Oh God. What the hell was she doing? Everything she’d ever wanted was outside that door. She’d sustained herself with the fantasy of Ry and Bram through the toughest time in her life, and now she was too afraid to go after the real thing?
Ry was right. She was a coward. The awful shame of it sat like a boulder in her stomach.
They’d been there for her. Always. And she was hurting them in a way that was worse than the betrayal she’d gone through with Dan.
Her heart squeezed and tears streamed down her cheeks unchecked. If there was one thing she’d come to realize, it was that running didn’t do a damn bit of good. These past several days of barely surviving more than proved that fallacy.
So what the hell are you waiting for, you idiot?
A desperate sob hiccupping from her throat, she rushed toward the door. Those six steps felt like the longest of her life. She twisted the knob, banging her hip on it in her haste to open the door. Ignoring the burst of pain, she stumbled out into the bar area, looking around frantically.
She spotted Ry and Bram at the register installing receipt tape for George. Other than the four of them and the handful of customers situated at the bar and the neighboring booths, the room was relatively empty. Elvis was crooning about a blue Christmas on the restaurant’s speakers. How fitting. She cleared her throat, praying it’d be heard over the music. It must have worked because every eye turned on her, including Ry’s and Bram’s. Their faces looked haggard. Resigned.
She’d done that to them. Time to make things right. “You’re wrong. It’s not better to lock yourself away from love.” She stepped forward, her knees shaky. “I’m tired of being afraid.”
Ry stared at her, a fraction of the dark clouds lifting from his eyes. “So what are you saying?”
She took a deep breath, expelled it slowly. “That I love you guys, and I want to make our relationship work.”
George’s jaw dropped and speculative whispers cropped up from a few of the nearby diners. Oh yeah, they were going to have a field day with this one. Oh well. Might as well make it extra juicy for them. “My house is too small for the three of us. Much better to move into Bram’s.” A twinge of uncertainty shuttled through her. “That’s if the offer is still open.”
Ry and Bram practically leapt over the bar in their haste to reach her. Bram got to her first. He swung her into his arms and planted a hungry kiss on her that pretty much cleared up anyone’s doubts regarding which direction their relationship swung. Bram pulled back, his expression joyous. “It’s definitely still open. In fact, I think we should go get you packed right now.”
She gave a sniffly chuckle. “We can wait until tomorrow. I’m not going anywhere.”
Ry cupped the back of her head, his eyes flashing a tender fierceness. “Promise?”
She nodded. He leaned in, his lips brushing hers softly. “We’ll make this work. We’re the three amigos. Together, we can conquer anything.” His voice held undeniable conviction.
“I love you both. So much.” She stroked Ry’s and Bram’s faces, the emotion inside her chest no longer terrifying, but freeing.
“Hearing that is the best Christmas present you could have ever given me, baby.”
“Me too, Lace.”
She gave them both hopeful smiles. “So does this mean I’m saved from having to sing naked karaoke?”
Ry and Bram glanced at each other, their expressions thoughtful. After a silent debate they both pressed their mouths to her ears and whispered, “Not a chance.”
She feigned a sigh. Really, she couldn’t complain. When it came to helping a girl mark off her naughty list and teaching her to love again, her boys had been more than accommodating. Besides, she had every intention of making sure they performed their own naked karaoke.
Hey, fair was only fair.