Ash looked over at me. "This is why she's running the company. Everyone thought I was crazy for putting a nineteen-year-old in charge of a multimillion-dollar fashion company, but sounds to me like she's doing it."
"Ash, I'm twenty now," Leslie told him.
He sucked in a breath and spun his chair to face the phone. "When was your birthday?"
"The day before your boyfriend had a custody hearing," she told him. "And before you start yelling at me about not taking a vacation, just know that Noah is coming up for two weeks. Yes, I'm using your apartment. I have basically taken over the guestroom as my own, and the closet is full."
"Hey," I asked her, "aren't you taking classes this semester?"
"A lot less than I expected," Leslie admitted. "I decided that since I already have my dream job, I don't have to rush through getting my degree. I still want to get it, but I changed my minor to business, and kept my major in fashion. I'm also able to pay for my classes without taking loans, so I'm currently attending part-time. It means less hours out of the office during the day."
"And how long until Noah moves to New York?" Ash asked. "More importantly, how long until there's a wedding?"
Leslie laughed. "Because of my new job, he's talking about transferring to a local school next semester. He's going to lose a couple of classes, but it's clear that I'm never going back home. New York is my home now, and I absolutely love this." She paused for a moment, and then sucked in a breath. "Oh! I just remembered something. Since I'm handling almost all of your contract negotiations, I canceled next month's in-person meeting as well. However, you have another function that you're expected to attend."
Ash groaned. "Which function?"
"It's the annual Fashion Design Awards ceremony," Leslie said. "You have been nominated in three categories. Lingerie, of course. But you also have been listed for swimwear and loungewear. I can accept for you if you're unable to attend, but I thought this might be one of the things you want to come back for. Also, Noah will be here that weekend."
"Which weekend?" Ash asked.
"The third weekend in November," Leslie told him. "Right before Thanksgiving."
"That's also the weekend after the vote," I told him.
"Which means that we'll either want to celebrate or distract ourselves," Ash decided. "Leslie, can you please make sure that I have five tickets for myself and two for you? I'll also need to have plane tickets for four adults and one teenager. If you can, I need my flight out to be two hours after school ends. If we need to leave on Thursday, we can do that, but I have a feeling Friday evening would be better."
"I can handle it," Leslie promised. "I should also warn you that Chris saw the proofs for the spring catalog. He may have had a slightly dramatic reaction to seeing your boyfriend."
"Luke in the pool pictures," Ash reminded me. "Never mind that he was covered in makeup."
"He still looked good like that," I pointed out.
"Yeah, he did," Leslie said. "Chris was gushing about sexy men with children and how hot the domestic type are, and there may have been something in there about how he was sure Luke had to be a top."
I couldn't hold in my laugh. "So, Ash, is he? Does that mean you have to be a bottom?"
"Uh, no," Ash said, completely deadpan. "It doesn'tmeananything. After all, Cy would identify himself as a bottom."
"The most manly-looking one of the group," I explained to Leslie.
Ash grunted at me. "Are you trying to say that I'm not manly enough?"
"Are you trying to say that Luke isn't manly enough?" I countered. "But if we're going by the standard and stereotypical definitions of masculinity, Cy does win. He's the broadest, he has the largest muscles, and he has the deepest voice. Sorry, Ash, but those are the rules."
"And I'm going to get to meet these men?" Leslie asked. "Does this mean I have to be on my best behavior, or can I pick on you, Ash?"
"I'm pretty sure you can pick on me," Ash assured her. "I'll have to double-check with everyone - including Faith - but I'd actually like to come out as being involved in a polyamorous relationship. I think that event might be a good time to do it. But I'll only do it if everybody is on board."
I leaned forward to hug my knees. "I'm on board with that. You also know that the fashion media is going to dig up our entire history and try to see how long this has been going on, right?"
"That means a lot of good press for Risqué," Leslie pointed out.
"It'll also help with bi erasure," Ash said. "For my entire career, I've had the media asking if I was gay. Every time I said no, they didn't believe me. Now, I get to rub it in their face. I am not a gay man; I am a bisexual one."
"So there won't be any problems with the custody of that little girl if you do this?" Leslie asked. "Because while it would be great for business, losing your stepdaughter really isn't worth it."
"Because of the way that court case went down," I said, "our relationship is pretty much out there. Luke said that he was with me while on the stand and then had pictures of him kissing Cy. There's no legal reason to remove his custody - and I know, because I asked his attorney."
