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We searched the house only to find her outside next to the pool.
“It’s too cool to swim.” I joked as we neared.
“Then it should be perfect for you.” She didn’t even look in my direction.
“Ouch.” Tavi chimed in.
“Listen, Caesar. I appreciate you trying to make this work. I can’t disagree with us working well together when we’re together. But when you shut down or put your walls back up, it makes me think you don’t want it or are not ready. And that’s okay. We can cancel altogether. I’ll be okay either way.”
“So you don’t want a relationship.”
“Right now, I don’t know what I want. I explained before that I have a lot on my plate. Like I said, I’ll be okay either way. I won’t let your issues become mine and vice versa. Tavi asked me to take a chance. You gave me these visions in my head about what it would be like to be with you. Then you turn around and shatter them like I don’t matter. I’m not a child. I don’t need to be chastised for your emotions. Talk to me about them or don’t. I’ll only give you what you give me. I won’t allow myself to get so invested in you that I lose myself. However, if you’re all in, so am I. When I’m all in, I mean it. The past two weeks have been amazing. And maybe it’ll be easier for you when I’m gone, and you don’t have to see me every day. This is where we are now, though. So, what’s it going to be, Caesar? Figure it out, or let me go?”
“Are you still going to the club later?” I asked Tavi.
“Yes. I was going to work the entire night. Why?”
I squatted down next to Sam. “Go on a date with me?” Against rationality, I knew I was pulling myself in further with her. I still hadn’t responded to Torin’s text and the thought was killing me. We’d never let a woman get between us.
“Is this your way of saying keep me?” She wasn’t buying any bullshit that I could have been selling.
“I’m saying, let’s go on a date. Afterward, I’ll answer your question.”
“Your fucking answer better be yes.” Tavi kneed me.
I know how he felt about Sam, but I needed to try again. I wasn’t giving in that easily. Maybe there was a way to talk Torin out of his arrangement. Or maybe it was time to let him do his own thing and we’d do ours. A lead ball formed in the pit of my stomach while thinking about splitting the three of us up. It was true that Torin traveled a lot for work, but that never wavered his ability to make our relationships work. I needed to talk to him to see what he wanted to do. Tavi seemed pretty transparent about what he wanted.
“I will give my answer at the end of the night. Not before. I want to date you. I’m asking for you to date me, too.”
Sam looked for the chink in my defenses. “This better not be a hot-cold trick.”
“It’s not. I’ll get something delivered for you to wear. Be ready by six?”
“Where am I going?”
“Just be ready.” I tilted her head upward and gave her a lingering kiss. “Six p.m. Don’t be late. I’ll meet you in the living room.”
“Okay. Until then?”
“You’re on your own. Breakfast is set up for you in the kitchen. I have plans to make.” I walked into the house and hoped this worked out in my favor. If it didn’t, I would be letting a wonderful woman go, and checking in on Torin’s plan for us. That's not the ending I was hoping for.
Chapter Eight
TORIN
Over the twins ignoring my texts, I called them. Tavi sent the call to voicemail, but Caesar answered immediately.
“Why are y’all ignoring me?” I growled at him.
“Bro, it's complicated.” He sighed.
“Then uncomplicate it enough to tell me what’s up.” I swallowed, not wanting to ask the question that I had to. “Has things changed?”
“Yes, but no. One sec.” I heard him moving around and then birds chirped in the background. “We have a problem.”
“And it is?” I sighed.
“We found somebody.”
