I wince at the judgment in her words. Kate's always been protective of me, ever since our parents died. Sometimes I appreciate it. Right now, it grates.
She's 24.
She doesn’t respond. There's no need to. Kate's already made up her mind about Camille without ever meeting her. She won't understand what's happening between the three of us because I barely understand it myself. All I know is that when I'm with Camille, something shifts inside me – a loosening of the tight control I've maintained for years.
My phone buzzes again.You canceled on Raquel for this? She's perfect for you. Stable. Accomplished. Age-appropriate.
I roll my eyes. Raquel, Kate's friend from law school. Attractive, yes. Successful, certainly. But I’m not interested. I canceled our dinner date. There was no point in meeting.
Not now, Kate. I've got a meeting.
I down the rest of my coffee, now lukewarm, and gather my things. My driver will be downstairs in five minutes to take me to Alexander's office. Julian texted an hour ago saying he'd meet me there.
In the elevator down to the lobby, I lean against the wall and close my eyes. What am I going to say to Alexander? The truth seems both impossible and inevitable. Yes, Julian and Iare both seeing Camille. Yes, we're both sleeping with her. Yes, it's serious – at least for me. I can't speak for Julian's feelings, though the way he looks at her suggests I'm not alone in falling deeper than expected.
And then there's the pregnancy. Camille carrying Alexander's child adds a complication none of us anticipated. She tried to tell him, tried to reach out multiple times. His silence was answer enough, as far as she was concerned.
But does Alexander know he's going to be a father? And if he doesn't, is it our place to tell him?
My driver opens the car door for me as I exit the building. The morning air is warm, carrying the first hints of summer. I slide into the backseat, giving a nod in place of a greeting.
"Mr. Kingsley's office," I say, though he already knows the destination.
As we pull into traffic, I stare out the window at the city waking up. Commuters hurry along sidewalks, clutching coffee cups. Street vendors set up their carts. A construction crew unloads equipment from a truck. Normal life continuing while mine feels like it's balanced on a knife's edge.
I didn't expect to feel this way about Camille. When I first met her, I saw a beautiful young woman with a quiet strength beneath her softness. Interesting, yes. Attractive, certainly. But not someone who would slip past my carefully constructed defenses.
Then I got to know her. The determination that drives her to build her business from scratch. The vulnerability she tries so hard to hide. The surprising boldness that emerges when she's comfortable. And somewhere along the way, I started looking forward to seeing her with an intensity that should have been a warning.
When Julian suggested sharing her, I should have said no. Should have recognized the complication for what it was.Instead, I found myself agreeing, driven by a desire I couldn't ignore and the knowledge that if I didn't agree, I might not get to have her at all.
Now here we are, the three of us entangled in something that defies easy definition. And Alexander wants answers.
My phone vibrates with a text from Julian:Almost there. You?
Ten minutes out.
Think he knows about the baby?
That's the million-dollar question, isn't it?No idea. But I think we should tell him.
Julian's response comes quickly:That's not our news to share.
He's right, technically. It's Camille's pregnancy, Camille's choice who to tell and when. But Alexander is the father. Doesn't he have a right to know?
The car slows as we approach his building, a gleaming tower that seems to pierce the sky. My driver pulls to the curb, and I take a deep breath before stepping out.
Julian's waiting in the lobby, his usual casual self in jeans and a button-down with the sleeves rolled up. Even under-dressed, he somehow looks like he belongs in this polished space.
"Ready for this?" he asks as I approach, a hint of concern breaking through his easy smile.
"Not really," I admit. "But it needs to be done."
Julian nods, clapping a hand on my shoulder. "Whatever happens, we're in this together. For her."
For her. The simple phrase carries so much weight. Whatever started this – desire, curiosity, loneliness – it's evolved into something else. Something stronger than I expected. Something worth fighting for.
As we step into the elevator that will take us to Alex's office, I steel myself for the conversation ahead. The truth, all of it, needs to come out. For Camille's sake. For the baby's sake. Even for Alex's sake, though right now I'm finding it hard to care about his feelings.
