I Wanted One Stepbrother, So All Three Claimed Me novel · Chapter 6 of 24

Chapter 6: Terms

"Out of the water, Kenji," Leif said.

His voice carried the whole length of the pool, level and tired and absolutely clear.

Kenji did not move.

He was naked in Soren's lap on the shallow steps, with Soren's hand still flat on his chest.

Soren's come was cooling in him, and every fixture in the room seemed to be listening.

"You told him?" Soren asked Erik, outraged.

"I told no one anything." Erik came forward along the wet tile with his arms crossed. "Leif asked where Tanabe was. I said Soren had a key to the pool."

"You said that on purpose."

"I said it because it was true."

"It's over," Leif said. "All of it. Do you understand what this does to Tilda, to Dad, to the three of us? I called it a mistake, and then I took it back, and now..." He pushed a hand through his hair. "This is going to tear this family apart."

"Leif," Kenji said.

"Get dressed. Please."

Kenji stood up.

Water ran off him in sheets.

Soren's bite was a dark crescent on his shoulder, and Erik's was on his thigh.

Leif's mark, a smear of fingerprints low on his hips, was still there from Thursday.

He walked up the steps and across the deck, dripping, and took the towel off the bench, and wrapped it around his waist.

Then he turned to face them.

He was five-eight, and they were all taller.

"I have terms," he said.

Erik's eyebrows went up.

"No," Leif began.

"Terms. Four of them. You can say no to them after you've heard them." Kenji held up a finger. "One. Nobody lies about whose bed I was in. Not to each other, not to Tilda. I told Leif I was at the library tonight. That was mine, and I'm done with it."

Leif closed his mouth.

"Two. Nobody sulks. If you're angry, or scared, or jealous, you say it out loud, in words, to my face. No silent treatment. No politeness." He looked at Leif. "No more 'Morning, Ken.'"

Leif flinched.

"Three. Nobody gets a veto over anyone else. I don't want to hear 'if he does that, I'm out.' You can walk out. You can't forbid."

"And four?" Erik asked. His voice had gone odd.

"Four. I'm not choosing."

Nobody spoke.

"I'm eighteen," Kenji said, "and I want the three of you. I'm not going to pick one so the other two can be noble about it. If that's too much for this family, say so now and I'll move out on Monday. But I won't do it quietly, and I won't do it alone."

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