Three (22 page)

Delanie brought Simone a glass of white wine and sat in the chair across from her. Xander and Jackson finally came over to take their places on either side of her. Jackson gave Ethan a gentle brotherly cuff on the ear, forcing him to get up from the chair on Simone’s left. Everyone chuckled as the younger man nearly fell out of the chair.

“Aw, come on Jax! I was just trying to get to know her. You see her all the time.” Ethan whined.

“Yeah, right. You were trying to get to know her alright. Find your own girlfriend.” Jackson joked good-naturedly.

“Where? I know every girl here!” Ethan exclaimed.

“And dated all of them too.” Delanie piped in.

“Shut up, Lanie.” Ethan pouted.

“My friend Amber would love you.” Simone spoke softly, surprising everyone.

“Really? Where is she? What does she look like?” Ethan said excitedly as he took a chair on the other side of the table.

“As if it matters what she looks like? You’d date a Yeti if you knew it was a female!” Delanie cracked. “Hey!” She screeched as a roll bounced off her head and rolled to the floor.

“Ethan! No throwing food! What does this look like a freakin’ zoo?!” Gail yelled.

Simone squeezed her lips together in an attempt to keep from laughing, but looking up at the indignant look on Lanie’s face as melted butter ran down her forehead, a snort escaped anyway. And the whole table burst out laughing at the young woman’s expense.

“Ha ha, so funny.” Lanie scowled as she wiped her forehead with a napkin.

“Anyway, tell me about this Amber girl?” Ethan ignored his sister and focused on Simone.

“Um…” Simone started shyly, as the whole table focused on her. “She’s my best friend and she’s beautiful. She’s tall, with dark red hair and should be a model. But instead she’s planning on being a fashion designer. And she’s coming to meet up with me tomorrow.” Simone told him, but continued at the look of excitement on his face. “But I’m not so sure the wilds of Alaska would be her thing.”

“That’s okay. I’m down for a fling.” Ethan said undeterred. “I vote that we all go out tomorrow night. What time does her flight get in tomorrow?” He asked leaning forward across the table in anticipation.

“In the morning.” Simone answered.

“Then it’s final. We’re all going out. I don’t think we’ve all been out since my twenty-first birthday and plus it’ll be a Saturday night.” Ethan informed his siblings.

“Yeah, we haven’t been out since then because we all still cringe at the memory. No one wants a repeat of you drunk and streaking naked down the street.” Chris finally chimed in.

“Hey man, it’s been three years! I’ve matured.” Ethan said with self-righteousness.

The table fell silent as they all looked at him and then each other. A split second later the table burst in uncontrollable tear-inducing laughter. Even Ethan chuckled reluctantly.

~~~

As they stood in the doorway putting on their coats and scarves to leave, Jackson thought that the night had went fairly well. Aside from a few mortifying moments for Simone and catching Bethany secretly shooting daggers at Simone whenever he touched her. Seeing the evil looks staggered him, never realizing how deep Beth’s feelings apparently ran for him. But he’d never felt anything for her apart from brotherly love.

“Boys? Could I speak with you for a moment?” Gail stopped Xander and Jackson as everyone started walking out to their cars. Delanie and Ethan chatting animatedly with Simone caught in between.

“Yeah, mom. What’s up?” Xander asked curiously.

“Now don’t get mad at me. I just want to give you both some motherly advice.” Gail warned before continuing. “I know you both are intent on having this uncommon relationship. I realized early on, that you two had a different bond than most and that this arrangement worked best for both of you. But that girl is sweet and surprisingly innocent. Just make sure you’re both on the same page, so that you don’t hurt her. I can tell Jackson is in it for the long haul. But you’re still somewhat resistant to committing, because you’re a free-spirit.” She looked at Xander. “I’m sure she’s very confused and uncertain of this unlikely union and she’s obviously fallen for both of you, by the way she looks at you. If you both are at odds with the way you’re feeling, you’ll tear her apart. So figure it out before she uproots her life for you.” She laid her hands on each of their arms affectionately. “I’ve said my piece. Now, have a good-” A loud scream rent the air, cutting Gail off in mid-sentence.

“Simone!” Delanie gasped.

They all instantly turned to see Simone on the ground in a tight ball and standing over her hovered a full grown Black bear standing on its hind legs. It bellowed loudly and took a tentative swipe at her back with a large paw.

Jackson and Xander didn’t think, as they sprang into action. With superhuman speed, they ran out the door, jumped down from the porch landing to the ground without missing a beat. Xander ran to Simone, and crouched low as he skid to a stop and immediately draped his body over hers as a shield.

Jackson ran at the bear bellowing back at it like a maniac, as only someone of his size could. Unconcerned for his own safety, only wanting to protect Simone, he stood at his full six-feet-five. Challenging the bear.

“Get back!” Jackson shouted at the animal.

And the bear deciding that it wasn’t worth the trouble, bounded back into the dark forest at full speed.

With the threat gone, everyone converged on Simone as Xander lifted his body off of hers. Wide fearful downturned eyes looked around frantically. Once her eyes connected with both Jackson’s and Xander’s worried faces, tears welled and spilled over. A sob escaped her wide full mouth, her chest rose and fell rapidly to the point of hyperventilation and tremors wracked her entire body.

“Oh my God, Simone! Are you okay?” Delanie exclaimed, kneeling down beside her and smoothing a loose strand of hair from her face.

Jackson could see her throat working, but the words were stuck. Wrapping his strong arms around her, he pulled her to her feet holding her close.

“It’s okay. You’re okay. The bear’s gone.” He soothed as he rubbed her back.

“Are you hurt?” Xander asked, stroking a hand down the back of her head.

“No.” Simone finally got out around her clogged throat.

“Do you want to come in and sit down for a moment?” Gail asked in concern.

“No…no. I…I’m okay.” Simone took a deep breath and blew it out harshly. “What am I, some wild animal magnet?!” She exclaimed in frustration. “First, wolves. And now this! What’s next? A moose?!”

They all burst out in relieved laughter.

~~~

When all the commotion had died down and they’d said their goodbyes, the three of them climbed into the truck to head home.

“So what happened, Si?” Xander asked curiously.

“I don’t know. I was talking to Delanie and walking towards the truck. And I turned and the bear was crouched down on the side of the truck. For a second I thought it was a person. I tried to stop and slipped on the ice and then the thing stood up over me, growling. So I curled up in a ball like I’ve heard you’re supposed to do. And what the hell! I thought bears were supposed to hibernate in the winter?!” Simone exclaimed.

“It’s rare but sometimes they come out to eat a little something before going back to their caves. I bet it was looking for food. You can never leave food in your cars or you’ll end up finding some kind of critter in it, around here.” Xander cautioned.

“I think you both probably startled each other. But you did good Simone. Curling up in a ball protects all your vital parts and head. That was quick thinking for someone that isn’t used to this kind of life. You’ve done great today. You’re quick on your feet. First with the accident earlier today at the mill and then with the bear.” Jackson praised. “You’ll do great here…if you stay.” Jackson finished softly.

Xander spoke up to break the awkward silence from Simone’s lack of response to Jackson’s last statement. “So what time does your friend’s flight get in tomorrow, so we can be there to pick her up?”

“Ten a.m.” Simone responded, stifling a yawn.

“You’ve had a draining day today, you must be tired.” Jackson said pulling her closer to him.

Simone laid her head on his solid shoulder and yawned again, not even trying to cover it. Jackson wrapped a burly arm around her, surrounding her with his infallible warmth. Xander’s hand found a home on her thigh and rubbed soothingly.

She drifted in and out of sleep as they bumped along down the road. The men murmuring softly, trying not to disturb her.

“We do need to talk, ya know.” Jackson finally brought up.

“I know.” Xander said reluctantly.

“Your mom was right. We have to be on the same page in order for this to work.” Jackson rubbed his free hand down his face. “The last thing I want to do is hurt her.”

“Yeah.”

“Come on, Xan. I know you’ve got more to say than that.” Jackson prodded.

“What do you want me to say?” Xander practically growled under his voice.

“Something. Anything!” Jackson exclaimed under his voice. “What do you want out of this?”

“I don’t know. I care about her alright. A lot. But that doesn’t mean that I want to get married tomorrow.” Xander admitted, glancing over at Jackson, then the dozing woman on his shoulder. “I didn’t want to talk about it, because I’m still trying to figure out things, just like she is. I don’t know what to do. I want her to stay. But I also don’t want to uproot her life, when I don’t know if what I want is permanent.”

“What the hell is so difficult to figure out?!” Jackson asked angrily. “You know you’re falling for her. I saw the look in your eyes when she was almost attacked by that bear. Why are you being so resistant to it?”

“I don’t know, man. I just am.” Xander said, squeezing the steering wheel in a death grip.

“Well I know why. You’ve been spoiled by never having the devastation of losing someone. Oh, you’ve been broken up with or cheated on. But those were with girls you didn’t give two shits about anyway. But to lose someone that you truly love. By breakup or worse. Death. But I have. And I know that when you find something like this and someone like her, you’ll do everything in your power to
never
let that shit go.” Jackson ran a frustrated hand through his curls. “So do me a favor, if not for yourself than for me.”

“What?” Xander said shortly.

“Start acting like you fucking care about losing her.” Jackson finished as they turned onto their private driveway.

“Fine.”

Simone had heard most of the conversation. When the discussion had started she had been in and out of sleep. But once she realized who the conversation was about, all thought of sleep and exhaustion had escaped her. Though she pretended to still be asleep, not wanting them to know that she had heard everything.

Now her insides were at war. Guilt over coming between the two best friends. Joy over knowing that they cared for her, even if it was grudgingly on Xander’s part. Plus, sadness that it wasn’t enough for him to want her to stay for good. And now the choice to stay was an even harder one to make.

Stay. Only to risk heartache and disrupt the life they had built. Or go. And be heartbroken anyway and still take a chance at ripping them apart because Jackson would end up resenting Xander for not doing all he could to get her to stay. Any way that she looked at it, it was a lose-lose situation. And her heart sank into the pit of her stomach at the realization.

Xander pulled the truck into the garage and Jackson thinking that she was still asleep, slid her out of the truck and cradled her against his chest as they made their way inside. Not stopping to take off their coats, Jackson carried her into the house and upstairs to their bedroom.
Ours. Not for long it would seem.

Jackson sat her on the bench in front of the bed, as she pretended to wake up. Xander followed close behind. His normal gregarious nature, sedate with inner turmoil.

“We’re home beautiful.” Jackson said softly as he caressed a finger down the side of her face. “Let’s get you undressed and in bed.”

Jackson did the honors of stripping off her coat then her clothing, layer by layer. Xander stood by with his hands in his pockets, unsure of what to do or how to act. Simone could tell that he was fighting a similar battle with his head and his mind that she was. And she knew that there was only one way to bring them all back together again, if even for a little while.

When she was finally stripped down to nothing and Jackson had brought over a night shirt and pants to dress her in, she shook her head no. A blush spread across her face at being naked in front of their fully clothed bodies, but she didn’t let it deter her.

Simone stood up and walked over to Xander. She raised up on her tiptoes and kissed him softly on the cheek and proceeded to gradually undress him. She pulled his sweater and undershirt over his head. Her hands caressed a path down his broad shoulders, wide chest and rippling abs to the waist of his pants. She unbuckled the belt, unzipped his jeans and then helped him shimmy out of them, as well as his boxer briefs and boots. His long erection bobbed at his movements and Simone reached out a hand to lightly caress it, making him hiss with need.