“Maybe, maybe not,” Bobby said. “But I guess we’ll all deal with that when and if it happens, won’t we?”
“We will?” Benji squeaked.
“I deserved that. Look, man, I’m sorry we didn’t tell you about the vacation and the cancelled shows. We were trying to protect you, but I was also selfishly trying to protect Fading Daze. Me and Dani and Coop worked our asses off to make theband great, and I’m insanely protective of it. Sometimes I go overboard.”
“I’ll say.” Danielle glared at her brother. “Last summer when Coop came out, and then admitted to his relationship with Dominic? I thought Bobby was going to hit the roof. They fought over it for a while, until Bobby got over himself and realized how in love Coop was.”
“I accused Coop of being disloyal, and I was really, really wrong. It was kneejerk, and mean, and I apologized. So now, I’m apologizing to you, Benji. It was my decision to lie. I made everyone else go along with it, and I’m sorry.”
“You didn’t make them do anything,” Benji said. “But I accept your apology. Thank you. If it helps, I promise never again to get that hammered and let guys feel me up in public.”
“You better not,” Van growled.
“Three hot, sexy guys all bonking each other,” Danielle said. “How does that work, exactly? Do you take turns?”
“So not talking about that,” Benji said.
Andy wrapped a hand around Danielle’s mouth, cutting her off before she could make another comment. She reached around and pinched his ass.
“So what are you guys called now?” Bobby asked. “Like, a throuple?”
“No way,” Joshua said. “I vote here and now to never call ourselves a throuple. It sounds like a rejected Muppet name.”
Benji snorted laughter, and everything inside of Van that had been wound tight over this particular coming out relaxed. Tension fell away. For all that they’d worried about telling Benji’s band, they were taking it in stride, even Bobby. The guy wasn’t a total ass; he was simply protective of his band and their brand.
He was also, apparently, very protective of all members of said band, even the one in the most nontraditional relationship possible.
“We’ve been using triad and poly,” Van said. “Mostly, though? We’re happy.”
“Excellent,” Bobby said. “Now how about we go inside before they cut the cake without us? Plus my balls are freezing off.” He darted away, with Andy and Danielle right behind him.
Van tucked Benji and Joshua under his arms, mostly wanting to feel them close to him. Benji ended up turning it into a three-person hug, and that was good, too.
“That was easier than I thought it would be,” Benji said. “Maybe if we’d all talked at the start, feelings wouldn’t have been hurt.”
“Maybe.” Joshua kissed his forehead. “It worked out anyway. Forgive me for lying?”
“Yes. Of course.”
“How about me?” Van asked. “I got the secret out of Joshua, so I knew.”
“And he hated not telling you,” Joshua added.
Benji stared for a beat, and then shrugged. “Forgiven. I don’t want to keep dwelling on it. I’d rather enjoy the rest of our day together. As a throuple.”
“No.” Joshua crossed his arms and pouted. “Keep saying it, and I won’t blow you later tonight.”
The threat worked; Benji made a show of locking his lips with an imaginary key.
Van laughed, then grabbed his guys’ hands, and led them up the sidewalk to the steps.
A pan guy, a bi guy, and an ace guy walk into a senior center . . .
. . . and into an amazing future full of possibilities.
TWENTY-THREE
Benji hadno explanation for the nest of butterflies running riot in his belly. They erupted the moment Van parked in the lot outside of their hotel room. Sure, it had been a couple of weeks since he’d last been physically intimate, but this was different. Their triad had crossed a new line today by coming out to friends and family, and more lines were waiting to be crossed in their rented room.
