Happenstance(48)

A red timer appears above the door. Sixty minutes begins to count down.

My gasp can be heard clear to Texas.

No, they didn’t. This isn’t happening.

“This is kidnapping,” I say through my teeth.

“For the record, I didn’t know about this,” Tobias says, turning in a circle with a chuffed expression. “But I fully support it.”

Gabe is still visibly piecing together what is going on. “I didn’t know, either…”

“One of you would have given it away.” Banks takes a deep breath and grasps my shoulders, turning me to face the room more fully. It’s decorated like a prison cell, complete with a metal bunk bed, sink, a stack of books, scrawled words on the wall and a nasty-looking toilet that I’m guessing was there prior to them picking the theme. “When you left this morning without a word, we knew what it meant. You’re cutting us off.” He tries to cradle the side of my face, but I pull it away, even though his touch feels incredible. Too incredible. “Tell us why.”

“I told you already.” My heart is starting to hammer. All three of them have closed in on me, studying me with identical frowns in the darkness. I’m not scared—and I probably should be considering they just trapped me in an escape room against my will. But the only thing I’m scared of is revealing myself. All the shit I keep locked down deep with my defenses piled on top. “I told you that day in the kitchen at the Times. I don’t want to be accountable to three guys. Relationships are messy and annoying and time-consuming. You’re asking me to do this to the power of three. I’d have to be a masochist.”

“Is that really all it is?” Tobias raises an eyebrow. “You think we’d be annoying?”

“You just locked me in an escape room!”

“If I hadn’t done this, tell me you wouldn’t have already broken this off and gone home.” Banks tilts his head, waiting. “I know that’s what you had planned.”

“I think Banks is the smart one,” Gabe muses.

“Glad you’re all caught up,” Tobias says, patting Gabe on the shoulder.

I want to kick both men in the shins, but I’m too focused in on Banks being so perceptive when it comes to me. “I never said this was going to be long term.”

“Why?” Banks asks, patiently.

“I just told you. Boyfriends are a full-time job.”

“It’s more than that, Elise.”

Heat blooms against the backs of my eyes, so I raise my chin defiantly. But I can’t say anything without saying everything. I press my lips together tighter, shaking my head. Vaguely, I realize Banks is a genius, because there is something about being in this stupid room, locked away in the dark with an hour on the clock, that makes my defenses thin to nothing. This moment is so far from any reality that I’m used to, what does it matter if I say something too personal that I’ll regret?

Gabe takes one of my hands. Tobias threads his fingers through the other.

They both squeeze. And at the same time, Banks presses his forehead to mine.

My insides just…erode. Air escapes my lungs, words tumbling along with it.

“Fine. We moved around a lot when I was growing up. I’m a military brat. And, um…” I close my eyes and take a deep breath. “I had so many best friends. I would find someone special and give them all my trust. Take all of theirs in return. Sleepovers whispering in the dark and building forts. When I got a little older, it was confiding crushes and going through puberty together. Then it was time to go. It was always time to go. It was like having my heart ripped out every time. I’d try to keep in touch, but they would find someone else, or the bond wouldn’t be the same as being face to face. The good just faded. So I stopped trying. It’s so much easier this way. Please just let me make this easy.”

There’s a long silence.

Then Tobias, “We’re in a fake prison cell in day-old tuxedos. I think the easy ship has sailed, love.”

Banks and Gabe whack him in the shoulders.

He sighs, looking regretful. “I’m sorry you had to lose people so often, Elise.”

“So am I,” Banks says, his voice sincere.

Gabe squeezes my hand hard and we simply remain like that for a few minutes.

“What if we agree to a certain length of time, like a trial period?” Gabe surprises everyone by suggesting. “At the end of it, you can decide if you want to continue.”

“That’s not going to work. I’m going to get too…”

“Attached,” Banks finishes for me.

I press my trembling lips into a straight line.

“That was my ulterior motive,” Gabe says quietly. “Getting you as attached as we are.”

“Gabe, you’re secretly kind of diabolical.”

“Thank you.” He nods for a moment. “What’s diabolical?”

Tobias sighs. “I understand your fears, Elise. I lost my best friend, albeit for different reasons. You make an emotional investment and then suddenly, it means nothing. Maybe it meant nothing all along. Investing that energy again seems pointless.” He shakes his head a moment, mouth poised to speak. “But this isn’t. It’s not pointless.”

“Give us time to convince you of that,” Banks says, kissing my forehead. “We are three men who have nothing in common. We didn’t even like each other. In some ways, we still don’t.”