Jeffrey’s stomach hollowed.
‘Well, millions of people prefer being single,’ said Noah. ‘I enjoyed it.’
‘But there is nothing like that feeling of being totally loved by someone, is there?’
Jeffrey wanted to agree, but he had no experience to draw from. As Luca went on to describe their wedding and San Francisco honeymoon, Jeffrey briefly imagined himself hand-in-hand with his own Match, sightseeing the city, booking tables at the hippest restaurants and hiring retro bikes that required pedals to cycle across the Golden Gate bridge. But, try as he might, he was unable to picture the face of who was accompanying him.
‘And is your relationship monogamous?’ Jeffrey asked.
Luca turned to Noah, as if unsure of what Jeffrey wanted to hear.
‘Is that an offer?’ Noah winked. ‘Kidding.’
‘There’s no judgement here,’ lied Jeffrey.
‘We have been since we got married,’ said Luca.
Jeffrey checked his notes. ‘So for nine months it’s just been the two of you. And before that?’
‘Does it matter?’ Noah asked. ‘The Marriage Act states that you can do whatever it takes to keep a marriage together and that includes, “inviting others to socialize in an intimate way if mutually agreed”.’
‘Uhuh,’ Jeffrey replied. ‘But studies by psychologists suggest polyamorous couples are less likely to remain in a long-term marriage than monogamous couples.’
‘We aren’t polyamorous, just horny!’ Noah laughed; Jeffrey didn’t. ‘Look, we might’ve dabbled occasionally but it hasn’t done us any harm. We love each other and we’re happy.’
‘That’s not what your Audite thinks.’
Noah was about to reply but appeared to think better of it.
‘The only way our sessions are going to work is with complete transparency,’ continued Jeffrey.
‘We no longer have an open relationship,’ admitted Noah and averted his eyes to the wall ahead.
‘And do I sense this isn’t something you’re happy about?’ ‘It wasn’t my decision.’
Luca cleared his throat. ‘It’s not something I want to continue exploring at present.’
‘If I’m being honest – which I’m assuming is what you want, Jeffrey – then I think marriage has mainstreamed us,’ said Noah.
‘Because straight couples don’t have threesomes . . . ?’ disagreed Luca.
‘No, but we’re in danger of losing our queer identity by mimicking heteronormative relationships. I don’t want us to become pseudo straights.’
‘I don’t think I’m mimicking anyone.’
‘I’m not saying you are; I’m saying we are indangerof it. I’d rather not play into the hands of the people who gave us equal rights because they wanted to normalize same-sex relationships. The best part of being gay is that we shouldn’t have to be “normal”. We should be making our own rules and living our own lives.’
Luca shook his head. ‘That might have been the case once upon a time, but there is no “us” and “them” any more. Match Your DNA levelled the playing field. Racism, homophobia, ageism . . . they went out with fossil fuel engines, wild elephants and the ice caps. I don’t want to be in an open relationship, not because I’m trying to play it straight, but because I no longer enjoy it.’
‘And I respect that’s how you’re feeling at the moment.’
‘Do you though, Noah?’ asked Jeffrey.
His directness uneased Noah. ‘Of course,’ he said. His sharply folded arms suggested otherwise.
In less than an hour, Jeffrey had already found a chink in their armour. And he quietly wondered to himself just how much work it might take to make the chink expand.
Will A Smart Marriage Give Us All The Support We Need?
