I don’t let myself wonder what Joe’s room looks like.

Dom closes the door, but not before kissing his mom good night. I sit on the edge of his bed and brace myself for the most awkward conversation in my life.

So, funny story. Do you know your brother? Yeah, the only one you got. Well, turns out, we used to date slash sleep together slash I was kind of, sort of, crazy in love with him.

Yeah, no. The announcement can definitely use a few tweaks before I make it.

When Dom starts getting undressed and slides into his pajamas, I wonder if I should tell him without consulting Joe first. It’s his secret to tell too. Causing sibling issues is the last thing I want to do here. That would be the second family for me to break apart. That’s one hidden talent I did not want to discover about myself.

“So? What’d you think?” Dom slips under the covers. It’s my turn to stand up and prepare for bed.

“It was great. Your family is lovely.”

“Told you.” Dom props his chin on his hand as he watches me take off my bra. His gaze glides along my upper body, lingering on my chest. He kicks off his blanket, and I catch his erection twitching behind his pajama bottoms. He wants to have sex. I throw my bra on his face, pretending to laugh. “Get your mind out of the gutter. Your parents are two doors down.”

“Three,” he corrects, nuzzling his nose against my neck. “It’s all bathrooms and guest rooms. Seph’s room is the closest, and I’ve heard him banging girls through this wall enough times to mistake this place for a brothel. Dude had prolific adolescent years. It’s payback time. What do you say? Help me even out the score.”

Nausea washes over me. It feels like he’s punched me in the gut. Thinking about Joe with other women hurts like we are still together. Like the last six years didn’t happen. Of course, there’s no way my current boyfriend can know that.

I change into a black hoodie and matching sweatpants, then get into bed. Dom wraps his arms around me instantly. He thrusts his cock between us. “He wants to say hi.”

I force out a hollow laugh, kissing his lips. “Manners dictate I say hi back. But I’m tired, and just trying to process today. In a good way.” It’s my first lie to him since we met. Up until now, I’ve only ever just selected what pieces of truth to tell him. “Rain check?”

He scans my face for a fraction of a second, but it’s enough to show me that he knows something is up. I hold my breath, waiting for him to say something.

“Always. Good night, babe. I love you.”

He hasn’t called me out on it. Phew.