“Yes, ma’am.”
“How long were the two of you together before he met Jordan?”
“Almost six years.”
“Then why did he start dating Jordan? You werereallyokay with that?”
“I told him to date other people. Repeatedly. I felt guilty that I wasn’t willing to be out. I didn’t want him to be alone but he refused to give up on me.”
“Thankfully,” Jordan chimes in.
She cocks her head as she studies us and I can see Leo in her gesture. “And Jordan, youknewabout Elliot when you met Leo?”
“I knew Leo was involved with someone but I didn’t know it was Elliot. Not at first. He never mislead me about the fact that he had a partner.”
“And you werereallyokay with that?”
“It’s called ‘ethical non-monogamy.’ Leo never lied to me and said he was single. From the very start, when we talked about having a relationship Leo was upfront with me about everything except Elliot’s actual identity. Although I guessed it was Elliot even before Leo confirmed it.” I spot Jordan’s playful smile. “Which wasn’t a hardship for me, because I was attracted to Elliot, too. It just took us a little longer to get our acts together, that’s all.” He leans in and I brush a kiss across his lips.
She falls silent for a while. Jordan’s put on jazz music and a comfortable, easy peace settles over me as we work.
“Picadillo?” she asks.
Jordan grins. “Yes, ma’am. One of my favorites.”
“Mimi’s recipe?”
“Ooooh, yes,” I say. “One of my favorites, too. I love our staff but they never make it as good as Jordan does.”
Jordan brushes another kiss across my lips. “Gotta keep the big guy happy.” He drops me a wink.
I feel my cheeks heat and now wish I wasn’t wearing sweats. Fortunately, I can face the stove where I’m browning the ground beef and hide my erection that way.
Dinner’s almost ready when Leo and his father return with Kayley in tow. She immediately walks over and offers Jordan a long hug while looking me up and down over his shoulder with a thinly disguised glare.
“Be nice, Kay,” Leo warns her from the kitchen doorway when she steps away from Jordan and crosses her arms over her chest.
“Hi,” I say, opening my arms to offer her a hug I have a feeling she won’t return.
“Kayley,” Jordan says, in a warning tone. “You know Elliot. You’ve met him before.Pleasebe nice to him. I love him as much as I love Leo, and that’s theonlything that should matter. Right? I’mhappy.”
She grumbles but finally steps in to briefly hug me. “I don’t understand this but I won’t say anything to anyone.”
Relief fills me even if we have to go through all of this again. “Thank you. I’m sorry we didn’t tell you sooner.”
“Want some wine?” Mom asks her.
“God, yesplease!”
Mom gets her a glass and pulls a bottle from the fridge.
Jordan made sure we were well-stocked with wine and liquor during their visit for this very reason, because we suspected they might need it. At least at first.
Leo walks over and kisses me, then Jordan. “Smells delicious.” He’s wearing a suit, always looking like a handsome Secret Service agent. The man’s still fucking gorgeous even almost two decades later. I think he’s aged better than I have.
“Do I have time to change clothes?” he asks.
“Yes, Sir,” I say without thinking. I freeze but Leo chuckles.
