“Cuddles. And naps, and talking. That’s it,” Hayden said.
“That sounds stupendously spectacular,” I said, burrowing down into their arms and the blankets.
Lazy kisses and talking about all our favorite and least favorite things, but the more complicated questions plagued me the longer we discussed the inconsequential details. It was great knowing Hayden almost always wore black, which I figured out by myself considering that in the short time I’d known him all I’d seen him in was black tactical pants and black t-shirts, mostly long-sleeved and that Declan was a rancher’s kid who gravitated toward denim shirts, jeans, and cowboy boots but not the flashy kind.
“Pequeña, what’s wrong?” Hayden asked, pulling my lip free from the prison my teeth had it in.
“But…” I started, my mind going back to the conversation we’d been having before Declan got us all riled up again.
“But what, sweet girl? What are you worried about?”
“Everything.”
“Explain, colibrí.”
My mind spiraled with all the questions filling my head, and they just tumbled out of my mouth.
“Where will we live? What happens if there are kids? Do you want kids? If so, who would be the father? We’re not married. Wecan’tbe. Whose last name would they have? Or would we all have different names? What will happen when I’m on tour with Katie? What’s she gonna say? Will your families understand? Will your friends? Will we…”
“Marcie, stop. Take a breath.”
Until he said something, I didn’t realize I hadn’t taken a single breath. Declan pulled me into his lap, facing Hayden, whose hand gripped the tip of my chin, forcing my eyes to meet his.
“Pequeña, there’s gonna be issues and obstacles and shit that we’ve gotta figure out as we go, but that’s the same with any relationship. As long as we’re honest with ourselves and each other, we’ll figure out how our relationship works individually one-on-one as well as a triad because there are four relationships here that we have to nurture.”
My mind whirled as I thought about what he said.
Wow!
How in the world would we keep four relationships healthy, happy, and alive?
Declan kissed my forehead, and when he spoke, I realized I had asked my question out loud.
“With a lot of work, sweet girl. But the main thing to remember is this… poly relationships have the same issues that two-person relationships do. There are just more people, more feelings, and more logistics that we have to handle. But I think what we could build is more than worth it, don’t you?”
My head bobbed, but the one worry that haunted me the most lived and breathed like a huge, fiery dragon in the back of my mind. I bit my lip, staring down at my hands as I murmured, “I just don’t want anyone to feel like I invaded or encroached on your relationship. Especially the two of you.”
“Baby girl, you can’t encroach on something that you are an essential part of. As much as Hayden and I love one another, we are like oil and water.”
“Or two completely incapable types of water, oil, or whatever. Too alike sometimes to mesh our lives together into a workable, long-term relationship.”
“The short of it is, our relationship doesn’t work without you.”
“And I refuse to choose between you,” Hayden said. “I care for you both. Together, the two of you complete me. We are three.”
“I like that,” I whispered.
“So do I, sweet girl. So do I.”
Hayden wasn’t finished. “And if someone makes you feel bad for being with us or says something idiotic like you’re trespassing on mine and Declan’s relationship, then you let me know. Iwillset them straight. Because, first of all, it’s no one’s business what happens between the three of us, and second, that’s what Daddy and Papi are for. We’re here to slay your dragons. No matter what they are.”
“Unless you wanna slay them yourself, and then Papi and I will stand behind you, to ensure you have whatever you need to take care of business. Because no matter what, at the end of the day, we have your back.”
“Always,” Hayden finished.
43
DECLAN
