Harmony and Hugo look at me.
“Why don’t we hang in the cabin, get some take out? We can watch a movie, or play cards or something?”
Even though my body is in a constant state of horniness, this relationship isn’t all about sex. Harmony gives a tired smile, then looks up from under her eyelashes. “I’d like that,” she says.
A couple of hours later we are at the cabin, foil trays of noodles are spread out on the coffee table, and half eaten plates and chopsticks are scattered all over.
And we are working on a jigsaw puzzle.
Harmony had found it in the back of a cupboard. I watch her as she studies the small pieces from her seat on the sofa. Lennox is lounging beside her, an arm around her shoulder, his hand playing with a length of her dark curls. Hugo brought an acoustic guitar with him and is strumming away.
I find the final straight edge, and slot it into position.
“Did you come up with a title for our album yet?” asks Lennox.
“Nope, I think all of us should put in name suggestions,” says Harmony. “But anonymously. Then we can vote on it.”
I shake my head, “No sweetheart, we want this to come purely from you…take your time.”
“It’s too much of an undertaking, you might hate what I choose.”
“Nope we won't," says Lennox.
“He’s right,” Hugo agrees, looking up from his playing. “And if it is something that we would never have chosen ourselves, that makes it even richer. You add to our whole, Harmony.”
“I want to add to your hole,” says Lennox.
Harmony giggles. “I’m not relenting. You guys contribute album name ideas too, then we’ll vote.”
We all groan, but how can we say no to her?
She sighs contentedly, knowing she’s won.
“I like this,'' I announce. “I like family nights.”
Harmony looks around her at the food cartons, the music notes strewn about and bottles of beer balanced on books.
“I like this too.”
“And tonight we all sleep in our separate beds, and catch up on sleep,” I say.
As we walk back to the ranch via the meadow, Hugo gives a deep sigh.
“What do you call it if it's pair-bonding, but with four people?”
“Pair bonding?” says Lennox.
“Pair bonding—it’s basically when there is an unignorable affinity between two creatures, which makes a lifelong bond. It's about ineffable trust,” explains Hugo.
“And normally kids and monogamy as well,” I add. Hugo makes a growling noise, that pretty much indicates he wants to impregnate Harmony stat.
“I don’t know what ineffable means,” Lennox grins, “but our girl is certainly eff-able.”
“Is anyone put off by the idea of monogamy with this girl?” I ask.
Hugo and Lennox both look at me like I’m an idiot.
“Then yep. I guess we are quad-bonding.”
