Over the Edge (Bridge #3)(51)

“Liv, don’t say that. This is your life and your choice,” Vanessa said.

“Tell that to my brothers,” I shot back.

Maya sighed, concern wrinkling her brow. “They’ll come around.”

“Cameron won’t,” I said.

I knew Cameron. He was the strong and silent type, committed to his emotions. He held grudges like no one I’d ever met. Getting him to reconcile with my parents was an uphill battle I had no chance of ever winning. When he loved, he loved deeply. Ultimately, no amount of time or reckless behavior could change how he felt about Maya. Whatever conclusions he’d drawn about my crazy relationship with Will and Ian last night would likely stand the test of time.

I held out more hope for Darren, whose flash of anger could potentially burn out over time. Ian had saved his life, after all. That persistent reminder might eventually break him down. At least I hoped it would.

Eli cleared his throat, drawing all eyes to him. “Can I just ask what everyone wants to know?”

I blinked, waiting for him to continue.

“Have you had them both, like at once?”

Vanessa hit him. “Eli! God, you’re so rude.”

He giggled and shoved his hair back off his face. “Whatever. We’re all thinking it.”

“What Liv does behind closed doors is none of our business,” Maya said. “Even if we may fantasize a little bit about it.”

“Very true.” Vanessa smirked.

I wanted to be mad and embarrassed, but I found myself laughing. The levity was a welcome break from the somber note I’d left my apartment on. Suddenly I was surrounded with more support than I’d ever thought possible. I was grateful, relieved, and almost ready to face my life again.

Eli lifted his mimosa in the air. “Seriously, more power to you. You’d know better than me, but I’m pretty sure two is always better than one. You’re living the dream, girlfriend.”

One by one, we lifted our beverages.

“To risking everything,” Eli said with a clink.

IAN



I paced outside the station, waiting for Will to pick up.

“What’s up?” His voice carried through the phone.

“Have you heard from her?”

He sighed. “Nothing yet. I told her I’d give her the night to think. She knows I’m not a patient person.”

“I’m worried about her, but don’t think we should push her. She’s under enough pressure.”

“Doesn’t change the fact that I want to be there for her.”

“I know exactly how you feel.” I rubbed my forehead. I missed her and hated to think that she was hurting and dealing with all of this alone. “Fuck Darren. I want to go over there. God knows what they’re saying to her.”

“I agree we can’t let her sit with this for too long. But you and I need to talk before we go to her.”

I halted my pacing, instantly on guard. “Why? What’s going on?”

He was silent a moment. “I want a relationship with her, Ian. A real commitment.”

I tightened my grip on the phone and swallowed over a rush of emotion. I knew their bond was strong, but I was ready to fight for her if I had to. The thought of letting her go filled me with a fierce possessiveness. She was his, but goddamnit, she was mine too.

“I see the way you are together, what she means to you. But you can’t ask me to walk away at this point.”

“I didn’t say that. But I shared her with you so I could guarantee nothing got serious between us. I thought she’d be a great lay and we could all go about our lives. Business as usual. I couldn’t have been more wrong about where all this would go. This isn’t even about me anymore. I care about her heart more than anything. I don’t want her to get hurt.”

The thought of losing her gutted me, but I didn’t want her to get caught between us either. “I want what you want. Whatever the best thing is for her.”

“Listen, Ian. We can share her or fight for her all day long, but it’s up to her. I have no idea if she’d consider a deeper commitment between all of us. Especially after the showdown with her brothers last night.”

I nodded in silent agreement. The future of our relationship rested entirely in her hands. “Then we let her decide.”

“We’ll give her a little time to work through everything, and then we’ll talk to her. Together.”

“She needs more than words, Will. She needs to know we mean it.”

He was quiet a moment. “I know. I plan to show her exactly how we feel.”

I hung up and returned to the station. I hadn’t been on shift very long, but seeing Darren was inevitable. Any minute we could be thrust into an emergency that required us to work together. I found him in the kitchen making dinner. His expression was grim. I knew him well enough to know that he wasn’t his usual jovial self.

It was probably too soon to try to make peace, but giving the standoff any energy was going to make working together a living hell.

I walked into the kitchen, stopping a few paces away from him. “Need any help?”

He didn’t reply. To say the atmosphere was tense would have been an understatement.

“Fine,” I muttered, turning away.

“I’m putting in a bid for a different station.”