Too Many(3)

“I didn’t mean to talk to her like that. I should go apologize. I just can’t focus when I’m around her, and then I saw Luke drive up with her in the truck and what else am I supposed to think?”

“Clearly that didn’t go how we planned.” I cross my arms over my chest and look back at my dad’s place.

It’s his and Harlow’s now and they’re raising their son here. It’s weird because he’s our little brother, but it’s more like he’s our kid, too.

We gave my dad so much shit when he first met Harlow. We knew exactly how they felt about each other and we said shit enough to test him and see how pissed he’d get before he made her his. We knew he needed a nudge and we made sure to send him over quickly.

Harlow is really cool and we couldn’t be happier that she’s with our dad, but she was never meant for either of us. We teased him and pushed him to the edge because we knew that he didn’t think they should be together. Age is just a number and we knew she was the one for him. Pretending we had a crush on her was only a game to get him there fast.

The first time we saw Nellie, Elijah and I knew she was ours. As weird as it might make us, growing up we figured out that we wanted to share a wife. It started out kind of a joke because we didn’t want to live in separate houses, but over time we realized that there wasn’t another option.

After our mom died and our uncle Butch took us in, he became our dad. Maybe there’s still a deep seed of abandonment somewhere inside of us, but the two of us have stuck together in every aspect of our lives, so it would make sense to have a family together.

When we met Nellie, Elijah and I shared a look and we both knew right then and there that she was the woman we would make our wife; we just needed her to get on board with it. I knew that it would be an uphill battle because what woman would want to admit to having two husbands or that her children have two fathers? We don’t know much about other people in these type of relationships, but from what we’ve found online, there are small communities of people that love the way we do.

It has nothing to do with me wanting to have sex with my brother, it’s that we share a bond because we’re twins and the connection between us is stronger than most. He’s my other half and if he loves someone, I’ll love them, too. I can’t help but share emotions with him, and the only answer to us living our lives as one is to have a woman who can understand that and handle our demands.

“Now what?” Elijah looks to me and we share a silent conversation.

We have to make this right even though we know our actions were justified. She might not know that she belongs to us, but school is finished and now it’s time to quit fucking around. We worked our asses off to graduate early and to make it so that we are able to step in and take over the business seamlessly.

Dad and Harlow are focused on our little brother and raising him, so now is the time for us to become the men of Barton Construction and claim what’s ours. Nellie.

“We need to go in and make this right,” I say simply and he sighs.

“I would like to point out that smoothing things over is not my strong point.”

“Lucky for you I’ve got manners.” I smile smugly at him and he rolls his eyes.

“Yeah, you sounded like it when you were backing me up and yelling across the yard.”

I shrug because he has a point, but I’m not going to admit it.

“Seriously, Owen.” He moves closer as we both look into the house. “I can’t wait any longer and if she’s with Luke, I’m going to burn the house down.”

“Stop being dramatic. Besides, Dad hasn’t let you play with fire since you were nine.” I shake my head as I think about what to do next.

“Those fireworks were badass and you know it.”

“You boys okay out there?” I watch our dad come out and wave us in. I look to Elijah.

“We can’t stay out here, and God knows what she’s doing inside with Luke.”

Elijah growls and stomps inside, but I grab his arm as we go in.

“Play it cool. She’s ours.” He looks at me and after a second of hesitation he takes a breath and nods. “Now we just need to let her know it.”

The house is packed with everyone our dad and Harlow asked to come. They are so proud of us and our achievements and it shows in what they’ve done today. They had the whole house decorated and catered just for us and they’re telling everyone they see how great we are. We might have started off with a rocky childhood, but from the moment our dad stepped in, it’s been perfect. Adding Harlow to our family was the best thing that’s happened to him since we’ve been in his life, and now that they are growing their family, it’s only going to get better.

“There they are!” Harlow calls as we walk into the living room. “Your dad is about to give a speech.”

“Oh God,” Elijah says as she pulls us over to where he is in front of the crowd.

My eyes search the crowd and I see Nellie off to the side. Luke isn’t anywhere near her and that goes a long way at soothing the jealous beast inside me. For now.

“I just want to thank everyone for coming tonight and for celebrating our boys,” Dad says as he pulls Harlow into his side. “I’m so damn proud.”

If I’m not mistaken, I see what look like tears form in his eyes as he comes over and hugs each of us. He’s sacrificed so much and worked so hard for us that this is almost like his day, too.