“But at the same time, you can’t ask him, because you know he’d not react well.” Leaf still smiled.
Dev made an empathetic noise. “Tell me about it.”
“Yet while he’s incredibly complex and hard to read, he’s the best thing that ever happened to me,” Leaf said, his smile turning a little bit sad.
“I… I never meant to—” Dev started.
“No, see, the thing is, Seth and I, we go way back. We’ve been together for a decade now, Dev. And in that time, you learn things about the other person and yourself. They aren’t always easy things to understand or accept.”
“What are you saying?” Dev frowned, puzzled.
“I’m saying that I can see why he’s into you. And that I don’t mind. In fact, I’m encouraging you two to make a go of it,” Leaf explained, shrugging like he was making any goddamn sense.
“Wait,what?” Dev’s voice rose enough to make the husky’s head pop up from around the corner of the couch where his bed must’ve been.
“We should discuss this, obviously. But if you want to date Seth and vice versa, I think it’s a good idea. He’s been so different, so much more lively, since he met you. I don’t want to do anything to jeopardize that.”
Dev made an incredulous sound. “And you’d be, what? Okay with me dating your fucking husband?”
“If it’s just the two of you, then it’s fine by me. Sometimes that’s how things go, yeah. I fully believe that Seth wouldn’t leave me. We’re stronger than that. But if he wants to date you on the side, then why not?”
“Because it’s ludicrous?” Dev exclaimed. Then his mind went back a few paces and he asked, “What did you mean with ‘if it’s just the two of you’?”
“Well, you’re obviously attractive. I already like how your mind works. If you were interested….” He made the silliest ever gesture, an expression of lifting his hands and tilting his head.
“Wait, wait, wait…. Am I being punked right now?” Dev’s mind snapped finally. “There’s no fucking way someone would just suggest their husband date a guy they’ve just met and then throw out the offer to fucking make it athreesome! It just doesn’t happen. This isn’t real, no way.” Dev got up to pace along the family room from the TV to the bookshelf and back.
“I was raised in an unconventional way. I don’t exactly look at relationships like most people. I’m pretty open-minded, and I know that if Seth would go for dating you, whether separately or together, I’d jump at the chance. As I said, you’re very attractive and obviously smart and interesting. Why wouldn’t I want to get to know you better?” Leaf shrugged again. It really did start to seem like what he was suggesting wasn’t a big deal to him.
“You’re crazy…,” Dev murmured. Then, because he did want to be honest, he added, “You’re hot. You’re seriously fucking hot. Just like Seth. Just in a more rugged and more salt-and-peppery way.”
“You’re saying I’m hot but old?” Leaf smirked.
“Well, yeah, you’re what, closer to fifty?” Dev sat down in an armchair and was soon approached by a wiggly Missy. He leaned his elbows on his knees to be able to pet her when she sat between his feet.
“Fifty-one later this year, yeah. Is that a problem?” Leaf looked genuinely curious.
“Jesus. You’re like a year younger than my dad.” Dev shook his head and laughed a little. “I mean, I don’t actually mind the age gap. It means very little to me how old people are as long as they’re legal and, you know, safe, sane, and consensual and shit like that.”
“But?”
Dev sighed and scratched his arm thoughtfully, then moved his hands back to Missy, who was getting impatient pretty quickly. “I don’t… I mean, obviously I’m very into Seth. Despite all the confusion, I was hoping…. But this complicates things. Besides, I don’t know you at all—not that I know Seth much either.”
“Well, that’s what dating’s for?”
“I suppose so…. We should probably talk with Seth.”
Leaf looked at him and nodded, smiling slightly. “Can you let me take the lead at first?”
“Yeah, absolutely. You know him better anyway, and I would probably blurt out something and make him run for the hills.”
They settled down to wait for Seth, with Leaf on the couch with a book on something dog related, and Dev in the armchair with Missy by his feet. The smallest of the dogs had taken a liking to him, and he didn’t mind. They’d always wanted a dog as kids, but their parents had only allowed cats because they didn’t need walking.
Dev closed his eyes and took in the feel of the house. Normally after having a panic attack, he’d be out of sorts for a while. Now, he barely felt it. Maybe it was Grace’s help, or Leaf’s oddly solid presence, but something had helped him calm down and relax again.
He couldn’t believe he was in this situation. He wasn’t naïve enough not to know about ménage relationships, but he’d never really believed he’d findoneperson for himself. The fact that someone was offering him the possibility of datingtwoat the same time…. It seemed so very surreal.
He opened his eyes just a bit, enough to see Leaf. He really was quite stunning. He, like Seth, had those crow’s feet around his heavy-lidded eyes that told Dev they laughed a lot. They were sort of low-key, happy people.
