“Smartass.” Tyler pushes Danny’s hand away as he tries to pat it. They glare at each other.
“Time out.” I leave Tyler’s side and step in between them. If I had known what commotion my mom’s visit would cause, I wouldn’t have insisted on her visiting us at all. Danny and Tyler have been jumpy the whole week, and more than one of our plates have ended up in the trash.
Even though I know my mom and I’m sure she won’t reject us indefinitely, I’m a little nervous myself about her initial reaction. She still thinks I’m in a relationship with Tyler and has no idea about Danny’s involvement. The true nature of our relationship will be a shock to her, but one I hope she’ll overcome quickly.
“I can pick up my mom alone and take her to the stable first. She wants to meet Cornado too.” It’s not what I want to do, but it’ll give my men time to compose themselves. Their jumpiness will only irritate my mom.
“No, Lily. We’ll pick her up together as planned. I’m sorry I’m such a wreck. I don’t think I’ve ever been this nervous.” Tyler drops his chin on my head and buries his nose in my hair.
“Okay, but please let me help you with the cooking. Danny’s right. Chicken is the only meat that belongs in your souffle.” I bury my nose in the fabric of his shirt and inhale his unique, masculine scent. I’m not sure how I could survive without being able to be close to him anymore. Us not being together seems like a lifetime ago, although it been just weeks.
He kisses me softly on the head. “If I let you help me cook, we’ll end up with onion pieces the size of a mountain, and I don’t want to pick eggshell out of the souffle either.”
Danny laughs and embraces us both. “Sorry, Lily, but he’s right.”
I bury my face against Tyler’s chest again, enjoying the feeling of being engulfed by two strong bodies. They have a point. I’m the world’s worst cook. I can make a salad or throw a sandwich together, and so far I’ve survived well with those skills, but Tyler has different expectations for his kitchen help, being the master chef he is. I’m about to give them a smart reply when the doorbell rings.
“I’ll go,” Danny says. “It’s probably the postman. I ordered some new supplements online.”
Even though Tyler is still holding me, I miss Danny’s presence immediately. It’s crazy how fast I’ve gotten used to having them both close all the time. It’s only been three weeks since we confessed our feelings for each other, but I can’t imagine not being together with them like this anymore. If one of us isn’t around, it’s like a piece of our puzzle is missing. When Tyler had to leave for a road trip two weeks ago, Danny and I felt utterly alone, even though we were the ones who had each other.
I feel Tyler’s lips on my hair again and carefully lift my head to meet his warm gaze. My heart jumps when he gives me his sexy grin. “I love you.” He bends and his lips land on mine, kissing me softly at first. But soft kisses aren’t enough anymore, and it doesn’t take long before our bodies are tightly pressed together and our tongues tangle with each other.
“Ahem.” Danny coughs, clearing his throat again. What is wrong with him? Why isn’t he joining us?
Tyler lifts his head and his mouth falls open. Other than that, he’s frozen in place like an ice sculpture. I free myself from his stiff arms and step around him.
“Mom?” Why is she already here? “What are you doing here? I thought we were supposed to pick you up at the station?” This is not how this was supposed to go down. I’m not ready to explain everything to her right now.
“I booked the earlier train. You know, trains can be delayed and I didn’t want to be late. When the train arrived on time, I decided to take the bus from the station rather than interfering with your plans, but if I’m not welcome….”
I force my feet to move, one after the other, and manage to walk over and hug her. “Of course you’re welcome. I’m just surprised. We wanted to prepare the food first and pick you up afterward, but it doesn’t matter. You’re here, that’s the important thing.” I force a smile on my face. Luckily my mom doesn’t seem to notice my irritation and caresses my cheek.
“I’m so happy to be here. What a beautiful place you have. You must be Tyler.” She walks over to him. He’s staring at her like she’s an apparition. I quickly follow her and put my arm around him, punching him lightly in his side. He jumps a little, but his head is back in the game.
“Mrs. Parker, it’s so nice to meet you.” He tries to give my mom his signature smile, but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes.
“Lovely to meet you too, Tyler. Please call me Laura. We’re family now, aren’t we?” She pats his arm and winks at me.
How the hell am I supposed to include Danny in this now?
“Mom—”
“Oh, sweetie, what have you done to your hand?” Mom lifts Tyler’s hand and inspects the Band-Aid while I look helplessly at Danny, who’s still standing in the doorway. He offers me a bemused smile, entering the kitchen.
“He cut himself while preparing our dinner.”
Mom frowns, looking over at Danny.
“Are you responsible for the cooking, then, Danny?” Mom lets go of Tyler’s hand, giving it one last pat. I wonder what he’s already told her about himself. Damn, how long did our kiss last? Time becomes an abstract concept whenever I get lost in my boyfriends’ arms, but it can’t have been more than five minutes, can it?
It’s Tyler’s turn to look bemused. “If he were our chef, we’d have to survive on steak and pasta.”
Mom narrows her eyes, shifting her attention to me. “Have you finally mastered cooking? You told me about the great food you’re having these days.”
Thank you for believing in my abilities, Mom. Not. Though she has a point. I never was much of a help to her when it came to cooking, and she knows about my difficulties with handling knives and other cooking utensils.
“We don’t want to choke on mountain-sized pieces of whatever she’s cutting, so no, Lily is not allowed in the kitchen area. I’m the cook in this household, but I might have been a little distracted by your upcoming visit this morning.”
“Oh, sweetie. I’m so sorry. May I assist you? Unlike my daughter, I know my way around a kitchen.” Only my mom can call a man of Tyler’s build sweetie twice and get away with it. I want to laugh, but I’d probably choke trying at this point.
The men seem to have lost their inhibitions, though. Tyler laughs out loud, and Danny has a mysterious coughing fit. Traitors, both of them. What’s the point in having two boyfriends when both go behind your back?
“I’d be delighted. Lily has told me a lot about your dishes. Maybe you could teach me some things?”
Mom claps her hands and follows Tyler around the counter. Those two are made for each other. A match made in heaven, or in this case, in the kitchen.
While she and Tyler are occupied with the chicken, I help Danny put her things in the guest room. Making sure the door is closed behind us, I turn and kiss him.
“I’m so sorry, Danny. I wasn’t prepared. I’ll tell her after dinner. I promise.”
He tugs a strand of my hair back behind my ear. The knot I put it in this morning has come undone during the final preparations—another thing I wanted to fix before her arrival.
“It’s okay. I can get through dinner without her knowing, but we need to tell her once we’ve eaten.” He kisses me again but then puts his hand on my lower back, motioning me out of the room and to our living room.
Mom and Tyler are happily chatting while preparing our food, and I busy myself setting the table, making sure the silverware is perfectly aligned with the table’s edges.
Maybe this would be a good time to tell her the truth? Or maybe it’s better if she gets to know them both a little better? Danny has joined their conversation, and my mom is laughing about something he just said. My men are on their way to charming her, and from my own experience, I know it’s impossible to resist them once they’ve set their minds to it.
Time flies, and before I�
��ve had enough time to compose myself, the souffle is ready and we’re all taking our seats. While the others dig in, I take my time with each bite, contemplating how to approach the tricky conversation ahead. According to the articles I read online, the only thing I can be sure of is that every reaction is different—not exactly a reassuring prospect. While I’m sure she won’t have a problem with the fact that Danny and Tyler are bisexual—she knew about Nathalie and never judged her sexual orientation—I’m not sure how my part in our relationship will affect her.
“That was delicious.” Mom’s voice snatches me from my thoughts, and I look at the empty plate in front of me. When did I eat my whole portion? “Thank you, Tyler. You’re a great cook. I’m glad you're feeding my baby girl.”
Danny giggles, holding his hand in front of his mouth, and Tyler’s shoulders bounce suspiciously.
“Mom….” I shoot a death glare first in Danny’s direction and then toward Tyler.
“Lily, you need to eat more, and I’m glad your boyfriend knows how to feed you.”
And that’s my cue before she can say any more embarrassing things. “Mom, there’s something we want to tell you.”
“Am I going to be a grandma?”
How the hell did she jump to that conclusion?
Danny coughs into his hand, and Ty is beet red all of a sudden. No help coming from those two.
“No. That’s not what we want to tell you. Will you please let me finish?” She nods, and I continue. “Mom, you know Tyler is my boyfriend.” She nods again, looking from me to Tyler and back. Now or never. “But he’s not the only one I’m in a relationship with right now.”
“I don’t understand.” Her eyebrows draw together and her forehead wrinkles. She would understand if she let me finish. As it is, I’m already having a hard time remembering my well-prepared speech, and my hands are shaking slightly.
“Mom, when I first met Danny and Tyler, they had already been a couple for almost two years. Because Tyler is a hockey player, it’s impossible for him to publicly acknowledge Danny. At first, I was only their buffer against the outside world, but over time we all developed feelings for each other.”
“But… but I thought you and Tyler were a couple.” She shakes her head.
“We are, but Danny is part of our relationship too. We all love each other. You can’t tell anyone about the true nature of our relationship, though. The official version is still that Tyler and I are a couple.”
My mom closes her mouth and opens it again, looking at the three of us with wide eyes, and I hold my breath. These next minutes will determine the future of my relationship with her, and so far, she’s completely irritated.
“You all love each other? Does that mean… do you have sex?”
That’s her first concern? I try to think of something to say while my two good-for-nothing boyfriends look at the table, apparently searching for imaginary dust particles.
“Yes, we share one bed.” And the shower and the kitchen counter and any other surface in this apartment, but no need for her to know the details about our creative sex life.
“But what about marriage? You can’t marry both, Lily. And what about children? I mean.…”
It’s not that I didn’t expect these questions—quite the opposite—but reading about others having to explain these valid points and having to do it yourself isn’t the same. I’m still phrasing my answer when Tyler comes to my rescue.
“Laura, there are some things we don’t know ourselves right now. The only thing we know is that we’re happy with each other and we love each other. I love your daughter more than I can say, and I also love Danny. We complete each other in ways we never thought possible.”
“Laura, I’m sure this must be—please excuse my language—confusing the shit out of you, but we owe Lily our happiness, and I don’t want to imagine ever living without her. Lily’s been our missing piece. All we want is to love her.” Danny’s eyes glitter while he looks my mom directly in hers.
“Mom, you always used to tell me that one person alone might be overwhelmed, but two working together can succeed whatever the challenge, remember? In our case, we have a third one for extra support.”
She nods twice, and I know she finally understands what we’re trying to tell her.
“Lily, I’m sorry. You’re right. I was just surprised. I’m happy when you’re happy. I love you, but you’ll always be my baby girl, and I’ll always want to protect you. But if you love both Danny and Tyler, then I’ll love them too. And I’m happy for all of you. Our hearts are big enough to love more than one person at once, aren’t they? I always wanted a son. I guess I have two now?”
“We’d be honored.” Danny gets up and bends down to hug my mom, and Tyler follows suit. A single tear leaves my eye and clears its way down my cheek while a warm feeling spreads inside me.
“C’mere here, Lily.” Tyler releases my mom for a moment and opens his left arm for me to join them, and that’s how we end up squashed together against the table in an uncomfortable and yet comfortable group hug with my favorite men holding us securely in between them. Reassuring us. Comforting us. Letting my mom and me know it’s no longer the two of us alone against the world.
Epilogue
Tyler
“You have any idea why she wanted us out of the apartment?” Danny asks as we make our way back home from our shopping trip.
“No idea. She wasn’t very subtle about it, was she? Maybe she needed time for herself.”
Lily has been living with us for six months now, and sometimes she enjoys a little time on her own. We’re demanding, and she needs a break from our attention from time to time.
“It’s not her period, is it?” Danny rubs his chin.
I shake my head. “Don’t think so. We should have a week left.”
I can’t help but grin. Lily is needy in the week before her monthly cycle, and I’ve come to look forward to that time. It’s crazy how fast I’ve become an expert in these matters, and I wouldn’t want to change a single thing. What we have is special, and I’m grateful each and every day to have Lily and Danny in my life. They complete me in ways I never thought possible, and every day I have to spend away from them is torture.
Whenever I’m away on road trips, I miss them like crazy, but coming home has never been sweeter. It’s comforting to know that Lily and Danny still have each other when I’m not around. There’s no room for jealousy in our relationship. We all love each other, and there are no secrets. I’m always looking forward to hearing all the juicy details about what happened when I’m away. We’ve stuck to all those ground rules we agreed upon.
To the outside world, Lily is my girlfriend and Danny is our roommate. They don’t need to know about the true nature of our relationship. That’s private, and so far, it’s worked well for us. The only person who knows the truth is Laura, and we intend to keep it that way for the time being.
Danny accompanies Lily to most of the home games, and my heart beats faster every time I spot them in their seats during my warm-up. It means the world to me that they’re both there to support me.
Last season didn’t go as planned, though. We didn’t make playoffs, and big changes happened during the off-season in the Ice Tigers’ organization. We’ve been bought by an Italian company, and the new owner’s granddaughter, Emilia Ravelli, has been installed as our GM, but I’m not worried about any of those things as long as I have Lily and Danny by my side.
Something weird is going on with Emilia and my line mate Matt Walker, though I haven’t found out what. I might have to get Lily to talk to Emilia and dig a little.
I sent the marketing department responsible for Romkey a big gift basket—anonymously, of course. If they only knew their dating show was a success, even though the whole thing was canceled due to some legal shit. Lily’s certainly found her hockey hottie.
We’ve arrived at our apartment door, and I fumble for the key.
“Maybe she redecorated the apartment again,
” Danny says from behind before I can open the door.
I sigh. “I have to pretend I like it, right?”
“Yeah. You can’t hurt her feelings. But if you hate it, we’ll find a way to change it.”
I pause and brace myself. Lily insisted on redecorating the apartment before she moved in. And while I was fine with buying a bigger bed, I wasn’t so happy about her filling our manly apartment with frilly girl stuff and pictures on the walls. She didn’t even go overboard decorating, but it took some time to adjust to brighter colors and all the deco things. She didn’t stop at putting up candles this time. But whatever she does to the apartment, I’ll still love her. That won’t change. Ever.
I step through the door and pause, which causes Danny to run into me.
“Sorry,” he mutters, but I don’t acknowledge him. The apartment is dark but for a few candles on the floor leading to the bedroom. I drop the bags and follow the candles, only stopping in the door to the bedroom to take in the scene in front of me. There are more candles on the floor, providing the only light in the room, but that’s not what catches my attention.
Lily is lying on the bed propped against the pillows, clad only in a black negligee. She’s a vision. Her skin is glowing in the candlelight, and the see-through material of the negligee enhances her beautiful figure.
Danny peeks over my shoulder. “Wow.”
Wow doesn’t even cover it.
“Come here.” Lily motions for us to join her.
We both run for the bed and nearly knock over some candles while shrugging out of our coats and dispensing with our shoes.
Danny climbs in while I’m still struggling with my socks. He’s already kissing her leisurely and pulls her half on top of him. Damn, that’s hot.
“Hello, beautiful.” I mold myself against her back.
She pulls away from Danny and turns, and I follow Danny’s example and pull her in for a long kiss.
Defying Gravity: An Ice Tigers Hockey Novel Page 18