Beautifully Torn by Charity Parkerson (books for men to read .txt) 📕

myself. Maybe just hear me out while I trip over my thoughts out loud.” Hudson and Jinx nodded, giving Rocky hope he might make them understand. He started with Jinx. “Since the first night you stayed here, I’ve known that I want to be with you. I know you’re still hurting from losing your mom, and I haven’t known how to tell you I’m here when you’re ready.” Rocky switched his gaze to Hudson. “You, I wasn’t expecting at all. You just kind of sideswiped me. In fact, I wanted to hate your face because it felt like you were slowly stealing Jinx from me. I have nothing to offer. To either of you,” he added, looking between Jinx and Hudson. He couldn’t stop there. “Honestly, I’m super confused because I’ve never been happier than I am right now.” Rocky’s chest felt like it was caving in. “I don’t think I’m explaining myself very well. I just said I don’t know what I want, but I kind of do. It’s just that I don’t think what I want is realistic.”

Jinx didn’t let him flounder. “What do you want?”

Rocky didn’t respond right away. He wasn’t sure he was brave enough.

Hudson sat up. “I think I should go. You two have a lot to talk about.”

At Hudson’s threat to leave, Rocky’s heart tried jumping into his throat. His confession burst from him in his panic. “I want the three of us to be together.” Hudson froze. Rocky clarified his outburst so there would be no misunderstanding. “As like a throuple or whatever. Jesus, you two are being really quiet and I’m just out here, rambling like an idiot.”

“I want that too,” Jinx said, saving him. “Honestly, I’ve wanted that for a while. I just haven’t been strong enough to admit it, and I’m kind of a mess and no one’s catch.” Jinx stroked Hudson’s chest and Hudson settled back down. As Rocky looked on, Jinx traced the line of Hudson’s jaw with his fingertip. “You probably don’t care to be tied down, and I get it. I’ve tried really hard not to get attached. You’ve never done anything to lead me on or to make me believe you want a relationship. It’s not your fault I’m greedy.” Jinx took a shaky-sounding breath. “I didn’t mean to fall for you while trying to hide from feeling too much for Rocky. It just happened.”

Rocky thought his heart would explode. Jinx felt something for him. He had never been happier.

“You’re a real person to me,” Jinx whispered, saying what Rocky didn’t know how to articulate. “I want you with us.”

Hudson looked between them. “I have issues.”

Jinx nodded. “I know.”

Hudson didn’t stop there. “Sometimes I leap from balconies.”

A smile snapped to Rocky’s lips. “We’ve been made aware.”

“And to be fair, I cry for no reason these days, which is super unattractive, so... there’s that if we’re comparing weaknesses,” Jinx said, making Rocky’s smile grow.

Hudson’s gaze softened as he stared at Jinx. “You’re the realest person I know. That’s no weakness.”

Jinx bit his bottom lip, obviously trying to squelch a smile. “So... we should probably try that three-way kiss thing again, don’t you think? We should get the hang of it.”

A smile exploded across Hudson’s face. “We definitely should.”

Rocky didn’t wait for anyone to change their mind. He dove in with every bit of enthusiasm in his heart. Since he had never been in a relationship like this one, nor had he had much luck with any relationship at all, Rocky imagined this would likely blow up in their faces. He was willing to let it happen for a shot at hanging on to this level of happiness. Rocky needed to try.

For all Hudson’s fears about having to pee a hundred times during the night, it ended up being Jinx who abandoned them first. Hudson was the first one to venture out, looking for something to drink. It was thirsty work making out with two men. Hudson couldn’t stop smiling. In his distraction, he wandered into the middle of some heavy petting happening inside the kitchen.

“Whoa. Sorry. I didn’t see you there.” Hudson tried looking in every direction but at Zayn and Spencer. It was their house, and they had every right to do whatever, wherever.

“Hey, Hudson. I didn’t know you were here.” Spencer didn’t sound concerned about Hudson standing in his kitchen in his underwear.

Hudson dared a glance their way. They were in their underwear too, but everything was hidden. “Yeah. Sorry. I stayed the night and just popped in here to grab some water.”

Zayn smiled. “I take it you slept in Jinx’s room.”

“Hey, grab two more bottles and we’ll take one to...” Rocky froze as he spotted Spencer and Zayn. He too wore nothing but his underwear.

Zayn’s smile slipped away.

Spencer’s eyebrows rose.

Jinx padded into the kitchen wrapped in a sheet. “Are we getting something to...”

Spencer’s eyebrows somehow got higher.

Zayn’s expression snapped closed.

Everyone looked at everyone else, as if no one dared to be the first to say anything. Rocky looked a bit pale, and it occurred to Hudson he might be jeopardizing Rocky's job.

“I got your wedding invitation,” Hudson said to break the tension. “Consider me RSVP’d.”

A smile exploded across Spencer’s face. He looked away, as if trying to hide it.

Zayn looked as if he’d run through a list of responses in his head before choosing to attack things head on. “So, are the three of you...” It was obvious he didn’t know how to finish that question.

“Yes,” Hudson, Rocky, and Jinx said simultaneously. They shared a smile.

“Okay.” Zayn straightened away from the counter where Spencer had him pinned only moments ago. “We were just headed back to bed. If you’re all still around in a few hours, maybe we can have breakfast together.”

“Sounds great,” Jinx answered for them. “We’re in my room, if you’re ready and don’t see us.”

With a nod, Spencer linked fingers with Zayn and disappeared through a hidden panel in the kitchen. The moment they were gone, Rocky covered