One Week

I had agreed to one week of being theirs. Both of theirs.

Jace drove me back to campus like nothing had happened, but everything had happened. Ethan sat in the back seat with me this time, his leg pressing against mine, his hand resting on the seat behind me, not touching, but close enough that I could feel the heat.

"You have class until 3pm," Ethan said, looking at my schedule on my phone. He had taken my phone and added his fingerprint to it. "Jace will pick you up at 3:15pm. Don't be late."

"I can take the bus," I said quickly.

"No," both of them said at the same time.

Jace looked at me in the mirror. "We take care of what's ours, Aria. That's part of the deal."

When we got to campus, Chloe was waiting by my building with her mouth open. She stared at the Range Rover, then at my necklace.

"Aria Hayes?" she mouthed. I shook my head violently. Not Hayes. Not yet.

I got out of the car fast. Ethan rolled the window down. "3:15pm, little one. Wear the necklace."

I walked away without looking back, but I could feel both of them watching me.

Classes were a blur. All I could think about was the rules. Rule one, rule two, rule three. _You are ours. Both of ours._

At 3:14pm, the black Range Rover was back. Exactly on time.

Jace was alone this time.

"Where's Ethan?" I asked, getting in the front seat.

"Work," Jace said. He looked tired, but happy. "He wanted to come, but I told him today is my day. We agreed to take turns for dates. Tonight is my turn."

My heart skipped. "Date?"

He smiled, that soft Jace smile I had loved since I was fifteen. "Yes, Aria. A real date. I have been wanting to take you on a real date for ten years."

He took me to the old pier, where we used to fish as kids. He had set up a small table with lights, with food from my favorite restaurant. It was simple and sweet and so Jace.

"Aria, I need to ask you something," he said after we ate. He took my hands across the table. "When Ethan and I said we share... what did you feel? Honestly."

I looked down. "I felt... scared. And confused."

"And something else?" he pressed gently.

I nodded, my face hot. "I felt... relieved. Because I didn't want to hurt you. Either of you. I love you, Jace. I always have. But Ethan... when he looks at me..."

"I know," Jace said quietly. "I have always known. Since we were kids, you always looked for him when he came home. You thought I didn't notice, but I did." He squeezed my hands. "I used to be jealous of him. But now... if sharing you is the only way I get to keep you, I will do it. I would rather have half of you than none of you."

Tears ran down my face. "Jace..."

He leaned over and kissed me. Soft, slow, like he had been saving it for years. I kissed him back. It felt like coming home.

When we pulled away, we were both breathing hard.

"That was worth ten years of waiting," he whispered.

His phone buzzed. A message from Ethan: _Is she still with you? Is she okay?_

Jace showed me the message and smiled. "He checks every ten minutes. He is going crazy not being here."

As if on cue, another message came: _Tell her tomorrow is my turn. And tell her not to wear jeans. I want to see her legs._

Jace laughed and threw his phone in the back seat. "Ignore him. Tonight is ours."

He drove me home at 11pm and walked me to my door. He kissed my forehead.

"Goodnight, ours," he whispered, touching the necklace.

Inside my apartment, my phone buzzed again. Ethan: _Did he kiss you?_

I stared at it. Rule two: Be honest.

I typed: _Yes._

Three dots appeared instantly. Then: _Good. Now I know how much harder I have to kiss you tomorrow to make you forget his kiss. Sleep well, little one. Dream of us._

I touched my lips, which still felt like Jace's, and my necklace, which felt like both of them.

One day of one week was over.

Six days left. And I was already falling deeper.