Page 22 of Unlocked Desire: Vol One

Fight or flight. Most people had one or the other. I had both. When it came to being uncomfortable with people I cared about, I ran. When it came to being around assholes I could give two shits about, I fought.

When I’d stepped into the bedroom and saw Joey curled up in Lip's arms, I’d known I was the interloper, the one who didn't belong. So I left.

Which was how I found myself at McGregor's Pub, drinking myself into oblivion.

Joey and Lip were everything to me. The only time I was happy was when I was with them, but I didn't trust happiness. Every time I had, something or someone would rip the rug out from under my feet. People always left, and my life returned to the darkness. Lip was the only constant I'd ever known, and even now, I felt the connection between him and Joey deepening. Lip was good for her. He was strong. He knew how to be the man Joey needed. I was a distraction. I could be replaced.

"Where are your whore and your gay lover?" some middle-aged drunk slurred.

I knew our relationship was different, something that most wouldn't accept. The drunk was an asshole we'd clashed with a few weeks ago when Joey wanted to go dancing. I'd wanted to bash his head into the ground that night, but Joey had stopped me. She wasn't here tonight, though.

"Watch yourself, old man."

The guy went to punch me but missed. "Who the hell ya think you are, you little punk?"

The guy was pathetic. I didn't even have to duck. He was drunk and thought he could still handle himself. "Buddy, why don't you walk it off before I embarrass you in front of all your friends?"

"Who's gonna embarrass me? You? You're a fuckin’ pussy who shares his whore ‘cause you’re not man enough to satisfy her yourself. If the slut wants more dick, let me know."

I was okay with the fucker insulting me. I was even okay with him saying shit about Lip. But I saw red when he disrespected Joey again.

My fist impacted his nose with a loud crunch, letting me know I’d broken it. The asshole should’ve stayed down. Should’ve taken the hit and let that be the end of it. But, no, the fucker got up and charged at me. His nose streamed blood, but booze had a way of numbing the pain.

Grabbing the fucker by the waist, I pushed him down and sat on his chest. I lost track of how many times I pummeled his face. By the time the bartender pulled me off him, the drunk was unconscious, and a pool of blood surrounded him.

"Jesus, Jack, what the fuck?" Trick, the bartender, demanded as he checked on the man. "You're fuckin' lucky he's still breathing. Who do you want me to call? Lip or Joey?"

"No one."

"You can't drive home."

"I'll take a cab. You cool with me picking up the bike in the morning?"

"Yeah, man. Get home safe. I'll take care of our friend here, but you owe me."

"Thanks, Trick."

I grabbed my coat and stormed out of the bar, but I started walking instead of calling a cab. I wasn’t sure where I was going, but I knew the only place I wanted to be was in Joey's arms.

JOEY

The moonlight streamed through the crack in the curtains and directly onto Lip's face. The man was gorgeous, like a sculpture designed by Michelangelo. I pushed a curl off his forehead, careful not to wake him.

Glancing at the clock, I wondered where Jack was. I'd been with Jack and Lip for two years. They were polar opposites, but I loved them both fully and completely. I couldn't imagine my life without them. I never thought I would be in an unconventional relationship, but with Lip and Jack, it felt like we were meant to be.

A bolt of electricity had flowed around us that first day I’d sat beside Lip in class. Jack hadn’t said anything at first. He’d sat silently, tapping on a table, focused on anything other than my conversation with Lip. I hadn’t understood why he hung out with us.

Lip, on the other hand, was charming. He knew the right things to say and was always easy with the compliments. Lip held doors open and twirled me around on dance floors like he was Fred Astaire and I was Ginger Rogers. I felt like a princess—delicate, beautiful, and unique—when I was with Lip, but I never thought he wanted me. It was never Lip and me alone. It was always the three of us, and between that and Jack's death glares, I assumed I’d been friend-zoned by both of them. I never dreamed they felt like I did for them until one night at the university pub.

I was suddenly swamped with the memory of the night everything changed between us.

I left the guys at our table after bumping into my best friend, Sonia. The two of us were on the dance floor having fun and laughing when some frat kid started groping me. I said no and pushed away, but he wasn't getting it; before I could turn around and do anything about it, Jack was there, and the guy was on the floor taking punches like a boxing bag. I'd never seen a fight in person, but I wasn't scared. I was turned on. Jack beating the shit out of that guy was the manliest thing I'd ever seen. Jack didn't hold back; even three football team members couldn't lift him off the fucker.

"You'd better reel him in," Lip said, appearing from nowhere and standing beside me.

"W-what?" I stammered.

"No one is gonna be able to make him stop but you, sweetheart. I would’ve joined in kicking the fucker's ass, but Jack needs an outlet for his emotions. He's not good at processing them."