by Bianca Vix
I’ve never been happier than I am right now.
Rachel yawns and stretches between us. “How about coffee?”
“Great idea. But let’s go out and get some. Breakfast too. Come on, Jay. Get off your ass.”
I keep my eyes firmly shut and stay silent. It sounds good in theory, but staying here sounds better. Especially when I’m surrounded by two naked bodies. Or under them, which I suddenly am. Rachel and Matt are piling onto me. As if that’s the way to convince me to get out of bed. Right.
I wrap an arm around each of them and pull them in tight. My cock’s already responding to the way their bare skin is rubbing onto mine. “Okay. But not yet.”
It takes awhile before we make it out of bed. Which was so, so worth it.
“Looks like it’s going to be brunch now.” Matt’s towelling off after a shower that nearly ended up taking a lot longer than normal after Rachel and I squeezed in with him.
“Nothing wrong with that.” I can’t keep from glancing between him and Rachel as I get dressed.
“Nope, except that I’m so hungry now. Let’s get going.”
We hit a small café for brunch and eat like we’re starving. “That was so good.” Rachel licks toast crumbs off her fingertips. “It’s such a nice day today. How about we go for a walk?”
I’m not one to take walks except for the purpose of getting somewhere, but I’ll do it for Rachel. And Matt, who’s practically bouncing off the walls with energy. I don’t know how he can be like that. I feel a lot closer to normal now that I’ve eaten and I have a good amount of coffee in me, but I don’t exactly want to go for a jog. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if Matt suggested running a marathon.
“Good call. We’re so close to the park. What do you say, Jay?”
“Sure.”
“You’re agreeing to go for a walk? What a miracle.”
It only takes a few minutes to get there. We walk around without talking much at first, just enjoying the sun and everything around us. I have to admit, this is nice.
I’ve never been in a relationship like this before. Obviously not with two people at the same time. Or with a guy. But it’s more than that. I’m more relaxed around Matt and Rachel than I’ve ever been with any other girlfriends in the past. I’m also so much happier with them by my side than I am without them around. That’s a really new experience for me. Something about this just feels so right. I don’t exactly know what that means, but I can’t explain it beyond that.
My feelings for Rachel are growing with every moment I spend with her. And Matt’s a whole other story. I’ve stuffed down how I feel about him for so long, it’s still strange to be able to let go and show it openly now.
But it’s a huge relief.
It’s the same way for Matt. Once he confessed to his long-time crush on me, everything changed. It makes a big difference, knowing that I’m not alone in how new this is. How both of us have to figure out how to navigate a relationship with another man.
The afternoon passes slowly, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s been a very long time since I spent an entire day just hanging out and seeing what happens. My weekends are always busy and planned out pretty much completely, just like my weekdays. I like being busy. But spending time like this with Rachel and Matt is even better than I imagined it would be. The day couldn’t be going any nicer.
Carefree. That’s it. I can’t even remember the last time I felt this way.
I like it.
We’re all having a great time, stopping whenever we feel like it. People-watching. Relaxing on a bench in the warm afternoon sun. Talking and laughing like we’ve all known each other for years. Matt and I have, of course. It occurred to me that Rachel might feel like an outsider because he and I know each other so well, but it’s not happening at all. We all fit together perfectly.
And what I didn’t expect was just how deeply relaxed I am. It’s not just from spending a Saturday without a busy schedule. That’s helps, but it’s deeper than that. Now that I don’t have to hide how I feel about Matt, it’s like being freed from a room I was locked inside of. Like chains have fallen away from me. I don’t have to watch myself. No more making sure I don’t let anything slip out. And I can reach out and touch him, anytime I like.
This is what I want. What I didn’t know I was missing until now that I have it.
Chapter 18
Rachel
I used to hate Sunday nights. Well, not exactly hate. That’s too strong of a word. Maybe dislike is better. Because the weekend’s over. Everything fun that could be done would’ve been, and all I had left to do was face the upcoming week ahead.
Not that I didn’t like the job I had, at least until Dennis and Dakota happened. But sometimes, it was overwhelming. Facing the entire week stretching out in front of me. Nothing left to do but plan for it. Figuring out outfits to wear, doing laundry, planning meals. It always made it feel like I was at work already. As if my weekend was already over. And cut short on top of it.
Not anymore. Not since Jay and Matt. It’s always different when you’re seeing someone, sure. But this is so much better.
We spend our Sunday nights staying in together, usually watching a movie after we’ve exhausted ourselves in the bedroom.
Tonight’s no different, except that I can’t stay as long as I usually do. All those things I normally do on Sunday nights are piling up. They’ve now gotten to a point where they’re demanding my attention. I don’t even have any clothes left to wear to work tomorrow.
“Stay.” Matt tugs at my arm when I try to get up off the sofa. Jay circles his arm around my waist and I don’t have a chance.
“I want to. But I can’t. If I do, I’ll have to go to work without any clothes on tomorrow.”
Jay’s eyes gleam. “So?”
Matt shakes his head. “Bad idea. No-one else gets to see you naked but us.”
“Fair enough.” Jay plants a kiss on my cheek. “If you really need to leave, I can drive you home.”
“You can keep some clothes here, you know.” Matt runs his fingers through my hair in a way that’s testing my resolve to leave. “Bring some along next time. I’ll make some space in my closet, clear out a couple of drawers. Jay’s got enough stuff here as it is. No reason you shouldn’t do the same, Rachel.”
A tiny warm glow comes over me. I really like the idea that he’s making space for me in his home.
“You can do the same when you’re at my place next,” Jay adds. “Then you won’t have any excuse to leave.”
“I don’t want to leave. It’s just that I need to. I’ve hardly spent more than a few minutes at my place in the last week. We’re always here or at your place, Jay. Never at mine.”
“We can go to your place any time you like. Just say the word.”
“That’d be nice, but I’m not sure we’ll all fit in at once. My entire apartment could fit into either one of your living rooms.” I hug Matt and then Jay. “It’s getting late. I really need to get going now. But you don’t need to drive me. You’re all comfortable here. I can get back on my own.”
“As if we’d ever let you do that.” Jay stands up and stretches. “Come on. We can take my car.”
Once we reach my building, saying goodbye to both of them takes longer than the drive itself. By the time we stop with the goodbye kisses, and hugs, and squeezes, I’m ready to tell Jay to take me back with him and Matt.
But I stay strong in my resolve. Just barely, but I do it. I wave as they drive off and I don’t go inside until they’re out of sight.
My bedroom’s pretty crazy. I was in such a hurry to grab some things to take with me to Matt’s place on Friday night, I forgot how messy I’d left it.
But I’ve got to get through it. Quickly I change into a pair of sweats and an old t-shirt that I’d never let the guys see me in, and get started.
The bedroom’s in much better shape by the time I start doing all the dishes that I’ve been neglecting. I’m halfway through th
e big pile when my phone vibrates. Wiping my hands on a towel, I’m excited to go and pick it up. I’m expecting it to be Jay or maybe even Matt, if Jay’s making him. But my lips curl up in revulsion when I see who it’s from.
Dennis.
What on earth is he doing texting me? Or getting in touch at all? Not that it’s much of a message. He and I haven’t spoken in so long, and now all he’s done is tell me we need to talk.
I don’t want to answer him, but if I don’t, he won’t let up. It’s how he is. Clenching my jaw, I tap out a reply.
What do you want?
To talk to you.
Go ahead. Text me what you want to say.
In person.
He cannot be serious. I roll my eyes and type out NO. God, he’s exasperating. I set my phone aside and go back to my dishes. The nerve of him, demanding that we talk. My phone vibrates again, but I finish up before I go back to it. He can wait for me.
I’m all set to tell him to leave me alone forever when I see his message. I read it twice, trying to take in what’s he’s said. I close the window and dial his number.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” I’m so upset, I can barely keep my voice steady when he answers. “What the hell are you up to, Dennis?”
“You’ll find out soon enough. But not over the phone. I want to see you.”
“Forget it. It’s late. I’m not going to meet you anywhere tonight. Tell me now.”
“I’m almost at your place. And this won’t take long.” He’s totally calm, like this is a normal conversation to be having. I’m seething now.
“You’re on your way here? How can you just decide to drop by like that?”
“See you soon.” He hangs up before I can tell him to go fuck himself.
Automatically I go to change, but I stop myself before I start. I don’t need to look nice for him. I mean, part of me wants to show him up and look as good as I possibly can, but screw that. He’s so not worth the effort. I don’t even take my hair out of the messy top knot I scraped it into earlier.
I stab at the buzzer to let him in. Dennis has one hell of a nerve. I don’t want him here. But I have to find out if what he texted me is true. Knowing him, it’s probably not.
But I can’t take any chances.
He’s got his most annoying smirk on his face when I fling the door open. “Hello, Rachel. How have you been?”
Who talks like that? Not Dennis. Not usually. I try not to cringe as he pushes his way past me and I lock the door behind him.
“What do you have to say for yourself, Dennis?” I’m not offering him anything to drink. I don’t want him to stay for a single second longer than he has to. I don’t even invite him in to sit down, but he sweeps into my living room and takes a seat anyway. I sit down as far away from him as I can be.
He purses his lips. “I found out something very interesting, Rachel.”
Grinding my teeth, I force my voice to sound as even I can make it. “What’s that? And why do you think it matters to me?”
Dennis gives me a condescending look. “Oh, I think it matters to you. I think it matters very much.” He leans in towards me. I try to suppress a shudder. “You’re involved with two men. At the same time.”
“And?” I can’t imagine how he found that out, but I can’t see why he’d care. “What’s it to you, Dennis?”
He looks a little thrown, as if confronting me with what I’m doing was supposed to shock me or something. He’s such an idiot.
“I think you and I should get back together.”
I laugh out loud. I didn’t mean to, but I couldn’t hold it back. Of course, that pisses him off.
“I’m serious, Rachel. I want you back.”
“Dennis, that’s not going to happen. You’re with Dakota. And like you said, I’m seeing two guys.”
“You need to reconsider that, Rachel. I know one of your ‘guys’ will be soon enough.”
I frown. “You mean Jay? Why did you text me about him earlier? What you said doesn’t even make sense.”
“If you don’t reconsider us getting back together, I’m going to do exactly what I said. Take him down.”
This time, I manage to hold back a bubble of laughter from escaping. “And just how do you plan on doing that?”
“I know all about his company, and its upcoming launch for a new brand.” Dennis’s eyes narrow. “I wonder how all the families he expects to sell to are going to react when they find out that he’s in a threesome. Sleeping with two people at the same time. And one of them’s another man. How scandalous do you think that’ll be if it all came out?”
My stomach drops. “You’d make our relationship public and connect it to Avoca? Why?”
Dennis stands up as if we’re done talking. “I already told you, Rachel. I want you back. And since you say that’s what’s keeping us apart, then your little weird threesome thing or whatever you call it needs to end.”
I can’t believe him. “Are you kidding me? It’s not going to end. And even aside from that, do you really think you can blackmail me into getting back together with you?” My voice is high with incredulity.
His mouth twists up. “Don’t think of it as blackmail. Think of it as the push you need to remember how good things were between us. You’ll come around, once those other guys aren’t pulling your strings.”
Pulling my strings? I’m so livid, I can’t even speak. I want to slap that smug, leering smile off his face. But I can’t bring myself to touch him, even like that.
Dennis walks the short distance to the door. “Don’t take too long to make up your mind, Rachel. Leave those guys behind. Or your boyfriend Jayden will regret it.”
Chapter 19
Jay
I slump back into my chair. Matt is as shell-shocked as I am. I can’t believe what Rachel’s just told us.
She’s twisting her hands together. “I feel terrible. This is all my fault.”
Matt squeezes her arm. “It’s not your fault. Not at all. How can it be?”
“Because I’m the one who brought Dennis into Jay’s life. If I hadn’t, he wouldn’t be in this position. With Dennis about to sabotage the new line. Now Avoca’s future is on the line because of me.”
I try to pull myself out of my thoughts and focus on Rachel. “That’s on Dennis, not you. I don’t blame you, if that’s what you’re thinking. I’m just trying to work out a way to come out on top of this.”
“And?” Matt’s been trying to come up with a solution too.
And drawing blanks just like I am.
“And, nothing.” I scrape my hand back through my hair. His expression changes before I can say a word. He knows where this is going to lead. “Well, not entirely nothing.”
“No.” Matt says the word as if it’s final. “No. Not that.”
“Do you have an idea?” Rachel turns her head between us. “What is it? I’ll help in any way I can.”
I exhale a long breath. “Dennis won’t be able to bring us down if there’s nothing he can broadcast.”
“What do you mean?”
Matt speaks up before I can. “He means that if we’re not together, Dennis can’t out us. Jay wants us to break up.”
I give my head a sharp shake. “I don’t want to do it. But it’s the only way forward that I can see.” I catch his eye. “Do you have a better idea? Anything. Anything at all, no matter how out there it is. Any idea will do.”
He scowls. “If I did, you’d know it. But breaking up isn’t the answer.”
Rachel’s upset too. “There has to be another way. We can’t break up, let alone because of Dennis. I can talk to him.”
“And say what?”
“I could try to talk him out of broadcasting our relationship to the entire world.”
“Rachel, I appreciate that. But from what you just told us, he sounds determined. He wants you back, and this is his way of going about it.”
Her eyes narrow. “I would never, ever get back together with him. Even if I ha
dn’t met both of you. Even if he was the last guy on earth. Even if I was considering it–which I’m most definitely not–how could Dennis possibly think I’d get back with him after he’s blackmailing you like this? He must be crazy.”
“Crazy or not, he’s going after my company. Do you believe he’ll follow through on his threat?” I gaze into her eyes. She looks away as she answers me.
“Yes. He’s low enough to do what he’s threatening. Even if I tell him there’s no way I’ll get back with him, I can see him going ahead with his plan anyway.”
“Figures.” My mouth tightens. “Then the only way I can see to stop this from happening is for us not to be together anymore. It’s the last thing I want to do, believe me.” I glance over at Matt. His jaw’s set, but he says nothing. “But far too much time and money has gone into developing our new line, and setting up the launch. I can’t risk it being destroyed. There’s too much at stake.”
“Jay, are you really serious? We have to break up? But everything’s so good. We can’t just end it. Especially not because of my idiot ex.”
I go over to join Rachel and Matt on the sofa. “It’s the last thing I want to do. Believe me. But I can’t come up with any other solution, at least not right now. And there simply isn’t enough time to work out any advance damage control strategy. I’m not sure there’d be a way even if we had all the time in the world.”
She shakes her head. “This can’t be happening.”
I know how she feels.
“We have to fight this.” Matt’s voice is cold. “I’m not going to let that little asshole get away with something like this.”
“I’m not either. But you know as well as I do. There’s just no time to prevent it, not at this stage of the launch. This is all I can do right now. Take away his leverage over me. Once the new line’s out there and thriving, we can revisit our relationship.”