“We are!” Ethan laughed. “It should be here soon.” He stood up and stepped back. “Come in.”
His house was just as nice on the inside as the out, but I didn't care about that. I was looking for Malcolm. “Where's your friend?” I asked.
“Why? Interested?” He smirked, taking my hand.
“I already know you can share,” I giggled. “Plus, he's pretty.”
Ethan's expression went soft. “He's very pretty. I don't typically share though.” His confession caught me off guard with how easy last night went.
“Mal is the exception?” I asked, intentionally using his nickname for both personas.
He grunted in agreement. “Very much so. He's the only person I've ever shared with but it's also rare.”
“Does that make me special?” The words were out of my mouth before I realized it and I instantly wished I hadn't said it, snapping my mouth shut. “I mean uh…” I trailed off.
I wanted to be swallowed by the earth.
“Yes.” Ethan said like it was simple, hand moving and cupping my cheek. “You are so special to us, Rosebud, you don't even realize. The both of you are. I know this is new but I'm in deep.”
A shudder ran through me and I licked my lips. “Ah, um…” I could practically hear my heartbeat. “You never told me where Malcolm was…”
Are you fucking kidding me!? He's confessing but I'm too awkward. Kill me now.
He chuckled again and kissed my forehead before stepping back. “He got a little unruly so he's in time out. Would you like to see?”
“Time out?” She raised a brow.
Ethan just grinned. “He'll join us when the food gets here. I'll uncuff him then.”
“I'm sorry, did you say cuff?” I asked with a gasp, blinking quickly.
“I did indeed. Don't worry, he's fine.”
“I wanna see.” My throat cleared. “If um, if that's okay?”
“Can we talk first?”
“Talk?” My anxiety immediately started swirling inside me. “About what?”
He took my hand again and pulled me over to the couch. “I don’t want you to think we're moving too fast or anything. I want this to be real,” our fingers laced together. “Malcolm is important to me.”
“More important than your other friend Mal?” I hummed, teasing softly.
The corner of his mouth twitched slightly. “Yes. Malcolm is my oldest friend and sometimes more.” He licked his lips. “I want you to be more, too, with us.”
“The three of us?” I asked, moving closer. “In a relationship?”
“Yes, in a relationship, the three of us.” He pulled me into his lap. “I know it's unconventional, but the night at the concert was amazing, Rosebud. Like things fell into place.”
“With Malvor?” My lashes fluttered.
“About that…”
“Are you going to spill his secrets?” I cupped his cheek.
He blinked slowly, his mouth going slack. “You know already.” It wasn’t a question.
“It's his secret to tell, but I'm not stupid.” I smiled at him warmly. “I like that you're together too, you guys seem to have a lot of history, so I hope there's room for me too.”
