Maya reaches across the table and squeezes my hand. "It's not stupid if you both know what you're doing. But do you? Know what you're doing?"
That's the question, isn't it? But then again, do any of us ever know what we are doing? I think about Ethan's hand on mine at dinner. The way he looked at me when I admitted I wanted to know him too. The quiet authority in his voice when he told me to go see my friends, to take care of myself.
"I don't know," I admit. "But I want to find out. I just met him, but both of you fell instantly for your Daddies," I look at Madi and Holly. "I know it’s possible to meet someone and just know. I don’t know if he is meant to be my Daddy, but I know I am attracted to him and he’s checked off all of my boxes."
"Then find out," Madison says firmly. "But be smart about it. Keep communicating clearly, make sure to set boundaries and if you have sex, give us all the details." The last part of her sentence makes me choke on my latte.
I roll my eyes. We always say we will share the details of our sex lives, but we never do. The most we ever tell is if it’s good or not. Some things are better left between the couples.
"Don't let the money or the mansion or those stupid sexy forearms distract you from what you want," Chloe says. "Keep your priorities straight."
"His forearms are really nice though," I say weakly.
The table dissolves into laughter.
We spend the next hour talking about everything else. Chloe's new coffee blend. Amber's upcoming gaming tournament. Maya's latest impossible client who wants a luxury vacation on a budget airline price.
But my mind keeps drifting back to Ethan.
The way he values my work and my ideas. How comfortable I am with him already, how he showed up and participated in the planning stages instead of just throwing money at it. And, the way he comes across as dominant but gentle at the same time.
When I finally leave the coffee shop, my phone buzzes.
Ethan: Did you survive the interrogation?
I smile despite myself.
Lily: Barely. They had a lot of questions.
Ethan: I'm sure they did. What did you tell them?
Lily: That you're bossy and you cook too well and your house is unreasonably nice.
Ethan: Bossy?
Lily: You literally told me I had to go see them.
Ethan: Because you needed to. There's a difference between being bossy and caring about your wellbeing.
Something warm unfurls in my chest. His answers to my questions are always exactly right.
Lily: Is there?
Ethan: Yes. And you know it.
I do know it. That's what scares me.
Ethan: Come back tomorrow. Same time?
I notice he doesn’t ask about me coming back, only about the time.
Lily: You're very demanding.
Ethan: Only when it comes to things that matter.
Lily: I matter?
Ethan: More than you realize.
