THAT WAS NOT THE SECOND TIME YOU'VE EVER HAD SEX.

KATE WAS IN THE SHOWER, finally having given up on her relentless questioning. She needed to know everything about the hookup between Boone and Tyler.

How it started. How it ended. Where they met. Why she even agreed to it. What it was like. If it was worth it. Was Tyler an asshole when they met.

They walked up. She snuck out. At Milton's. Because they were hot. It was amazing. She didn't regret it for a second. And no.

Those were her answers along with about a hundred others after Kate rattled off questions.

Now, Caroline was sitting on her bed, her head in her hands as she contemplated what she was going to do about this. Were they really going to act like they'd never met her? Because she decided that that really fucking stung.

Maybe the night hadn't been as mind blowing for them as it was her, a thought that made her chest ache horribly.

Her self-deprecation was interrupted by a quick knock on the door. Figuring it was Javi, she got off the bed and opened it up, already speaking to him.

"Javi, I get you have a crush, but she's exhausted—"

It wasn't Javi at the door. It was Boone and Tyler, earnest looks on both their faces as they stood before her.

"Oh," she said softly.

"Can we talk?" Boone asked, a hopeful look on his eyes.

Just then, she heard the shower turn off and knew Kate would be out soon. So, she stepped outside and shut the door. "Not here. Don't exactly want Kate involved."

"What?" Tyler asked with a scoff. "You ashamed of us?"

"Says the one ignoring my existence all day," she shot back.

"Now, that's the pot calling the kettle black," he said, rolling his eyes. "You ain't said hardly a word to us all day."

"'Scuse me for being a naturally shy and anxious person," she muttered, crossing her arms.

Tyler smirked and leaned in, looking down his nose at her. "Baby, I've fucked you from behind while you choked on Boone's cock. I'd hardly call you shy."

Heat rushed to her face at the entirely true accusation, and Boone had to get between the two, not wanting Tyler to rile her up so much that she started to hate them. He couldn't deal with her hating them.

"Hey, he don't mean it like that," Boone said softly. "Just come to our room with us. Just to talk. Nothing else."

Though she was annoyed with Tyler, as Carolina looked into Boone's wide and pleading eyes, she found she couldn't tell him no.

"You got five minutes."

☁︎

It was a painstakingly familiar scene, Carolina perched on the edge of a bed as the two tall and incredibly beautiful men stood before her. But she wouldn't let the night head in that direction.

She swore she wouldn't.

"So," she said, crossing her arms. "What do you want to talk about?"

"Thought that was obvious," Tyler said in a snarky tone, making her narrow her eyes at him.

"Why'd you leave that mornin'?" Boone quickly asked, a sad expression on his face. He'd wanted so badly for her to wake up in his arms.

Carolina was taken aback by the sheer sadness in his eyes. And for a moment, she actually felt guilty for making him sad. He had this way about him that had her wanting to draw him into her arms comfortingly.

"I—" She paused and blushed before deciding to be impossibly candid. "Because the second time I ever had sex was a threesome with two strangers that weren't stayin' in town. Didn't think you'd want me to stay."

Tyler scoffed and shook his head. "That was not the second time you've ever had sex."

Her blush increased, reminded her again of the fact that they didn't know her real age. If Tyler was annoyed with her now, he'd be furious when he found out.

"Yes, it was."

"No body sucks cock that good their second time," he said, narrowing his eyes. Only to smirk when she grew incredibly flustered from the backhanded compliment.

"I - I — you—" As she stuttered, she took in a deep breath. "Look, I don't see why this should affect Storm PAR's work or what you're doing on your channel. Okay? We'll just forget about it. It ain't happening again."

"That what you wanna do?" Boone asked sadly. "Forget about it?"

She studied him uncertainly. "Ain't that what you wanna do? Acting like it didn't happen all day?"

"Darlin', we ain't ever forgettin' about you," he admitted, throwing Tyler's 'play it cool' plan out the window as he came closer. "You're all we been thinking about."

"Both of you? Really?" she asked doubtfully, looking at Tyler, whose jaw was tight. God, he looked so good when he was annoyed with her.

And he was annoyed because how dare she suggest they forget about it?

"You was perfect for us," Boone said, kneeling in front of her so that she'd look him in the eye. "Unless you didn't have a good time."

Her gaze softened as she realized he was so insecure after she left them without a goodbye. "Of course, I had a good time, Boone. Definitely better than losin' it in a Wendy's parking lot when I was eighteen and not finishin'."

Tyler let out an amused snort, some of his annoyance fading at the embarrassing story. And as he smiled, she caught a glimpse of the Tyler she'd had that night. Not the arrogant YouTuber that had been parading around all day.

"Then why can't it happen again?" Boone asked with wide eyes.

"Didn't think you'd want it to either," she mumbled. Then she nodded toward Tyler. "Especially not that one."

"Aw, you just caught Ty off guard," Boone told her. "He ain't shut up about you the last few days. Me neither, for that matter."

"Well, I ain't said a word about you," she lied while getting up, moving past Boone and toward the door. "It just — it don't matter how good it was. This ain't a good idea."

"Now hold on," Tyler said, coming closer. "I think we ought to get a say in this."

She rolled her eyes and faced him. "And what's your say? What does the great Tyler Owens want?"

He walked forward, and she backed away until she bumped into the wall. Tyler towered over her, and she hated that she could feel the warmth coming off him in waves. She hated that she was looking at his stupid lips.

"I wanna take you on a date and show you off, then bring you back and fuck you good and hard for leaving us behind like that."

Carolina's mouth felt painfully dry all of a sudden, and not because of the fucking her hard part. No, he admitted to wanting a date. She couldn't recall the last time someone wanted to take her on a date. That was far more intimate to her than a one night stand.

She blinked repeatedly, not knowing what to say to that, and he was smug over the fact that he'd rendered her silent.

"And I believe you owe me something," he added lowly.

"What's that?" she managed to ask, eyes still on his lips. God, why did she hope he was going to say a kiss?

But then Tyler pulled her closer by the flannel shirt tied around her waist until their hips were pressed together. Her eyes fell shut when she felt a growing bulge against her stomach.

How could this frustrating conversation turn him on? Well, probably in the same way that it was turning Carolina on. Just being around the two did it for her.

Then Tyler unwrapped the flannel from around her and tossed it behind him, not really caring where it went. "Now that that's settled," he smirked, "you're free to go."

"You're a pig," she muttered before whirling around and storming out of the room.

"Nice going," Boone sighed before going after her. Carolina glanced at him for half a second, her arms crossed over her chest. "Let me at least walk you back."

She smiled softly, both knowing it was only two doors down and she could make it on her own. But she nodded nonetheless, welcoming his company given that he wasn't so infuriating.

"Look, I'm sorry about Ty," Boone said. "He's just so stubborn. Always has to be the dominate one, you know?"

"Well, it's fucking annoying as shit," she said, partly lying. Seeing him like that drove her wild and made her want him more, but she wouldn't be giving in to that desire, knowing the smug smirk on his face would work at her nerves should she do so.

"Yeah, but it's also hot," he said with a crooked smile.

Carolina let out a huff of a laugh, glad that Boone had the same train of thought as her. "Maybe so."

They reached her door, but she made no move to go inside for the night. She just stared at Boone with a gentle expression. And neither noticed Tyler, who'd cracked the door to their room and was listening in.

"I am sorry I left," she whispered. "I didn't - I didn't think either of you would want me to stay, honestly. I guess I kinda just get insecure about stuff like that."

Boone moved closer, his hands on her hips. "Baby, I'm always gone want you, I fear."

It made her chuckle sadly, figuring he probably didn't really meant always. Already, Tyler couldn't seem to stand her anymore, so Boone would probably be following in his footsteps soon. Besides, she couldn't have one without the other — not that she only wanted one.

"Yeah, but you and Tyler are a package deal, and he hates m—"

"Tyler don't hate you," he cut her off. "He - he gets frustrated. He ain't good at talking about feelings. But he wants you just as bad as I do. I mean, even now, all I can think about is kissing you."

"Yeah?" she asked, her heart picking up speed. "Then why haven't you?"

"Figured you didn't want me to," he admitted with a shrug.

"Well, why don't you come and find out?" she asked with a coy smile, leaning back against the door.

Boone's smile was blinding before he cupped her cheek, loving how she leaned into her touch. Then he kissed her softly — far softer than any of their kisses that first night.

Carolina melted against him, sliding her hands up his chest before tangling her fingers in his long hair. It felt so perfect and right as he kissed her slowly, his hands on her hips.

Then, when he needed to breathe, he pulled back only to brush his nose along her throat. "You covered 'em up," he said with a pout, missing the sight of the hickies they'd left.

Her cheeks burned as he looked back down at her. "W - well, didn't need Kate and Javi and Scott seeing them."

Boone hummed, a displeased look in his eyes. "You ain't gonna cover 'em up tomorrow, you hear me? Bet you look so pretty with 'em all over your neck."

"What if someone says something?" she asked shyly, that blush still on her cheeks.

"Then you tell 'em just who gave them to you." It was Tyler who spoke, having come out of the room to reveal himself finally. "What Scott and Javi and anyone else that looks at you to know just what you've been up to."

Carolina drew her eyebrows in. "What's Javi care about a few hickies?"

Tyler's jaw twitched, noting how she didn't deny Scott as a potential romantic partner. But then he tried to reign in his jealousy. After listening in, he knew his attitude wouldn't get him anywhere with Carolina.

"Well, he didn't seem to like my comment earlier," he noted, coming closer. "You didn't either."

"Javi's as close to a big brother as I'll ever get. I didn't appreciate you saying that in front of him," she admitted. "Especially after you ignoring me."

"Tell you what," he said, nodding to her. "I'll stop pretending like I don't know you in front of Kate and the others. And I won't make any more comments about you."

"I sense a but coming," she muttered, narrowing her eyes as he smirked.

"But you gotta have breakfast at the diner with Boone and I."

Carolina looked between the two impossibly handsome men. Boone was looking at her with wide, beautiful, pleading eyes while Tyler was just silently daring her to tell him no. So, she swallowed thickly and nodded.

"You got yourself a deal, Owens."

Then she turned to enter her room, only for Tyler to grab her wrist and pull her back, her hands falling on his chest to steady herself.

"Now, it ain't fair for Boone to get a goodnight kiss and not me," he said, a false pout on his pretty lips.

A snarky reply died on her tongue as his hands slid down her waist, resting on her ass. So, she gave in like she so clearly wanted to, wrapping her arms around his neck and standing on her toes to kiss him. Even then, he still had to bend down to reach her mouth.

His kiss was rougher than Boone's — a sign that he was still frustrated with the whole situation. And so was she, so when she slid her hands higher, finding purchase in his hair, she tugged on the strands hard, making him groan into her mouth while tightening his hold on her waist.

Tyler nipped at her bottom lip with his teeth before pulling back, his eyes darker. And Carolina could hardly breath, wondering why on earth she had ever left these men that morning. Not when they were so perfect — even when they were being infuriating.

"Breakfast at eight," Tyler said to her, it not a question. It was a demand for her to meet them there.

"Eight."