“He’s a good partner at other stuff, too,” I pointed out. “You two make a good team.”
Brock leaned forward and whispered, “All four of us do.”
He wandered down the bar to help a new customer while I considered that. Wedidmake a good team. I was still shocked that our dynamic worked so well.
But if I had to choose, there was one improvement I would make.
“Hey,” I said when Brock returned to my end of the bar. “Do you think we should invite Cam into the group dynamic again?”
The last time we’d asked, about a month ago, Cam had politely declined. He claimed that although he didn’t mind that I was involved with two other men, he preferred to have me all to himself.
“I don’t know if he’s ready for that,” Brock said while mixing a drink. “He’s a little less confident, less sure of himself. I was the same way when I was his age.”
“I just wish he felt comfortable enough to join the rest of us.”
“Because you want him to feel included,” Brock asked, “or because you want another set of hands and lips on your body at the same time?”
“Both?”
He barked a laugh, delivered his drink to the guy down at the other end of the bar, then returned. “I think he’s considering it. But he needs time to process it before he’s ready.”
“Fine,” I said, crossing my arms and pouting. “Do you judge me for sleeping with him?”
Brock gave a start. “Why would I judge you for that? Considering…” He lowered his voice. “Considering what you’re doing with Jace and me.”
“It’s different because he’s younger. There’s an age gap.”
“I genuinely don’t care,” Brock said firmly. “He’s an adult. He has agency over his decisions. It’s not like you’re robbing the cradle. What’s the rule about age differences? Half your age plus seven?”
I did the math in my head. “Half my age is fourteen and a half. Plus seven… that’s twenty-one!”
“Which is how old Cam happens to be. There you go. There’s nothing wrong with it.”
“Barely. I don’t like being right on the edge of what’s considered appropriate.”
Brock gave me a level stare. “Are you really concerned with what’sappropriateconsidering the nature of your three relationships?”
“Okay. True.”
“Here’s how I’ve thought about it since my mom died.” Brock planted both palms on the counter and leaned forward in that commanding way that made his biceps pop. “Life is short. If you can find a way to be happy with someone, orseveralsomeones, you shouldn’t overthink it. Just allow yourself to be happy.”
“That’s how you’ve looked at the world since she passed?”
He nodded once. “Hasn’t steered me wrong yet.”
I considered that for the rest of my drink, then winked at Brock and drove home. Cam was coming over tonight for some private fun, and I had plans for us that involved two toys and my bottle of lube.
But when I got home, I discovered that Cam wasn’t alone.
He was sitting on my couch next to Jace, with an empty six-pack of beer bottles on the coffee table in front of them.
“Hello,” I said to both of them, confused. “Did I get my schedules crossed tonight?”
“I invited him,” Cam said. He looked nervous, but excited. “I hope that’s okay.”
“Of course. It’s more than okay.” I glanced at Jace.
“We’ve been talking about it,” Jace explained. “Discussing the right way to go about it for the first time.”
