

  I stood and threw myself into his arms. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.” Not wanting to pull away, I grabbed Shane’s hand and tugged him into the hug. “You are the best boyfriends ever.”

  I felt Cole’s head bob above me. “Yeah, we really are. Now, will you let your app decide whose bed you’re sleeping in tonight? I’m exhausted, and you’re clearly dead on your feet.”

  He was right. Despite my excitement over the trip, my body was screaming at me. If I didn’t force myself to get ready for bed right then, I might end up crashing on the couch fully dressed.

  “Okay.”

  I started to reach for my phone but hesitated. Since the beginning of our relationship, we’d established that I had to choose a bed every night I spent at the townhouse. But I was tired of choosing.

  Not knowing how they would feel about it, I forced myself to finally vocalize my preference. “Actually, I was hoping we could all sleep together. We wouldn’t have to do anything,” I quickly added. “I mean, I thought maybe we could just sleep in the same bed?”

  Cole hid a laugh behind his hand while Shane smirked and said, “Enticing Emma, we were beginning to think you were never going to ask.”

  My mouth popped open. “You’ve talked about it?”

  Cole took my hand and started leading me upstairs. “Oh, sweet little Em. Of course, we have. We were just waiting on you to be comfortable enough to ask.”

  In a daze, I removed my makeup and exchanged my dress for a tank top and boyshorts. I peeked my head in Cole’s room, and finding it empty, I headed down the hall. They were both already in Shane’s bed, looking perfectly at ease. Feeling a little too pleased with myself, I crawled up the bed and settled between them.

  Within seconds, my back was tucked against Shane’s front and one of my legs was draped over Cole’s. It was cozy and surprisingly comfortable.

  “Good night, babe,” Shane murmured in my ear.

  “Night, Em,” Cole said as his lips brushed over mine.

  “Good night, boyfriends.”

  “Wake up, sleepyhead.” Yawning, I rolled over and met Cole’s amused grin. “There she is. I was starting to wonder if I was going to have to toss you in the shower to wake you.”

  “Were you at least going to remove my clothes first?”

  He glanced at the thin tank I’d worn to bed. “I don’t know. There’s nothing like starting the day with a wet T-shirt contest.”

  “Contest?” I glanced around the room. “Does that mean I have competition?”

  “What am I, chopped liver?” he asked, puffing out his chest and flexing his biceps.

  I imagined his white T-shirt wet, see through, and clinging to all those muscles. “You’re right. You could beat me any day of the week.”

  “Why don’t we find out?” He lifted me out of bed and carried me into the bathroom. “Ready to get wet?”

  I couldn’t help but laugh at his wicked, irresistible smile. “Always.”

  He placed us both in the shower and, with his eyes on mine, turned it on. Immediately, I was hit with a blast of cold water.

  “Cole!” I screeched. Blindly, I stepped away from the spray, but he fo
llowed me. Using his bigger body to block the water, he pressed me against the wall, his wet shirt soaking into my clothes as he leaned down to kiss me.

  Cole’s kisses made me forget everything except his lips. He nibbled at my bottom lip before dragging his tongue across the seam. I opened for him, moaning and curling my hands into his shirt.

  Wet T-shirt. With a gentle push, I urged him away from me so I could take in the sight of a soaked Cole. The tee clung to every muscle in his chest and abdomen. Water sluiced down his temples and forehead, and he shook his head, tossing his hair out of his face.

  Reaching up, I raked his hair back. He stared at me, and my nipples pebbled under my sleep tank. “This is a good look,” he said. “I have excellent ideas.”

  I laughed but rewarded him with a kiss.

  “So, are you wet?” he asked, lifting his eyebrows.

  I glanced down at my body. “Um, I don’t think I can get wetter.”

  His fingers traced my lips, drifted down my chin and neck, and swirled around my nipples.

  “No?” Eyes on mine, he went to his knees.

  My sleep shorts stuck to me like a second skin, but they didn’t slow Cole. He ripped them off and tossed them to the side before grabbing one of my calves. Carefully, making sure I kept my balance, he placed my leg over his shoulder.

  The water was warm, but I couldn’t blame the temperature for the heat that blasted through my body.

  “You’re beautiful, Emma,” he whispered, dragging a finger along my folds to tap my clit.

  Kneeling at my feet, broad shoulders defined by his T-shirt, I didn’t think I’d ever seen anything as beautiful as Cole. “You’re—” I started to say, but he leaned forward and licked me, making every coherent thought vanish in an instant.

  My fingers curled against the wall, where I braced myself as he lapped at me. He used his tongue, his lips, and his fingers to drive me higher and higher. I wouldn’t last long, but I didn’t want to go there alone.

  “Cole!” I clutched his shoulders, trying to tug him to his feet, but he merely shook his head and laughed.

  The vibration traveling through my body sent me over the edge. I came around his fingers and tongue, panting like I’d run a race.

  Cole stood, fingers still playing inside me.

  “What about your prize?” I asked breathlessly and opened my eyes.

  He stared at me, confused. “What?”

  “For winning the wet T-shirt contest.” I pushed him back a little so I could study his sculpted body. “You’re the definitive winner.”

  “Hmm.” He pretended to think about it while circling my clit. Then he removed his hand and met my gaze, placing his fingers in his mouth and slowly withdrawing them. “I think I already got the best prize.”

  I lifted one eyebrow and dropped to my knees. “Are you sure?” I asked, and freed his length from his shorts.

  Cole’s laughter echoed in the tiled room before his moans took its place.

  After we used up all of the hot water for our extremely friendly competition, I hurriedly finished getting ready. We only had a few minutes before we needed to leave for brunch.

  “Where’s Shane?” I shouted to Cole over the roar of my hairdryer, switching it off when he entered the bathroom.

  “Since Ted and Ashley aren’t flying out until this afternoon, Shane and Ted are having an impromptu business meeting. Shane probably texted you his apology for missing brunch.”

  “Oh, good. I’m glad they’re getting to spend some time together. I still can’t believe Ted and Ashley came all the way here for my graduation.”

  Cole wrapped his arms around my waist from behind and watched as I swiped gloss over my lips. Despite the time crunch, I took a few moments to admire his reflection in the oversized mirror. He was so damn scrumptious, I felt the need to pinch myself to prove he was real. And beyond his dark good looks, he was just good. It was hard to believe I’d once seen him as nothing but a fun-loving player.

  “As much as I love the way you’re looking at me right now,” he rasped into my ear, “we really need to go.”

  I dropped the lip gloss on the counter and wriggled out of his arms. “I know. Stop distracting me.”

  He laughed. “But distracting you is so much fun.”

  We met my dad and Chris outside the Bellagio, where Shane and Cole had reserved them a suite. My dad had resisted the idea, but the Ps convinced him that they could get a great deal through a business associate. Though it was the truth, I had no doubt they would have happily paid full price. They were just as generous with my family as they were with me. It was one of the ways they showed they cared, and even though it was unnecessary, I didn’t want to take that away from them.

  Chris raved about the swanky room while we waited in line at the hotel’s popular brunch buffet. Although he was clearly enthralled with the suite, as soon as he caught sight of the many food stations, he officially fell in love with the hotel. I had no doubt he would eat enough to justify the buffet’s hefty price tag.

  After I’d made my way through several crepes, French toast, hash browns, pastries, and fruit—not to mention unlimited mimosas—I pushed my third plate away and covered it with my napkin. I wouldn’t even be able to look at food for the rest of the day.

  Chris sat back in his chair and patted his stomach with a satisfied smile. “Maybe I should have applied to UNLV after all. I could come here every weekend for brunch.”

  Dad grunted. “You’d need a part-time job just to pay for it.”

  Though it would have been nice to have Chris close by, I was glad he’d decided to stay in Indiana for college. While I’d spent most of my college years studying rather than partying, Las Vegas wasn’t the ideal city for students with less restraint.

  “Could you boys find a way to entertain yourselves for a little bit?” my dad asked. “I wanted a few minutes alone with Emma.”

  “Sure,” Cole answered. “We can go hang out by the pool, if that’s cool with you, Chris.”

  Chris grinned. “Perfect. I’m anticipating lots of bikinis, and I’m sure you’re an awesome wingman.”

  Cole leaned over and kissed my cheek. “Text me if you need anything.”

  “Be good,” I warned playfully.

  Once we were alone, Dad seemed to struggle with what to say. I had a feeling I knew what this was about, but I stayed quiet, giving him a chance to collect his thoughts.

  “Emma, I wanted to apologize for your mother. I thought, when push came to shove, she would realize she couldn’t miss your graduation.”

  I sighed, only in partial agreement. “It’s not your fault.”

  “Maybe, maybe not. Looking back, I’ve let a lot of things slide over the years because I just wanted to keep the peace.” His smile was sad. “That’s what I’ve always wanted, you know. A quiet life, preferably by a lake somewhere.”

  “I hate to break it to you, Dad, but you chose the wrong wife for that.”

  He chuckled. “Don’t I know it.” After taking a drink of his coffee, his tone turned serious again. “I really do love Cynthia, but I refuse to go along with her this time. And, well, she isn’t taking it well.”

  “Are you two okay?” Though I knew my mother had to be driving him crazy over his decision to support me, I hadn’t considered the possibility that their marriage was in trouble because of it.

  At his answering frown, my eyes were drawn to new lines around his mouth and eyes. As much as I wanted to believe they were caused by ordinary aging, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt. The last thing I wanted was to add stress to his life, but the current feud with my mother wasn’t easily fixable.

  “We’ll work it out. But I wanted to talk to you about Chris’s graduation.”

  My gut clenched, making me regret eating that last delicious pastry. “You don’t think I should come?”

  He sighed heavily. “I’m not sure that it’s the best idea.”

  “Oh...okay.” Although I’d been worried about seeing my mo
ther at the afterparty my parents were throwing at their house, it hadn’t occurred to me that I shouldn’t show up at all.

  “I’m concerned that Cynthia will cause a scene and ruin things for your brother.”

  I nodded slowly. “Yeah, you’re right. I hadn’t considered that.”

  “I talked to Chris about it, and he’s fine with you not coming.” He shrugged almost helplessly. “You know how teenage boys are. They’re not the most sentimental bunch.”

  That was an understatement. Chris would be more concerned with how much cash he accumulated than who attended the event. Still, I was going to have to come up with an amazing gift to make up for skipping it.

  Dad reached a hand across the table, covering mine with his much bigger one. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. It shouldn’t be like this, but until your mother sees reason…”

  “What if she never does?”

  He withdrew his hand and sat back in his chair. “I don’t mean to pry, but where do you think your…relationship with these boys is going?”

  I took a long gulp of my mimosa as I tried to form an appropriate response. How could I answer when I didn’t know myself? Although I practically lived with Shane and Cole, it wasn’t as if we’d discussed the future. It all felt so up in the air.

  “Honestly, I don’t know. But if you want to know if I could see myself with them forever? Then, yes. I can.”

  Since he hadn’t specifically asked about Nicholas, I didn’t feel the need to clarify. Chris knew we’d split up after the Naughty Goldilocks debacle, but I wasn’t sure what information, if any, he’d passed on to our dad. It wasn’t exactly something I’d wanted to bring up during one of the brief phone calls I’d had with Dad over the last two months. I was just grateful he’d continued to be supportive of my relationships at all.

  He nodded, his expression sober. “I see how happy you are with Cole and Shane, and I want that for you, even if it’s difficult for me to wrap my old, fuddy-duddy head around.”

  I couldn’t resist a small smile at his description of himself.

  “But, if you continue a relationship with both—all three—of them?” At his pause, I opened my mouth to reply, but he shook his head and continued speaking. “Either way, if it becomes a long-term arrangement, I think you should be prepared for your mother to dig in on this. I’m not sure if she’ll ever budge.”