Chapter 7: The Hell.

February 4, 2024, 3:50 PM. Beverly Hills. Sunset Ridge Estates. Brian's place.
Brian walks slowly around the living room after his talk with Alex. He's still in his formal white suit—white pants, an unbuttoned blazer, and a white shirt with no tie. He lazily picks pistachio bits out of his teeth while talking to Aria on the phone.
"Bunny, I talked to Alex."
"So how did it go?" Aria asks. She sounds genuinely curious, with a playful edge underneath.
Brian exhales through his nose and shakes his head as he steps onto the balcony. "He's… cautious. That's the word I'd use." He leans on the railing, staring down at the pool. "Not just about me. He's wary of you too, like he's not sure what you want."
Aria laughs, bright and musical even through the phone. "Oh, tiger, of course he is. That's half the fun." She pauses, then her voice softens. "But I mean it. I care about him too. We all do."
Brian chuckles. "Yeah, like we're all about stealing Kate from him. Just say it straight."
Aria sighs dramatically. "Oh, Brian, you're such a cynic sometimes. Yes—we want her. But that doesn't mean we don't respect what she has with Alex." She pauses. "She loves him, you know. In her own way."
Brian scoffs. He picks up the half-empty glass of bourbon from the railing and swirls it. "Yeah, I know. Doesn't stop her from wanting me, though." His tone is matter-of-fact. "And it doesn't stop you from pushing this shit along either."
Aria giggles, warm and knowing. "Of course not, tiger. Why would I?" She sounds delighted. "She's beautiful, and she wants you. And you—well, you're delicious."
Brian chuckles and rolls the glass between his fingers. "Flattery won't get you out of explaining why you're so invested in this, bunny."
"Mmm, but maybe it will get me what I want." Aria's voice turns soft and teasing. "Because you do want her too, don't you?"
Brian takes a slow sip of bourbon. "Yeah," he admits, voice steady. "I do."
"Good." Aria purrs. "And don't act like you haven't thought about it. About having her. About seeing that look on her face when things finally happen."
Brian exhales sharply, shifting against the railing. "Fuck, Aria." He sounds more amused than annoyed.
"You don't hold back, do you?" She laughs, rich and warm. "Why should I? I know you love it when I talk like this."
Brian shakes his head, but a smirk tugs at his lips. "Yeah, yeah. So what now? You got me admitting—again—that I want her. What's the next step in your little game?"
Aria hums thoughtfully. "Well, tiger, I think you should call her. Tell her you want to see her. Alone." Her voice drops, conspiratorial. "Not at the beach house. Not with the others watching. Just the two of you."
Brian sips his bourbon, rolling it on his tongue before swallowing. "And what exactly am I supposed to do with her alone?" His tone is flat but curious.
Aria giggles. "Oh, I don't know. Maybe start with dinner. Remember that place I told you about in Topanga? Fireplace, candles, no crowds. Feels like the world slows down in there. I think she'd like that."
Brian exhales through his nose, fingers tightening slightly around the glass. "You really do have this all planned out, don't you?" There's dry amusement in his voice.
"Of course I do, dummy. That's what I do." Aria laughs again, pleased. She pauses, listening to him take another sip. "So… you'll call her?"
Brian leans back against the railing and rolls his shoulders. "Yeah," he says, the word coming easier than he expected. "Yeah, I'll call her."
"Good boy." Aria's voice is warm.
Brian smirks. "Yeah… exactly. Look—I didn't screw it up, by the way. When Alex tried bringing up our future dynamic, I shut it down right away. Told him it's all up to Kate."
He pauses, then continues. "So… I shouldn't rush things with her, right? Like hinting 'hey, maybe I should move into Château des Rêves'? Just… you get it. I know her behavior might shift a bit. It's one thing to flirt with me at parties, and another…"
He exhales, almost thinking aloud. "Though she had a whole week to think about it—ever since January 26, that night when you laid it all out for her. And at the party two days ago, she seemed pretty open to a lot of it. She was worried how Alex would take it, but still…"
Aria's laughter rolls through the phone, rich and throaty. "Oh, Brian, you're too cute when you overthink." She takes a sip of something. "But yeah, you got it right. You don't move in. Not yet. You let her come to you."
She lets the words hang for a moment. Brian can hear her shifting in her seat. The image of her in her private office or sprawled across her massive bed makes his pulse quicken.
"You keep things casual," she continues, voice dropping an octave. "Keep the pressure light. But make sure she knows you're serious about this."
Brian walks into the kitchen, still on the phone, and finishes off the bourbon. He sets the empty glass on the table with a soft clink.
"Look… We both know she's no fool. And she's seriously attached to her 'Baby Boy.' So how exactly are you planning to put distance between Alex and Kate? If that writer's not only physically close to her but constantly in her headspace…"
"You sure you're such a genius, bunny? If Kate starts sniffing around… well, you know how that goes."
Aria's laughter ripples again. "Oh, Brian, you really overthink everything." She takes another sip, ice clinking softly. "Kate loves Alex, sure, but she's got her own head on her shoulders. She's curious as hell. And honestly? You're not exactly hard to like."
Brian moves to the window and peers out at the darkening California hills. "Yeah, well… I don't need you to tell me I'm likable. I know what I bring to the table." He lets out an irritated sigh. "You didn't answer the question, sweet little butt. She's been with this Alex for four fucking years. She loves him… And you know what? I get it. He's not some nerd or loser. He doesn't look like one, he doesn't act like one. And he took everything pretty damn calmly… Yeah, I know—his meltdown was probably yesterday, and today he was just playing a part, but still…"
He pauses. "What's stopping him from outplaying you? Or rather, outplaying us, Ari?"
"Oh, Brian… you really are cute when you get all protective." Aria hums, amused. "But trust me—Alex is predictable." She inhales sharply. "He's got his little routines, his comfort zones. He writes. He plays video games. He fucks Kate when she lets him."
She chuckles softly. "And yes, he gets jealous. But he also knows what Kate wants. And right now? She wants this. She wants you. She's curious. She's interested. And she's not going to just shut it down because Alex is upset."
Brian exhales through his nose and leans against the marble countertop, fingers tapping as memories of Kate flicker through his mind—the way she looks at him, the way her body reacts when he touches her.
"Yeah, I get that. But I also know he's not just gonna sit back and watch me take over."
"Take over?" Aria's voice turns sultry. "Oh, baby, you make it sound so dramatic. No, you're not taking over. You're just… being there. Being you. And letting Kate make her own choices." She pauses. "Look, I know you're used to getting what you want. And I love that about you. But this isn't about pushing her away from Alex. This is about pulling her toward you. Slowly. Deliberately."
Brian exhales sharply, fingers tightening around the phone. "Fuck's sake, Aria. You act like this is some game of chess."
"Isn't it?" Aria laughs, soft and teasing. "But I don't mind. I like seeing you work for it. Makes it sweeter."
Brian turns away from the window and runs a hand through his hair. "I don't want to work for it. I want her to come to me because she wants to be with me." There's a raw edge to his words now, something needy.
"Oh, you sweet summer child," Aria coos, stretching the words. "You think she doesn't already want you? She's half gone just from the teasing, just from the flirting. She's torn between two men, Brian. And that's delicious. That's power."
A beat of silence passes. Her voice dips lower. "What you don't realize is that Alex knowing doesn't make it worse—it makes it better. He's already seen it. He's already felt her pull away from him a little. And he's letting her."
Brian exhales through his nose, pulse quickening. "Yeah, well… he might be letting her now."
"But that doesn't mean he'll keep letting her." Aria chuckles. "No, it doesn't. But that's why this is fun, isn't it? The anticipation. The tension." She draws in a breath. "Imagine if you were the only one she had to think about. No second-guessing. No hesitation. Just you."
Brian clenches his jaw. The thought is intoxicating, but it twists something deep in his gut. He wants to be Kate's only man. Wants to be the one she turns to without question, without doubt. Wants to be the one she chooses.
"And what if she does?" Aria hums, taking another sip. "Then you'll be happy, won't you?" Her voice carries amusement and something deeper, something knowing. "You'll finally have what you've been after for so long."
Meanwhile, in Alex's car. February 4, 2024, 3:50 PM.
Alex is on his way home to Dreamside, to Château des Rêves. He's riding on autopilot in his Tesla.
Lila calls to check if the meeting is over and how it went.
Alex answers the video call. His phone is mounted on the dashboard.
Lila sees him staring blankly at the road, eyes distant and vacant, while the car's AI smoothly drives him home. His charcoal grey suit with the subtle windowpane check—slacks, unbuttoned blazer, white shirt—is disheveled. His eyes are red. He's clearly been crying.
On screen, Lila appears dressed just as she was this morning: fitted black blazer with gold buttons and matching pants. Her makeup is subtle but striking, accentuating her sharp cheekbones and almond eyes. She's sitting in a chair in her room at Château des Rêves.
Her brows knit together as she studies his face. She shifts forward, the camera tilting slightly. "Alex... you look like shit."
"It's fucked up, Lila…" Alex says quietly. "He's so polite. So damn courteous... And I think he actually likes her."
Lila exhales slowly, tilting her head. "Polite? That's the best you can come up with?" She laughs dryly, adjusting the angle of her phone. "Jesus, Alex. You look like someone ran over your dog."
Alex's fingers tighten around the steering wheel. The car hums along the freeway, the sun dipping lower as it heads toward home. "Fuck... This shit's not funny, Lila! Can you shut up for five goddamn minutes?" He's on the edge of a breakdown.
"I showed up at his place. We talked about my books, his music, this fucking Dreamside... Then when it came down to it, the piece of shit just drops, 'Kate's the boss here, whatever she wants goes.' And that's it. I spent more time getting there than the whole conversation lasted! All for one line? And he acted like he was closing a multimillion-dollar deal!
Fuck! Lila! I'm gonna hire hitmen for that motherfucker and for Aria too! I swear, I'll kill them both! Fucking sick experimenters! Don't they have enough pussy in Dreamside?! What the fuck is that Italian cunt doing, tearing apart everything I built with Kate for four years? Hope that bitch dies of glioblastoma!"
Alex slams the dashboard repeatedly, but the car keeps cruising smoothly. Lila watches with an arched brow, fingers tapping her thigh. She swipes a lock of dark hair over her shoulder and angles the phone. "Alex, sweetheart..." she drawls, voice laced with amusement. "You know I love you, right? Even when you're this dramatic."
Her face softens a little. "But come on. You really think Aria's tearing anything apart? Kate's a grown woman. She's making her own choices."
Alex falls silent, breathing heavily, staring ahead as the AI navigates through Los Angeles.
"I know that, Lila. But let's be honest—none of this would've happened if that Italian bitch hadn't introduced him to Kate. She planted the seeds for months until they took root... Fuck, I'm an idiot. 'Best friend from college'... Yeah, right. From the start, that 'friend' hated me as soon as Kate and I started dating... Of course—a goddess like Kate fell for a piece of shit like me... It pisses everyone off. Everyone wants me dead... I can feel it..." Tears well up again. "Fuck... I lived for four years without bothering anyone... Now I'm a stranger in my own home... Enough! I know what's going on! A few months with him and Kate won't remember me at all!"
He hits the dashboard a couple more times.
Lila watches him from her armchair, crossing one leg over the other, fingers still tapping. "You're being dramatic again, Alex," she says, the teasing mostly gone. "Look... I get it. It sucks. But you're not a stranger. You're Alex fucking Gonshorowski. You wrote the books that got you here."
"Fuck, Lila... I love her more than life itself... I didn't deserve to be thrown away after four years for some experiment..." He rubs his face with both hands as the car drives on. "And the worst part... I really can't tell her what to do. I don't want to hurt her... Fuck... Lila—this is a slow erasure of me from her life. Deliberate. Long-term... The books... I hate those books, Lila. I hate that porn trash. At first I wrote them to deal with panic attacks. Then for money and Kate's respect. Without her I can't write shit... And now you with that fucking Sarah... If you want to help—figure out how to get rid of Aria and her black boyfriend!"
Lila exhales through her nose, shifting in her seat and crossing her arms. "Alright, alright. You're spiraling again. And while I get it—you're not thinking straight."
"Lila, you didn't see the way she looked at me last night, when I was sitting in my old office downstairs." Alex speaks slowly, breathing hard, wiping tears. "I... I can't..."
He abruptly ends the call.
Lila sits there staring at the glowing WhatsApp screen as Alex's face disappears, leaving a darkened rectangle. She exhales sharply, shaking her head, and sets the phone on her dresser. The room feels heavier. The soft hum of the air conditioner does nothing to ease the discomfort in her chest.
She drags her hands through her hair, tugging at the strands. He'd sounded wrecked. Broken. And it wasn't just Kate and Brian. It was everything—the slow erosion of his security, his confidence, his place in the world they'd built. "Fuck!" she mutters.
She grabs her phone again and quickly types a message to Kate: "Kate! Get to my room. Now!"
Lila waits restlessly, pacing her bedroom. Minutes drag before a soft knock interrupts the silence. She inhales sharply and opens the door to a worried Kate. The artist's usual perfect blonde hair is slightly disheveled, her blue eyes clouded with confusion and concern. She's wearing a white t-shirt and blue jeans.
"Lila, what's wrong?" Kate asks, voice urgent. "Alex just called. He was really upset."
Lila gestures her inside and closes the door. "I just talked to Alex. He's fucking losing it, Kat." She paces, hands flying as she speaks. "Look, I've lived and worked here for four years. Most of that time I've been Alex's assistant." She shoots Kate a hard look. "I know both of you inside and out. And I know Brian—I'm at every party. I've seen how you've been around him these past few months... Fuck, I've even hung out with him. Been to his place. And yeah, I've seen how he looks at you... and how you look at him."
She leans in, voice lowering. "I know he's charming. Fun. Charismatic. I get it. And I know exactly when this started—evening of January 26th. Right after that party. When Aria planted that idea in your head. How fun it would be to spend more time with Brian."
Lila pauses, staring her dead in the eye. "And you and I both know how much you love Alex. Your Baby Boy. You realize you two have never fought? He can't say no to you. I yelled at you last night—February 3rd—right by the car, and you went to talk to him after. But it didn't work, did it?"
She crosses her arms. "He's just like, 'Yes, my Goddess! Whatever you want, Goddess!'" Lila mocks in a sarcastic sing-song, then snaps back. "And your bestie barged in yesterday morning and fed him some passive-aggressive crap about how he's not enough of a man for you. That's why you're drawn to Brian."
Lila's voice sharpens. "Kate, get your girlfriend in line and actually talk to Alex. For real. Not this 'he agrees with everything so it's fine' bullshit. Because this is gonna blow up. Think about it—would Brian be cool with this if he were in Alex's place? No. But Alex says yes to everything just to keep from upsetting you. And you don't see it, but he's falling apart. I'm not repeating half the shit he said, but… fuck!"
Kate stiffens, shoulders squaring. She steps back, sneakers scuffing the hardwood. Her blue eyes flash with shock and defiance. For a moment she just stares, lips parted.
"Lila, hold up. You don't get to throw that at me like I'm clueless." She crosses her arms, leaning against the wall. "I love Alex. He's my home, my safe place. Four years, Lil. I don't just toss that out."
She pauses, jaw tight. "But Brian… it's not just fun. He sees me differently. Like I can be wild, messy, not the 'perfect Kate' everyone expects." A bitter laugh escapes her. "I'm not saying it's right. I'm not saying I'm gonna run off with him. But I can't just shut it off. I'm not a robot."
She steps forward, gesturing. "And don't pin this all on Aria. She's not making me do anything. Yeah, she's been hyping him up, but I'm the one who let it get in my head. I'm the one who's been… curious." Her voice cracks. She bites her lip and looks away. A tear slips down, but she wipes it fast.
"Look, I don't want to hurt Alex," she says, tone softening but still fierce. "I saw how he looked at me last night in his office. Like I'd already broken his heart. And it kills me. But what am I supposed to do? Pretend I don't feel anything for Brian? Lie to him? Lie to myself?"
She runs both hands through her hair. "I need to talk to him. For real. But I'm scared I'll say the wrong thing and lose him for good."
She meets Lila's eyes, determined and afraid. "So yeah, I hear you. I need to get my shit together. And I'll deal with Aria too. But don't act like I'm the villain. I'm just trying to figure out who the hell I am right now."
Lila rolls her eyes. "Alex doesn't care that you're gonna fuck Brian. He's scared you'll stop loving him and leave him for Brian completely." She sighs. "Your Brian probably pulled some masterclass in that talk—now Alex isn't even sure he deserves to be with a woman. He's on his way back from Brian's place with teary eyes, and he hung up on me mid-call. That's never happened before, Kat."
Kate exhales slowly, fingers tightening around her phone. She sits on the edge of Lila's bed. "Teary eyes?" She turns toward the window, sunlight filtering through the curtains. "You're telling me Alex actually cried?"
Lila sits beside her and leans back against the pillows. "Not full-on sobbing, no." She places a hand on Kate's shoulder. "Kate, I'm worried about both of you. What you and Aria started—this isn't just Becky's dumb jokes about Alex's dick. You're gonna have to come up with a plan for splitting time between them. Just remember: no matter how amazing Brian is, Alex comes first. Show him that."
Kate exhales sharply. Sunlight catches the gold in her hair as she faces Lila. "That's why I'm doing this. Because Alex needs to see that." Her voice firms up. "I love him. I don't want to lose him. But I can't stop feeling this either. Brian and I have something different. It's not just fucking. It's… an energy. A connection."
Lila hums thoughtfully. "Yeah, I know." A long pause fills the room. Muffled voices of housekeepers drift from the hallway, and outside come shouts of joy from the estate staff. Château des Rêves—home to Alex, Kate, and more than five hundred members of their staff who are also their friends—breathes with its own life.
Lila barked out a laugh and shook her head. "Damn, girl. You're really not holding back today." She propped her chin in her hand, studying Kate's face. "But I get it. Brian's got that effortless confidence. The way he talks to you, the way he looks at you. It's intoxicating, right?" Her voice softened. "You're not the first woman who's fallen for that vibe."
Kate exhaled slowly, fingers tightening around her phone. Golden sunlight caught in her blonde hair as she nodded, expression thoughtful. "Yeah," she admitted, voice barely above a whisper. "It is intoxicating." She rubbed her thumb over the phone screen, remembering the heat of Brian's large hands on her body, the way he'd looked at her with pure, hungry admiration.
Lila hummed in acknowledgment and leaned back against the headboard. "And you want more of it." It wasn't a question.
Kate met her gaze and nodded once.
Lila giggled. "Oh no, babe, that's not how this shit works. Like, 'I'll send Aria to break it all down for him and he'll just take it, like always.' Uh-uh. Not this time."
She ran a hand through her long dark hair, locking eyes with Kate, brown eyes sparkling. "You're gonna have to manage this polyamory circus yourself now. I was honestly shook yesterday morning."
Lila crossed her arms. "I stepped away for like ten minutes, left your Baby Boy unsupervised. Next thing I know, I'm getting a call: 'That witch from Cocoavilla is here again!'"
She giggled again, eyes dancing with mischief. "So I walk in, and there's your bestie-slut, sitting there teasing Alex like it's her job. And she won't fucking leave—even after she's already dumped everything on him. I had to escort her ass out, told her I'd rip out that fake ponytail if she didn't bounce. But whatever, I already told you all that yesterday… right between your pizza feast with Alex and your nighttime sex with him."
She smirked. "Tell me at least you took care of him? Boy deserved some love after the nerve-wrecking Saturday you two gave him…"
Lila caught Kate's look—playful, but laced with threat.
"Oh, don't give me that face! Don't go all Catholic schoolgirl on me. You and Alex are grown-ass creative weirdos living in an artist-brothel mansion."
She snorted. "Now how about you explain—like a fucking adult—why the hell you let Aria be the one to talk to him? You know our little Italian slut. She probably fed him some deranged shit—and now we're all stuck cleaning it up. Dude's been riding an emotional rollercoaster for two days straight. Yes-no-yes-no—classic Alex."
She started mimicking him, flailing her arms. "Morning: Kate's gonna leave me! Early afternoon: she called me and I asked for no-pineapple pizza, it's just like old times! Late afternoon: she'll dump me the moment she's back from the gallery! Evening: I'm ready to be your Baby Cuco, mama!!"
Lila threw a hand to her forehead dramatically. "Oh, woe is me! I've been traded for a black dick! I'm gonna hang myself! …Okay wait, lemme finish my Coke and beat the next level of Assassin's Creed on PS5 first—and then I'll hang myself."
Kate let out a heavy sigh and rubbed her temples. Sunlight streaming through the window caught in her blonde hair, making it glow. She stretched out across the bed, propping herself up on her elbows.
"Okay, okay. I get it," she said, voice edged with guilt. "I should've told him myself. You're right."
Lila smirked, clearly pleased. "Damn right I'm right. You let Aria do your dirty work and now we're all paying for it. Your man's losing his shit and Brian's acting like some lovesick puppy."
She leaned forward, resting her chin on her hands. "So… Brian. What does he think about Alex? I mean, what does he think of him in this new little threesome dynamic of yours? That you won't be just his girl anymore, and he'll have to share you with Alex?"
Lila let out a theatrical sigh. "Actually, I should be more precise—not what he thinks, but what he thought. Because Brian hasn't texted you today yet, and we have no clue what's on his mind about Alex right now… after what sounded like a full-blown meltdown on our writer's end."
She wiggled her eyebrows. "What did Brian think about Alex last night? When Alex agreed to be your cute little writer? You were texting Brian last night, right? Or maybe even calling him—even if the call wasn't very long, considering how busy you were with Alex."
Kate shifted uncomfortably, crossing her legs and looking away. Guilt showed in her posture, but curiosity and anticipation flickered across her face. She glanced at the phone in her hand, apparently still waiting for a new message from Brian.
"He…" She exhaled slowly, fingers tightening around the device. "He said he was surprised. Happy, obviously. But he was also… cautious."
Lila leaned forward. "Cautious?"
"He was grateful. But he also knows Alex and I are serious. He knows what I feel for him."
Lila snorted. "Hell yeah! You and Alex have been together for four years, and you both have a strong background…" She let out a small yawn, covering her mouth. "And he's not like some dumbass hoping to steal a writer's girl who just shows up at parties at his place."
Lila jumped up from the bed and walked over to the small fridge in the far corner of the room. "It's pretty awesome that every room in our brothel…" She playfully covered her mouth. "Oops! I meant—your place with Alex… um, every room has a fridge."
She opened it and scanned the contents. "While I pick something to drink, answer me honestly: before January 26, when Aria came up with this whole idea—had you and Brian even thought about polyamory?"
She glanced back from behind the fridge door. "It's weird that Brian agreed at all… He doesn't seem like the type to share. Unlike Alex."
Kate shifted on the bed, fingers still tight around her phone. The guilt lingered, but something warmer settled in her chest. She bit her lower lip before answering.
"I… I guess I'd thought about it before," she admitted quietly. "But I never said anything to Brian until Aria suggested it."
Lila straightened up with a soda in hand and walked back to the bed. She plopped down beside Kate and crossed her legs. "And what did Brian say when you told him you wanted to try this?"
Kate looked down at her phone again, as if willing a message to appear. After a few seconds she giggled, slipping into her signature deadpan humor. "Brian? Well, he kind of… just smiled and said, 'Fuck yeah, I'm down for that.'" Her smirk curled slightly, but something raw flickered beneath it—a mix of disbelief and relief. "Honestly, I half-expected him to start analyzing it like a fucking spreadsheet or write a pros and cons list. But nope. Just straight-up 'let's do this' energy. Which, God, is both terrifying and kind of… freeing."
Lila popped open the soda, took a few sips, and gave Kate a sly squint. "Oh, come on… The staff's been gossiping for months: 'Kate can't keep her hands off Brian at the parties! Does she like his inner world? Or did she just decide to go full 'new experience' mode?' Fuck, Kat! Your Baby Boy was already feeling left out even before Aria's proposal. Right now Alex is losing his shit on his way home, and you're just joking around… Have some mercy on Alex and do an emotional cosplay of Madi when he gets back—not… whatever the hell this is. You're gonna drive my boss crazy!"
Lila giggled. "And why the hell are you still staring at your phone? Whose message are you waiting for more, Miss 'New Experiences Researcher,' 'Big Energy Lover'?"
Lila burst out laughing.
Kate scoffed and rolled her eyes as she set her phone down. "Oh my god, you are such a bitch." There was no real heat behind it—just amusement, and something softer that showed she enjoyed being called out.
Lila didn't let up. She took another sip and started mimicking Kate's voice, face, and gestures in an exaggerated way.
"Oh, Baby Boy! Don't be so selfish! Brian's just... different. I have to see where this goes!"
Kate groaned, flopped back onto the bed, and covered her face with a pillow. "Oh my god, you are absolutely the worst," she mumbled from beneath the fabric, shoulders shaking with laughter. "I swear to fucking Christ, Lila, I'm gonna drown you in that soda."
Lila grinned and propped herself up on one elbow to look down at her. "Nah, you won't. Because then who will you gossip with about how good Brian is? Hmm? Who will you call at 3 AM when you're still coming down from your stallion rides?"
Kate peeked out from under the pillow, biting her lip as she smirked. "You are such a fucking savage, you know that?"
Lila moved closer and nudged her with a knee. "I know. But you love it." Her face softened a little. "Just talk to Alex properly. I mean really talk to him like he's your Baby Boy. Aria spooked him and now he's in territory-defense mode. If he sees Brian as some rival he needs to fight for the female…" She made a so-so gesture with her hand. "Well, you get it, that's not gonna help anyone. Brian needs to stop screwing with his head too…"
She sighed. "Honestly, I think we just made another mistake—letting the boys play 'real men'. I probably should've gone to Brian's place with Alex, like he asked me to…"
Kate groaned, pulled the pillow off her face, and rolled onto her side to face Lila. "Ugh, I know, I know. You're right." She ran a hand through her hair, frustration flickering across her features. "I just… I don't know how to handle it all. Alex is my Baby Boy, you know that. But Brian…"
She exhaled sharply, fingers tapping an uneven rhythm against the mattress. "God, he's just… intoxicating. I can't ignore it anymore. And I don't think I should."
Lila studied her friend's face and brushed a strand of blonde hair behind her ear. "Of course you shouldn't ignore it," she murmured. "Kate, you've been fighting this for months. It's not healthy to pretend feelings don't exist." She shifted closer. "And I don't think you're doing anything wrong. Not really. You love Alex. You're not leaving him. You just… want Brian too. And that's okay."
Kate swallowed, fingers stilling against the sheets. "But it's not okay," she said quietly. "Not when it hurts Alex."
"Does it have to hurt him?" Lila asked, tilting her head.
Kate shook her head. "Of course it does. He sees Brian as some… some rival. Like it's a competition. And I don't know how to make him understand that it's not." She pressed her palm against her forehead. "It's not about replacing him, but he acts like it is. Like I'm choosing between them." She let out a small, bitter laugh. "I'm not choosing. I don't want to choose."
Lila hummed thoughtfully. "But you kind of are, aren't you? Just not in the way he thinks."
Kate met her eyes, expression complex. "I know. I know I am." The words tumbled out in a rush. "I love Alex. I do. But this thing with Brian… It's different. Exciting. I can't ignore it anymore. I don't want to."
Lila watched her closely. "Then don't," she said simply. "Just be honest with both of them. Alex needs to understand that he's still your Baby Boy, no matter what happens with Brian. And Brian needs to know that he's not just some… some trophy or conquest."