Echoes of Three Souls

Chapter 17: Moments of Vulnerability

Maeve POV

I sat between Scarlett and Reese, my pulse fluttering wildly as I took in the warm glow of the lanterns, the quiet crackle of the candles, and the subtle brush of Scarlett's shoulder against mine. The air felt thick with anticipation, as though we were stepping into something fragile and precious, each detail of the night somehow imbued with a sense of wonder. I could feel Reese's steady presence on one side, his calm, grounding energy a subtle but comforting contrast to Scarlett's bright, magnetic pull on the other.

Scarlett poured three glasses of wine, her elegant fingers catching the light as she handed me one. Her gaze was soft, yet there was an edge of playfulness in her eyes as she watched me take a small sip, letting the rich, fruity taste settle on my tongue.

"Here's to new experiences," she murmured, lifting her glass, her gaze lingering on me. Reese clinked his glass with hers, and I followed, feeling an electric jolt at the way both of their eyes remained fixed on me.

"To firsts," Reese echoed, his voice deep and soothing, sending a thrill through me that left me momentarily speechless.

I managed a shy smile. "To firsts," I replied, the words quiet but carrying a weight that felt deeper than I'd anticipated.

As we sipped, Scarlett's hand found mine again, her thumb brushing over my knuckles in a rhythm that felt both reassuring and a little hypnotic. "I'm curious, Maeve," she began, her voice low and warm, "what's been on your mind tonight?"

I blinked, feeling a blush creep up my cheeks. I took a moment, feeling Reese and Scarlett's patient gazes, waiting for my response. "I... I guess I'm wondering why you both would want this—me. It's all new to me, and I feel like I'm just stumbling through."

Reese let out a soft chuckle, his fingers gently grazing my shoulder. "We see something special in you, Maeve," he said, his gaze intense and reassuring. "Something that drew us in from the start. From the moment I saw you and those big blue eyes outside Devin and J's house, I couldn't stop thinking about you. You took over our minds."

Scarlett nodded, agreeing, her expression warm but with a glint of intrigue. "You're beautiful, baby, and I can tell that there's a lot more about you than you let on. Don't doubt yourself, bunny," she whispered, her tone gentle but carrying a hint of heat. My heart skipped a beat at their confessions. A chill ran up my spine as the sun started to set, and Reese wrapped a blanket around my shoulders as Scarlett pulled the food over. We indulged in cheese, fruit, and wine. I asked them all kinds of questions, wanting to get to know anything and everything about them. I learned that they were both 29, had been together since they were 15, their favorite colors were red and black, and they both enjoyed working out. They were both incredibly open and vulnerable with me. They trusted me with their pasts, and I felt my chest tighten as Reese opened up about his childhood. "I had it rough," he began, his tone calm but edged with something darker, something guarded. "Grew up in foster care... bounced from one place to the next. Abuse was... common. I learned to keep my guard up early on."

"Don't cry, babydoll." he wiped a tear that escaped.

"It's just so sad! No child should ever experience the things you did." I cried. He pulled me into his lap as I tried to stop the tears and ran his hand through my hair. Scarlett moved closer and rubbed my back, trying to comfort me.

"I'm sorry," I sniffed, "I should be comforting you, not the other way around."

"Shh, baby. Don't apologize. It wasn't all bad. When I was 15, I was taken in by a couple, Nic and Belle. Nic was a cop, and he helped me channel my anger into better things, and Belle took care of me like a mother figure should." My tears dried up, and I nodded, nuzzling into him. He was warm like a big teddy bear.