Chapter 19 WE WANT HER
ELIAS POV
I made it to my room before the adrenaline wore off.
Then I punched my wall hard enough to leave a dent.
I'd kissed her. Finally kissed her after six years of wanting to. And it had been even better than I'd imagined.
Until Callum had interrupted.
A knock on my door made me turn around.
Callum walked in without waiting for permission, closing the door behind him.
"We need to talk," he said.
"No, we don't."
"Yes, we do." Callum leaned against my door. "What the hell were you thinking?"
"I was thinking I've wanted her since she was eighteen years old and I was tired of pretending I didn't."
"So you just decided to kiss her? In her bedroom? Without talking to me first?"
"I don't need your permission to kiss someone I want." I glared at him. "And you wanted to kiss her too. Don't pretend you didn't."
"That's not the point."
"Then what is the point, Callum?"
"The point is that we agreed. Six years ago. We agreed that if she ever came back, we'd do this right. Together. Not fighting over her like idiots."
I ran a hand through my hair. "I know what we agreed on."
"Then why did you—"
"Because she was sitting there on her bed looking at me like that and I couldn't stop myself." I turned to face him. "You would have done the same thing if you'd been in that room instead of me."
Callum was silent for a long moment. "Probably."
"So what now?"
"We need to talk to her and explain properly what we are offering."
"You really think she's going to go for this?" I asked. "The idea of being with both of us?"
"I think she already wants both of us. She's just too scared to admit it."
"And what about that text she got? From whoever she's planning to have coffee with on Thursday?"
Callum's expression went cold. "We'll deal with that too."
\---
I barely slept that night.
Every time I closed my eyes, I felt Elias's lips on mine. Felt his hands on my waist. I heard his voice saying he'd wanted this since I came back.
And then I'd remember Callum's hand on my face. The way he'd looked at me. The way he'd said there was an us.
By the time my alarm went off Tuesday morning, I felt like I'd been hit by a truck.
I dragged myself out of bed and into the shower, letting the hot water beat against my skin while I tried to figure out what I was going to say to them.
What was I supposed to say? Thanks for the kiss, but is this too complicated? Thanks for admitting you both want me, but I'm going on a coffee date with someone else on Thursday?
This was a mess.
I got dressed in another one of my new work outfits—a navy skirt and white blouse—and pulled my curls back into a bun. Applied makeup carefully to hide the dark circles under my eyes.
When I walked into the dining room, both brothers were already there.
They both looked up at the same time.
The air in the room changed immediately. It got heavier and more charged.
"Morning," I said, sitting down in my usual spot and pouring myself coffee with shaking hands.
"Morning," Elias said, his eyes tracking my every movement.
Callum just stared at me over his coffee cup.
The silence stretched out until I thought I might scream.
"Are we going to talk about last night?" I finally asked.
"Not here," Callum said. "Maybe tonight after work. The three of us."
"I don't think that's a good idea."
"It's happening anyway," Elias said. "You don't get to run from this, Nova."
"I'm not running—"
"Yes you are." Callum set down his coffee cup. "You've been running since you were eighteen. But you're out of places to run to now."
I opened my mouth to argue but Riley walked in with breakfast and the moment was broken.
We ate in tense silence. I could feel both of them watching me. Could feel the weight of everything unsaid pressing down on the room.
When it was time to leave, I grabbed my bag and headed for the door.
"I'll drive you," Callum said.
"I can take her," Elias offered.
"I said I'll drive her."
I looked between them. "I'll just take an Uber."
"No," they said at the same time.
I closed my eyes and counted to ten. "Fine. Callum can drive me. But you both need to stop acting like I'm some prize you're fighting over."
"You're not a prize," Elias said quietly. "You're everything."
Then he walked out of the room before I could respond.
\---
The drive to Blackthorn Industries was silent and tense.
Immediately he pulled up in the company, I practically ran out of the car. Heading to my office.
The day dragged on. Every minute felt like an hour.
Jasmine stopped by my office mid-morning with coffee and gossip, but I couldn't focus on anything she was saying.
"Are you okay?" she finally asked. "You seem really distracted today."
"I'm fine. I just didn't sleep well last night."
"Is it because of that guy? The coffee date on Thursday?"
I'd completely forgotten I'd told her about Matthias.
"Maybe, I don't know. It's complicated."
"Guys always are." Jasmine leaned against my desk. "But hey, if he's treating you right and making you smile, then he's worth the complication."
If only it were that simple.
My phone buzzed.
Text from Matthias: Good morning, beautiful. Hope your Tuesday is going better than Monday?
I stared at the message, guilt eating at my insides.
I kissed Elias last night. Had almost kissed him again if Callum hadn't interrupted. I had listened to both brothers basically say they wanted to share me.
And here was Matthias, sweet and charming, texting me good morning.
What was I doing?
I typed back: Morning. Tuesday is definitely calmer.
I hit send before I could overthink it.
Jasmine was watching me with a knowing smile. "Is that him?"
"Yeah."
"You're blushing. That's a good sign."
Was it though?
My office door opened and Callum walked in without knocking.
"Jasmine, can you give us a minute?" His tone made it clear it wasn't a request.
"Of course, Mr. Blackthorn." Jasmine grabbed her coffee and left, closing the door behind her.
Callum turned to me. "Who were you texting?"
"That's none of your business."
"It is my business when you're smiling at your phone like that." He moved closer to my desk. "Who is he, Nova?"
"Just someone I met. It's not important."
"It's important if you're planning to see him."
"How did you—" I stopped. "Were you listening to my conversation with Jasmine?"
"Your door was open and I heard enough." His eyes were hard. "Cancel it."
"Excuse me?"
"Whatever plans you have on Thursday, cancel them."
"You don't get to tell me what to do."
"Yes I do. You're mine." He leaned forward, his hands flat on my desk. "You've always been mine. Ours. And I'm not letting some random guy take what belongs to us."
"I don't belong to anyone."
"We'll see about that." He straightened up.
He left before I could argue.
I sat there staring at my closed door, my heart racing and my mind spinning.
What had I gotten myself into?