Chapter 45

Mark Grumbling, I wake up to the sound of birdsong coming from outside and find an unnatural weight on my arm. When I glance to my right, my heart swells at the sight.

Winnie is wedged between Jake and me. She is a small little thing but surprisingly strong. Her hand is gripping my forearm with such force I feel bad about removing her fingers.

“I’m sorry, Princess, but I’m a morning person,” I tell her and stifle a laugh when Winnie cuddles with Jake instead. They are both heavy sleepers and would probably sleep through an earthquake.

I smile at that thought and slide out of bed. I pick up my clothes and head for the kitchen. Someone needs to make breakfast. I’m not the best chef in the house-that position belongs to Jake.

He is interested in baking and cooking, whereas I only do what is necessary. Photography and modeling are my hobbies. and also side hustles. Not that I need more money since I’m playing in the NHL, but… I don’t plan on playing hockey forever.

I shove that thought away for now and find bacon, bread, and eggs inside the fridge. I’m making food for all three of us. The kitchen smells like breakfast, and the hospital calls while I cook the bacon.

With the phone tucked between my neck and ear, I’m relieved to hear my mom is stable. I make the decision to take Jake and Winnie to the hospital after we have eaten.

It’s when I’m plating that I hear footsteps enter the kitchen. Judging from the slight tremors, it’s probably Jake.

“Hey…”

I glance over my shoulder. “You didn’t wake up Winnie?”

“No…” he scratches his neck. We both have the same kind of hair that never seems to stop growing. “I actually wanted to talk to you about something…”

“Hmm?”

Jake pulls out a chair, grimacing. Whatever it is must be important. We might be twins, but Jake is the silent type. He isn’t extroverted and flirtatious like me and usually has trouble expressing himself.

I curiously watch Jake’s face as he folds his hands over the table. He looks concentrated and conflicted. It sets my twin senses in full motion, and I bring his plate to the table.

“Eat and tell me what is wrong.”

He lifts his eyes, laughing. “How the fuck do you just know when something is up? It’s creepy.”

I shrug. “I’m your big brother, and we just know.”

“Dude, you are like one minute older than me.”

I grin. “It still counts, baby brother.” I emphasize the word “baby” and try not to laugh too hard when Jake glares at me.

“You’re lucky that you’re my brother…”

“Oh?” I pick up my coffee cup, smiling from the back of it. This is what I’m good at, using my teasing personality to make other people feel better. Jake is smiling now, but I can do better than that. “Are you saying you will beat my ass if I wasn’t? Because I could take you.”

Jake laughs, and it feels like an achievement. Making other people smile is a huge part of who I am. I’ve always seen myself as the ” middle” child in the family despite Jake being my twin, and I’ve heard the child in the middle usually turns out like this.

“So… about what I wanted to talk about…”

Jake clears his throat and gazes up into my eyes. “The threesome was hot, but…”

“Yes?” I ask. “Go on.”

“But Winnie is more than sex for me.”

My heart sinks. I’ve always suspected Jake had a huge crush on Winnie, but his words. imply that I’m not in the same spot. And even though I joke around a lot, I’m not as stupid as I may seem.

Jake thinks I agreed to the threesome because I’m not as serious about Winnie as he is. He thinks the threesome was a simple fantasy of mine, which it wasn’t. I like Winnie too, but Jake, he…

He has never been interested in a girl before. Not like this. Actually, I don’t think I’ve seen Jake with any girl. He usually grunts and grumbles when they declare their love for him.

“And since I know you don’t like her,” Jake continues talking. “Can I ask you to lay off? Sorry if it’s a lot, but… I’m serious about her.

I want to ask her, even though it might be a bad idea…”

My head clears, and I suddenly get angry at my brother’s low self-confidence. “And why the fuck would it be a bad idea to ask her out? You’re a catch-Winnie would be lucky to have you!”

Jake stares down at the table with a sullen.

expression. “But she isn’t into me,” a bitter laugh leaves his lips. “I’ve liked her for years, but life is fucking cruel. First, Winnie fell for Tobias when we were kids. We watched a Disney movie, Sleeping Beauty, and she tried to make Tobias kiss her by pretending to be sleeping on the couch.”

I laugh. “Oh shit, I remember that! Winnie was so cute. She followed Tobias like a tail-

I remember how devastated she was when he calmly told her he was too old for her.”

“Mhm,” Jake grins, but it falters when he focuses on Winnie again. “And then she fell for Nathan… after that, it was Andrew, and now when she finally isn’t in love with anyone…

Guilt gnaws at me, and the words are painful to say. “Winnie asks for a threesome with us both… shit, I’m sorry, man… I didn’t realize that wasn’t what you wanted… you said yes, but it was for her, wasn’t it?”

Jake nods. “It was for Winnie, but I wonder if she even realized I was a part of the sex? Like fuck, what must I do for this woman to see me?”

“You hated the sex?” I ask.

“No, absolutely not. The threesome was way sexier than I expected it to be. Very spicy.

But realistically, I’m unsure how to be three people in a relationship. And since you don’t like Winnie in that way, I bet it was just sex to you, right?”

“Yeah, you’re right…” Jake isn’t right, but I’m not about to tell him that I also like Winnie and take this away from him. He is finally admitting to his feelings, and that’s a huge step for my introverted little brother.

Jake sighs. “Yesterday and this morning were the best of my life. I finally got to touch her, but I needed this conversation…”

“I can tell,” I smile at him. “But for me to stay away from Winnie, you actually have to promise me to ask her out. How about you go and wake her with breakfast in bed?” I nod at the tray on the kitchen counter. ”

Bring her that and tell her you made it.”

Jake smiles. “You sure?”

I keep my smile because my brother’s happiness is everything to me. Family is important, and even if it hurts, I say, “Yeah, take it. Go charm that lady and ask her out,”

I wink at him. “Remind her of your dick if she seems reluctant. She will come around.”

Jake snorts and shakes his head. “You’re unbelievable… I don’t know how you do it…

“Do what?”

“How you can be so carefree all the time… I’m fucking jealous.”

I plaster on a smile and shrug. “Beats me…. anyway, the food is getting cold. You might want to serve it right now.”

“Right!”

Jake takes the tray, and I watch him hurry out of the kitchen. I genuinely hope that he gets the girl.