"So we've been using English around him," Omden said. "All of us, Less."
"I'mgoodat English," I reminded him. "But since you sprung not just one but two surprises on me, I don't even feel bad about sharing my own."
"Two?" Drozel asked.
But at the same time, Omden grinned. "Oh?"
"Two," I told Drozel, dragging this out. "A Mole and an early return." Then I smiled at Omden. "Meri kissed me."
"What?!" Drozel gasped, turning me so I had to face him. "When? How?"
"While you were gone," I said, because I needed to make sure he didn't think I'd been sitting on this a while, "and in your house. We've been discussing things, and I've learned a lot more about Meri than I expected. I mean, since we no longer have a language barrier or her thinking she's going to die."
"Good point," Omden said. "Now, here's the next issue. That Mole? He knows Droz and I are together. We made a point of not hiding it."
"And?" I asked.
"Moles don't do that," Drozel reminded me. "That man's going to need help washing, changing, and more. Naked. Meri doesn't do naked men yet. Omden and I would make him embarrassed. So..." The asshole smirked in a way that said more than words could.
"And you can use it as an excuse to be all close and personal with your girl," Ommy taunted. "You know, showing her it's okay to be around naked men when they aren't a threat."
"No," I said. "Well, yes to that part, but she's not my girl. Guys, she's still figuring it out!"
"And she'll figure it out easier when you aren't a stupid jealous asshole who punishes her for doing something she's so proud of: healing," Omden countered. "And yes, I think you should stay with us."
"Us?" Drozel asked.
"Us," Omden confirmed. "Look, if Sylis is in the guest room, and Meri's in hers - "
"Hers?" I asked, lifting a brow to make it clear I'd noticed how easily he'd just given away part of his home.
"Hers," he said again. "Now stop making me repeat myself. My point is, I don't mind you crashing with us, Lessa. We both know Drozel likes it but doesn't want to scare you off. Meri doesn't seem offended by it, so..." He canted his head to the side in some kind of unspoken invitation.
"That..." I glanced at Drozel, then back to Ommy. "It sounds like you're asking for more than help with this mess."
"I am," Omden said, shifting to stand beside Drozel and claiming my hand. "Lessa, I know it's not your style, but would you consider putting some clothes in our closet and spending every spare second with us? Think of it like a trial-run for a real relationship - but only a trial."
"Uh..." My pulse was pounding a little too fast. "I thought this was just fun between us."
"Om?" Drozel asked, clearly as confused as I was.
But Omden ignored him. "Look, we can pretend this is casual if you want. That's fine. I'm okay with it, but you matter to me, Lessa. I also know you're not blind. Drozel's enjoying this. Meri's figuring it out. All of this keeps tying us together, so let's not worry about a name, but stop pretending this isn't working for all of us, okay?"
"Droz?" I asked. "Did you put him up to this?"
He shook his head vehemently. "I didn't... He...No!"
The stuttering proved he wasn't lying. That he wasn't trying to undo the offer? Those pretty green eyes of his jumped between me and Omden, but Drozel's tail was still. Too still. The sort of still that made it clear this was important to him.
And I liked that.
Fuck, I liked this - whatever this thing was we were doing. It wouldn't have worked without Omden, but he and Drozel were as committed of a pair as I'd ever seen. The way they'd wrapped Meri into their lives only made me like them more because it was so damned honest. They wanted to help her. They took care of her. They also did a lot to take care of me.
"Okay," I decided, but the word came out softer and less confident than I'd hoped.
Making this official felt like it would ruin everything, but we weren't. It was a trial run. Omden hadn't set an end date, butwe weren't talking about tokens or property divisions. This was to help Meri and handle the Mole. It was realistic, not romantic, right?
So I nodded, both convincing myself I was right, and making it clear I was agreeing. Still, my fingers were tingling. It was the sort that came with hyperawareness as my body went on high alert. The anxiety was there, clawing in the back of my mind, but this time it wasn't going to win.
