I have been at Broderick’s side for nearly ten years. I can’t imagine not being in his proximity. It’d be like losing a vital piece of myself.

But… Monroe has become so fucking important to me. She has no preconceived notions when it comes to who I am. I feel like she sees me in a way no other person does, brings out parts of me that I didn’t even know I had.

I skirt around Broderick and walk out of the bathroom and into the closet. It’s become a mishmash of the three of ours clothing and items, Monroe’s spilling over mine and Broderick’s the same way she spills over us in real life, touching every part of my life and making it hers.

My throat is so tight, I can barely breathe.

Maybe it will all be for nothing. All this worrying about the future and things will end tomorrow when they learn the truth. Broderick might be getting along fine enough with Monroe right now, but he has such strong opinions about the other factions. They’re his enemies.

Will he see me as an enemy once he knows I grew up as an Amazon?

And Monroe?

No matter how she feels about me, she’s not going to thank me for shining the light on the seedy underbelly of the Amazon faction that she doesn’t seem to realize exists. For such a savvy woman, she has an intense lack of perception when it comes to certain elements. I don’t know if her mother intentionally keeps these things from her, but Aisling’s two interactions with me seem to indicate that’s the case.

I yank on a pair of sweats and a T-shirt that I only realize is Broderick’s when it hits me at mid-thigh. I turn and jump to find him behind me. “You’ve got to stop lurking in doorways. It’s creepy.” The joke comes out flat.

Broderick doesn’t hesitate. He steps forward and pulls me into his arms, hugging me tightly. “I know this isn’t an ideal situation, but I’m really fucking grateful to be in it all the same.” He presses a kiss to my temple. “I don’t think we would have ever become more than friends without Monroe involved.”

That’s the other thing I’m worried about, the one I can barely give voice. I wrap my arms around him and hug him back. “What if we don’t work without her?” Broderick tenses, but I keep going. “What if she and I don’t work without you? Have either of you thought of that?”

He hugs me tighter. “Yeah. I’ve thought about that.”

I wait, but he doesn’t provide anything more. It almost makes me laugh, but not like anything is funny. I finally lean back and look at up him, taking in his troubled expression. “What happens then?”