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Noah Stilinski hated charity galas.
That was the thought running through his head as he adjusted the cuff of his tuxedo and stared at himself in the mirror of the hotel ballroom's entrance hall.
He looked good. That was the problem. The older he got, the more suspicious he became whenever he looked good.
"Stop frowning."
Noah glanced sideways. Chris Argent stood beside him in a perfectly tailored black tuxedo. The hunter looked like he'd stepped straight out of a luxury watch advertisement.
Noah snorted.
"You know, many people would kill to look like you." Chris sighed. "And yet you are complaining."
"Correct."
A familiar voice drifted toward them. "Dear Lupa."
Both men turned. Peter Hale was descending the staircase. The tuxedo was charcoal instead of black, fitted so perfectly it should have been illegal. His dark hair was swept back, his expression smug enough to power a small city.
Peter reached the bottom step and opened his arms dramatically. "Gentlemen."
Noah rolled his eyes. Chris pinched the bridge of his nose.
Peter looked between them. "Why do I feel like I'm escorting two disgruntled widows to a funeral?"
"Because you're insufferable," Noah replied.
Peter smiled. "Yet here you both are."
Chris hated that Peter had a point.
The gala itself was being hosted by a major animal welfare foundation. Wealthy donors, politicians, celebrities, corporate executives and socialites filled the ballroom.
It was exactly the sort of event Peter use to attended regularly and exactly the sort of event Noah and Chris avoided whenever possible.
The moment they stepped inside, Peter became a magnet. Noah barely had time to grab a champagne flute before a woman in a glittering silver dress approached Peter. "Peter Hale."
Peter smiled. "Dangerous opening line."
The woman laughed immediately. Another woman appeared. Then another. A man joined them. Then a second.
Noah watched in fascination. It was like watching sharks discover blood in the water. Peter slipped effortlessly into conversation. Compliments, smirks, charm and wicked little comments that made people laugh. Within minutes he had a small crowd gathered around him.
Chris sipped his drink. "He's doing it on purpose."
"Of course he is."
"He's flirting."
"He breathes flirting."
Peter caught Noah looking and winked. Noah nearly choked on champagne. The bastard.
Meanwhile Peter looked completely unbothered by the attention. Years ago, before Noah or Chris had entered the picture, Peter would've absolutely taken advantage of it.
One donor. Two donors. Possibly an entire executive board if the mood struck him. Now he simply enjoyed the game.
Because he knew exactly where he was going home afterward. Still, that didn't stop him from being Peter.
"So," a handsome businessman purred. "Are you attending alone tonight?"
Peter's grin widened. "No."
The man's expression dropped. "Oh?"
Peter pointed across the ballroom toward Noah and Chris. The businessman followed Peter's gaze. "Oh."
Peter smiled sweetly. "Very much not alone."
The poor man looked utterly confused.
Across the room, Chris was having his own problems.
Specifically in the form of an aggressively attractive woman who appeared determined to climb him like a tree. She was beautiful, confident, charming and had somehow cornered him near one of the donor displays. Chris had been trying to escape for ten minutes.
"So please tell me," she said with a smile, "that you're single?"
Chris hesitated. "Not exactly."
"Divorced?"
"No."
"Separated?"
"No."
The woman tilted her head. "Then where's your wife?"
Chris immediately regretted the conversation. "We're... not married."
Her smile grew. "Oh."
Chris could practically hear the misunderstanding forming. "No, that's not —"
"Good."
Chris blinked. "Excuse me?"
"I said good." She stepped closer. "Because I'd very much like to take you to dinner."
Chris nearly dropped his drink. The woman clearly mistook his shock for interest.
"Friday?"
"Uh, no."
"Saturday?"
Chris looked around desperately. Noah was nowhere nearby. Peter was absolutely going to laugh about this.
The woman touched his arm. "You're very handsome."
Chris smiled awkwardly. "Thank you."
"And charming."
"That's debatable."
She laughed. Chris groaned internally. This was getting worse.
Several feet away, Peter was watching everything. Naturally, because Peter missed nothing. Especially opportunities to torment Chris Argent.
When Chris finally escaped twenty minutes later, Peter was waiting like a predator. Noah immediately recognized the look. "Oh no."
Peter smirked. "Oh yes."
Chris pointed a warning finger. "Don't."
"She wanted your number."
"Peter."
"She practically proposed."
"Peter."
Peter's smile became positively feral. "You blushed."
Noah burst out laughing. Chris looked horrified. "I did not."
"You absolutely did."
"Noah!"
"You absolutely did."
Peter leaned closer. "You got flustered."
Chris looked ready to commit murder. Peter looked delighted. Noah couldn't remember the last time he'd seen Chris so embarrassed. It made the entire evening worthwhile.
Then karma arrived.
Noah was standing alone near one of the silent auction displays when a voice spoke beside him.
"You're the sheriff of Beacon Hills."
Noah turned. A man about his age stood beside him. Well dressed, kind eyes, warm smile; the sort of person who immediately felt approachable. Noah smiled politely. "Guilty."
"I recognized you from a fundraising event a few years ago."
"Oh."
The man extended a hand. "David."
"Noah."
They shook. The conversation was easy. Comfortable. The man was funny. Smart and easygoing. Noah found himself relaxing. Several minutes passed and then David smiled. "You know."
Noah immediately knew that tone.
Oh no.
"You have a wonderful smile."
Definitely oh no.
Noah laughed awkwardly. "Thank you."
David reached into his pocket and a business card appeared. A phone number was written on the back.
Oh God.
David handed it over. "If you'd ever like dinner."
Noah stared and looked at the number. Then at David, who seemed genuinely sincere. No pressure or arrogance, just honest interest. Noah felt strangely flattered.
Before he could answer, Peter appeared like a summoned demon. "Oh, this should be interesting."
Noah closed his eyes. Peter looked between them. Then spotted the number and immediately started grinning.
David looked confused. Now it was Noah turn to look murderous. Peter looked thrilled. "This man just gave you his number."
"No kidding."
"I like him."
David laughed. "Is that good?"
Peter grinned "Maybe."
"Peter." Noah shoved Peter away, which only made him laugh harder.
A few minutes later Noah rejoined Chris and Peter. The number remained tucked inside his pocket.
Peter immediately noticed. "You kept it."
Noah glared. "It felt rude not to."
Chris looked interested. "You kept it?"
"Both of you stop."
For the next half hour, both men refused to let it go. Eventually the evening reached its peak when all three ended up together near the dance floor.
That was when things became complicated because apparently half the gala had been trying to figure them out.
The businessman from earlier approached. The one Peter had rejected. The woman who'd flirted with Chris wasn't far behind. Neither was David. Several others lingered nearby.
Chris immediately sensed danger, Peter sensed entertainment and Noah sensed a headache.
The businessman finally spoke. "I'm sorry."
Peter smiled. "Usually a terrible start."
The man pointed between them. "Are you three together?"
Chris sighed while Noah rubbed his forehead. Peter beamed. "Yes."
The confusion was immediate. The businessman blinked. "All three?"
"Yes."
The woman frowned. "But..."
Peter waited. She gestured helplessly. "How does that work?"
Noah nearly laughed as Chris looked like he wanted the floor to swallow him. Peter, of course, looked delighted. "Remarkably well."
The businessman pointed. "So you're dating him."
Peter nodded.
"And him."
Peter nodded again.
The man's brain visibly stalled. "At the same time."
"That is generally how being together works."
Chris groaned again as Noah laughed into his drink. The woman looked at Chris. "You and Peter?"
"Yes."
She looked at Noah. "And you?"
"Also yes."
The confusion somehow deepened. David finally asked the question everyone seemed afraid to ask. "So do you date other people?"
"No."
The answer came simultaneously from all three men. That seemed to short-circuit the group even further.
"But you are Peter Hale."
Peter looked offended. "What is that supposed to mean?"
The businessman looked horrified. "No, I just mean —"
"You mean my reputation."
The businessman remained silent. Peter sighed dramatically. "My reputation is wildly exaggerated."
Noah and Chris both stared at him with raised eyebrows. Neither looked convinced. Peter sighed dramaticallyagain. "Okay...moderately exaggerated."
That earned a laugh. The tension broke, but the questions kept coming.
Who asked who out?
How long had they been together?
Did they live together?
Were they really exclusive?
Did they get jealous?
Did they actually love each other?
Noah found the last question strange because that was the easiest one to answer.
Chris reached for Peter's hand. Peter immediately intertwined their fingers, without even thinking. Without hesitation, Noah stepped closer. Peter's free hand settled naturally against the small of his back.
"Do you all actually love each other?"
Peter looked at Noah, then Chris. His expression softened in a way most people rarely saw.
"Yes." Peter smiled. "Very much."
Chris's expression softened too. Noah felt warmth spread through his chest. Because for all Peter's teasing and shameless flirting and terrible behavior...there had never been any question where his heart belonged.
The same was true for Chris and Noah. The realization finally seemed to settle over the curious onlookers.
The flirting stopped. The confusion slowly transformed into understanding. Not everyone got it completely and that was fine. They didn't need everyone to understand. They only needed each other.
Later, as the gala finally wound down, the three men headed toward the exit. Peter loosened his tie. Chris looked exhausted and Noah looked ready for bed.
"You know," Peter said casually, "I believe Chris won."
"No."
"Absolutely." Noah nodded. "I agree."
Chris groaned. "Not you too."
Peter pointed. "One near proposal."
Chris replied, "Noah got a phone number."
"Not the same." Noah rolled his eyes.
Chris sighed heavily "Are we seriously keeping score?"
"Obviously."
"You two are impossible."
Peter slipped an arm around Chris's shoulders. Noah moved to Chris's other side, trapping him between them.
Peter smirked. "You love us."
Chris sighed dramatically. "Unfortunately."
Peter laughed. Noah smiled. Together they stepped out into the cool night air, leaving the glittering ballroom behind.
The gala would remember Peter Hale's flirting. Chris Argent's accidental admirer. Noah Stilinski's mysterious phone number. But mostly it would remember the strange trio that confused half the room simply by being completely, unapologetically devoted to one another.
And as Peter guided both of his partners toward the waiting car, he couldn't help smiling because everyone else had gone home alone.
He hadn't.