by Aidan Wayne
That didn’t help the knots in his stomach.
“Hey,” he said, attempting a smile. It felt funny on his face. “Come on in.”
“Thank you,” Brent said, slipping off his shoes and leaving them in the entryway next to Russell’s and Skye’s. He immediately went to sit on the other side of the couch. Leaving the middle for Skye.
Skye cleared his throat and went to sit down, both Russell and Brent turning to face him. The attention was overwhelming, and he fought down how anxious he felt. So they both were nice to him. Paid him attention. Made him feel, well, like he was someone important. Someone important to them.
They were important to him.
And their attention had both been welcome, even–even encouraged, maybe. It had been nice. To feel wanted by people he wanted too. He was going to talk to them, damn it. And apologize and then.. he didn’t know what would happen.
“I’m sorry,” he started with, fidgeting with his fingers. “I… I didn’t mean for this to happen.” He looked at Brent. “And I’m sorry for freaking out and, um, running away yesterday. It wasn’t anything you did, I promise.”
“Thank you for telling me,” Brent said smiling at him. “I’m glad to hear that.”
Skye flushed and looked away. Tried to make himself talk.
“I like you both a lot,” he managed after too long a silence. “And I’m so, so sorry that I… that I do. Neither of you deserve someone like me who can’t even-can’t even pick. That’s not fair to either of you. I’m so sorry.”
“Skye,” Brent asked carefully, “Does this mean you don’t want to see me anymore?”
Skye stared at him. “You shouldn’t want to see me. Not when I can’t even… can’t even tell you I want to date just you.”
“So you like Russell too,” Brent mused.
Skye hid his face in his hands. “I’m so sorry.”
“I’m not,” Brent said, touching Skye’s knee. “I’m really happy that I’m able to know you. That you like me and want to keep knowing me.”
“And I’ve liked you for so long,” Russell said. “You think I’m not over the moon to hear that you like me back?”
“But–but I–”
“Skye,” Brent said gently. “I’m willing to work with you on this.”
“So am I,” from Russell, matching Brent’s tone.
Their expressions were so soft, Skye could barely stand it. “You‘re… what?”
“It’s not a competition,” Russell said easily. “Or, you know, I don’t look at it like one. I really like you, Skye. And I want you to be happy. If that means Brent too… I think I could be good with that.”
“And I get along with Russell,” Brent added. “I think if we keep communication open between all three of us, we could work. Or we could at least try.”
“You can’t be saying that you don’t mind. That I’m–that I can’t…”
“I think I’d mind if it were someone besides Brent,” Russell said after Skye had trailed off. “I know him and I trust him. I think he’d be good for you.”
Skye couldn’t even imagine liking a third person. He had enough trouble with feelings and dating as it was. “Don’t–don’t worry about that. I–I wouldn’t want to… to be with anyone but you two.”
“That’s good enough for me.” Russell smiled.
“Same here,” Brent said. “But it’s still not about us. What do you think about all this?”
“I think I’m being selfish,” Skye said, staring at the ground. “That I want you both so much. And that you’re willing to–to do this for me.”
Brent chuckled. “I don’t think you’re the selfish one. I want you very much too. I’m willing to do a lot to keep you.”
“I suppose I can put up with Brent if it means being able to really date you,” Russell grinned.
Skye looked between them, unable to believe what they were saying. “You... you want me to date both of you? At the same time?”
Russell and Brent exchanged glances. “I guess we do,” Russell said slowly. “If that isn’t too weird for you.”
“But I can back off at any time,” Brent said firmly. “The last thing I want to do is make you uncomfortable.”
Skye swallowed, fidgeting with his hands. “I…” he didn’t know why they both cared about him like this, why they thought he was so special. But he trusted them. He knew Russell. And Brent…
They both just seemed right.
“Okay,” he said, taking a breath. And then, more sure of himself, “Okay. I’d like to try.” If that’s what Brent and Russell wanted, they deserved that.
Maybe he deserved it too.
“I’d really like to kiss you,” Russell said in the quiet of Skye’s apartment. “Just to put that out there.”
Skye looked to Brent. How–how would they do this? He couldn’t choose between them, and he didn’t want to make either of them feel like they were any less important to him than the other–
Brent chuckled. “I suppose Russell can go first. He’s been waiting longer.”
“I…” Skye nodded, shy. “Okay. I’d… I’d really like that.”
Russell’s smile was so brilliant, Skye was right back to feeling like he didn’t deserve it. Instead of thinking about it too much, he turned to face Russell completely, moving closer.
Russell reached out to touch a hand to Skye’s cheek, looking at Skye with such adoration, like Russell thought he was being given a gift. Skye nuzzled into Russell’s palm, and Russell let out a quiet breath, almost a gasp, before he was cupping Skye’s face and leaning in, a gentle brush of lips.
Skye let out a whimper and pushed even closer, deepening the kiss. When he pulled away long minutes later, it was to Russell panting and looking at him like Skye was the best thing in the world. Skye darted in for one last, quick kiss before he turned to Brent who was watching them, lips parted, pupils blown wide.
“I… really don’t think you have to worry about my wanting to share,” he said, voice hoarse. Russell chuckled.
“I–what?”
Brent shook his head. “My turn?” he asked.
At least that was easy. Skye reached for him, and Brent tugged him forward until Skye was in his lap, Brent’s arms wrapped around him. Skye closed his eyes as Brent kissed him, hands tightening on Brent’s shoulders as Brent sucked on Skye’s lower lip.
“Like that?” Brent asked, a low exhale.
Skye nodded, unable to speak.
“Good,” Brent said before going in for another kiss.
Skye’s shirt hiked up a little as Brent’s hands moved up and down his sides, and he jolted when Brent brushed skin.
“Skye?” Brent asked carefully, moving back.
Skye shook his head. “Sorry I–it, um… it felt good,” he managed to say, pushing past embarrassment. He looked from Brent to Russell and back again. “Sorry,” he said again. “I don’t, um.”
“Don’t what?” Russell asked, putting a gentle hand on Skye’s back. Skye closed his eyes and leaned into it, trying to remind himself that this was okay. They’d just talked and Russell and Brent both were willing to work with him–Skye could stand to do some communicating of his own.
He sighed and made himself open his eyes again. “How will this work? Kissing and dating and… I want both of you. And I don’t want it to feel like favoritism or anything. I think–I mean–I’m really liking the kissing. But I think we need to talk more too.”
Russell and Brent glanced at each other, and they both nodded. Skye sort of wondered how they’d already gotten so good at talking silently. Then again, they’d known each other for a long time.
“Good point,” Brent said. “As much as I enjoyed kissing you, we should talk more.”
Russell raised a hand. “I would also just like to point out that not only did I really like kissing you, but it was not a hardship watching you kiss Brent.”
“Same goes for me.”
“Really?” Skye asked incredulously.
Russe
ll shrugged. “I can admit Brent’s hot.” Brent chuckled. “And I liked being able to see you enjoying yourself and being taken care of.” He shrugged again. “It’s kinda my thing. Knowing that the person I like is being taken care of.”
Brent tilted his head. “And I’m the same way.” At Skye’s questioning noise, he added, “I love spoiling people. You? I want to spoil a lot. The idea of you with Russell, getting pleasure from that… let’s call it a kink.”
“This is new to us too,” Russell added. “So we’re all going to be figuring it out as we go along. But the fact that Brent and I don’t mind –even maybe like– the idea of you with the other… that’s a good start.”
Skye bit his lip, thinking this over. “Okay,” he said after a minute. “I uh… I want to make some rules. If that’s okay?”
They both nodded. “Of course,” Brent said.
“Okay, okay, um. First of all I… I want you both to be honest with me if you think something’s not working. Or if you decide that you don’t like the… arrangement? any more. Please talk to me. I’d rather, you know, us stop over making one of you unhappy.”
“Of course,” Brent said again.
“Right,” Russell said, “Yeah. No problem. But I’m hoping we’d be able to work things out over stopping completely.”
Skye nodded. Me too. “Next, I, well, I guess, I’d like to talk about how we date? How… how that would work. Would we make like, a schedule?”
“Would that help you?” Brent asked.
“I-I don’t know. I just don’t want to be unfair.”
“Skye,” Brent said gently, “This isn’t necessarily about fair. This is about you. If you want to see me one day or need to spend time with Russell another, that’s up to you.”
“But I’ll be seeing Russell almost everyday just because of work, and I don’t want you to–to feel left out.”
“So it’ll go back to rule one,” Brent said. “If I feel unhappy or that I’m not getting enough attention, I’ll say something. In the meantime, anything you give me is a gift. I plan to treat your affection that way.”
Skye cheeks warmed. “Oh.”
“On my end,” Russell said, “I get that Brent is newer to you. So if you want to spend more time with him, getting to know him, I understand that.”
“How are you both so perfect,” Skye whispered, staring at his knees. “I didn’t… I didn’t do anything to deserve this.”
“Skye,” Russell said gently, “I’ve known you for months. You are such a strong, smart, good person. It was really, really easy for me to care about you and have those feelings turn into something more.”
“All I know is that I like you,” Brent said. “The chemistry was immediate. So I’d like to continue being able to be with you. And like I said, I trust Russell. It’s really that simple. For me, anyway.”
Skye swallowed. “Next rule,” he said. “And this one is for me. It’s just you two. I-I can’t even imagine wanting someone else anyway, but it’s a promise on my end. Just you two.”
Brent and Russell both smiled. “I like that you’re thinking of that,” Russell said. “That you care about that.”
“Of course I do,” Skye said taken aback. “I mean, I’m in this just as much. I like you both just as much. I don’t–I don’t want you ever to feel like I don’t. I wouldn’t even be able to think about doing this if I didn’t trust you both so much.” The anxiety would make him sick.
“I know,” Russell said, rubbing Skye’s back. “I know.”
Brent took Skye’s hand and kissed his knuckles, and Skye exhaled shakily underneath both of their touches, their attentions.
They cared about him. He cared about them. This could work. They’d all try and–
And maybe this could work.
Chapter 8
“So,” Linda said, coming up to Skye once she was done with makeup. She plopped into the chair next to him and leaned in. “What happened last night? Are you okay?”
Skye nodded. After they’d talked, he and Brent and Russell had all gone out for lunch together. Brent had had to leave right after to get some more work done, but he’d kissed Skye goodbye. Murmured “I’ll see you tonight” because he was going to come by after the show, and then kissed him again.
He and Russell had then taken a walk downtown before they parted ways too, until it was time to meet for the show. They’d kissed goodbye also, Russell dropping Skye at his apartment. A long, lingering thing that had made shivers run up and down Skye’s spine.
“I’m fine,” he said to Linda. And then he wasn’t sure what else he could say.
“Did you talk to Brent? He didn’t make it weird, did he?”
Skye shook his head. “No. He didn’t make it weird.”
“Okay. So? Is everything good? I mean, are you going to see him again?”
“He’s taking me and Russell out to dinner tonight,” Skye blurted out.
“Oh.” Linda blinked. “That’s nice.”
“Yeah, um,” I’m dating two people, and one of them is Russell, who is your good friend, and I’m not leading him on, I promise. The dressing room wasn’t the place for this. “Hang on,” he said, as he finished powdering his face. Linda waited patiently until the powder settled, and then Skye said, “Let’s go somewhere a little more private to talk, okay?”
“Okay,” Linda said, confused.
They went into one of the backstage halls, a little away from the current crowd of cast and crew. Skye turned to Linda. “I want to tell you something. But please don’t freak out.”
“Okay.” Worry now colored Linda’s voice. “What’s up?”
“Russell kissed me yesterday.”
“Oh!” Linda’s eyes widened. “Did he… but he knew you and Brent… Russell kissed you?”
“He said he’d liked me for a long time,” Skye said quietly.
“And the fact that you were going to date Brent made him confess? What did you do?” She frowned. “Wait, but you said Brent was taking all three of you out to dinner tonight.”
“He is.” Skye took a deep breath. “Because they want to me date both of them. And I want to. Date them. I–they didn’t make me choose.”
Linda blinked at him and didn’t say anything. Skye’s stomach started to hurt. “Please don’t be mad,” he begged.
“How do you date two people at the same time?”
Skye shrugged helplessly. “All I know is that I really like them both a lot. And they both like me and… they’re fine with me dating them at the same time.”
“How is that fair?”
Sye stared at the floor. Linda’s reaction made all the guilt float back up to the surface. “We-we talked about it. We spent a lot of time talking. And they both want to date me. And they both decided they were okay with what we came up with. Um. Russell was the one who suggested it.”
“And he’s seriously okay with–-sharing you?” Linda asked incredulously. “Brent too? They’re both just okay with this?”
“Yeah.”
Linda stared at him for a long moment, Skye feeling worse and worse, and then she let out a breath. “Okay, I guess. I mean… I think this is really weird. But if you guys talked about it and like, decided that that’s what you want to do… you’re all adults.”
Skye nodded. “Thanks, Linda.” She didn’t seem upset with him. That’s all he really could ask for, considering.
Linda shrugged. “Yeah. Sure.” She tilted her head in the direction of the hall entrance. “We should go start warming up.”
“Right. Yeah.”
Skye followed her down the hall. She waved and then left for the stage.
She didn’t smile.
***
Skye finished his warmup and then went straight to the woman’s dressing room to find Linda. She was getting wigged–by Russell. Skye hung back, not sure what to do.
Russell caught sight of him in the mirror and smiled, giving him a wave. Linda looked away. Skye’s stomach clenched.
He wa
s too far away to hear it, but he saw Linda say something to Russell, who nodded, smiling wide. Linda glanced back up at Skye in the mirror and Skye turned to go. He’d talk to her after the show. It’d be fine.
Skye went back to the men’s dressing room to get wigged himself. He was just finished when Russell walked inside the room, saying hello to everyone and then coming to stand right next to Skye.
“Hey,” he murmured. “Linda asked me a couple questions.”
Skye fought the urge to bite his lip and tried to keep his breathing even. “Yeah?”
“I’m guessing you talked to her?”
“Yeah. Was that okay?”
“Of course it was okay. She was a little worried though.”
“Yeah.” Skye looked at the floor. “I know she doesn’t think I’m being fair to you.”
“So I told her how I felt,” Russell said easily. “And just how much I wanted to do this with you. She’ll come around.”
“I hope so.” Linda was one of his best friends. He couldn’t stand the thought of her mad at him–especially because of this, which he was already worried about himself. “I hope so.”
“She will. She cares about you. She just cares about me too, and is worried for both of us, I think. That we’re doing something we might regret. But she also knows we’re all adults here. It’s up to us to make those decisions.”
“Yeah. That’s what she said to me.”
Russell rested a hand on Skye’s shoulder. “So give her some time to adjust. It’ll be okay.”
“Thanks, Russell.”
“Oh, and Skye?”
“Yeah?”
Russell smiled. “Break a leg out there.”
Skye smiled shyly back. “I will.”
***
“Hey.” Linda came up to Skye after their bows and they were all backstage heading to their dressing rooms. “You said Brent was taking you and Russell to dinner, right?”
“Yeah.”
“So does this mean I actually get to meet him for real this time?”
Skye nodded, heart in his throat. “Sure, if you wanted to.”
“Okay. Okay. I want to see this guy. You and Russell would be a couple if he weren’t in the picture. So I want to see what makes him so great.”