“I was just thinking about something more with him myself. I’d like that.”
“Phew, good. With us being cousins, I worried that you’d get icked out or something.” Fuck yes. I was already on board, but this made it even better. But before I could grow too excited, he said, “But don’t worry. I won’t touch you or anything. I was looking up polyamory, and there’s a relationship type called ‘V’ polyamory. That would be us, right? We’re both serious about Atlas, but the other two aren’t involved at all.”
Tell him. Tell him you want more with him, too.
But why should I? It was clear he was defining the relationship as he wanted it, setting boundaries. He didn’t want me that way, and I didn’t blame him. But if I could have Atlas, and still be a part of Hugh’s life sexually, I’d take it. This would give me companionship while still having a piece of Hugh.
“I think that’s a good plan,” I said.
“Good!” Hugh stood in front of me and gripped the sides of my shoulders. “This is going to be amazing. It’s the first time I found someone I’m more interested in than just the sex. He feeds all my needs, and he’s a hard worker and a good human.”
I smiled back and pulled him into a quick hug. “Let’s tell Atlas. It won’t mean shit if he’s not on board, too.”
“He will be. I just know it.”
Instead of finishing making lunch, he turned off the stove, and we headed upstairs to Hugh’s bedroom, where we found Atlas on the floor with all of Mrs. Peach’s clothes spread out on the rug. She was currently wearing a fuzzy pink sweater and a strand of pearls. He took several photos of her with his phone before holding up her bumblebee costume.
“She looks adorable, At,” Hugh said.
He beamed at us. “She looks iconic. She’s so sweet, too. Mrs. Peach just lets you do anything to her, adorable doormat that she is,” he giggled before leaning down and kissing her head. “Ignore me. That wassorude. You’re stunning, my queen.”
Mrs. Peach looked up at him with happy eyes and gave him a little meow as if she could understand what he was talking about.
Hugh squatted in front of Atlas. “Hey, Linden and I want to talk to you about something.”
Atlas set down the costume and pulled Mrs. Peach onto his lap, where she quickly curled up on him. He looked at us, frowning. “Okay. Is something wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong,” I assured him. “Not at all.”
“Linden and I agreed that we’d like you to be a part of our lives… more than just the sex or as our PA. It’s fast, but we’re both really drawn to you.” Hugh caressed Atlas’s cheek with the backs of his fingers. “You’re special.”
Atlas’s jaw dropped, and he stammered a bit before finding his words. “I’d love to! Oh my god! Yes! I want to be yours so much.”
He lunged at Hugh to hug him, much to the cat’s chagrin. Then he tugged me down by my hand so we could all hold each other. “Does this mean you two will be together, too?” he asked.
Hugh and I looked at each other before I shook my head. “No, we’re cousins. You’ll belong to us, but we won’t belong to each other.”
“Bummer. You both would be so hot together. No one would care, least of all me.” It wasn’t the first time he’d said that, and I couldn’t agree more. Still, I had to respect Hugh’s wishes.
“My father would never accept that, At. He’ll have a hard enough time accepting us as we are in the first place.”
But did that mean he’d thought about it? The only thing holding him back was Uncle Hanley? Perhaps we stood a chance after all.
Chapter 19
Atlas
Ipacedintheliving room of my apartment as Emma stress-knitted, and Luna tried to meditate. I’d been so wrapped up with Hugh and Linden the past month after we went exclusive that I hadn’t noticed the decline in Ryder.
Now he wouldn’t come out of his room. We knocked, asked him if he wanted to talk, but he’d said nothing. The only sign of life we saw from him was when he came out to use the bathroom earlier this morning, then locked himself back in his room.
He’d looked like shit, too. His hair was greasy, he had dark circles under his eyes, and his shoulders sagged. Yep, there was definitely something serious going on.
“Can we make him talk?” I asked, gnawing on a fingernail.
“Do you think he broke up with his boyfriend?” Luna asked. “That’d explain the mood shift.”
“It’s possible,” Emma agreed, making rapid stitches in the tiny scarf she was making for me to give to Mrs. Peach. I loved that cat.
