Charlie tilted his head curiously, and Noah said, “Lesbian aunts.”
“Ah, makes sense. I also didn’t know you had lesbian aunts,” he said.
Noah sighed and fished under the blanket until he found Aspen’s hand, presumably doing the same on the other side with Charlie. “She’s my mom’s sister, and they never got along as kids, even less so now. Their daughter is really nice, and I always loved seeing her at the big family events growing up, but they were few and far between. I could have stayed in touch, but my mom did a lot of damage control after I came out—which mostly involved telling the extended family I was way too busy starting work to attend events…as my new, trans masc self.”
Aspen sighed and pressed their forehead against Noah’s shoulder. “I’m so sorry, babe.”
“Me too,” Charlie murmured.
Noah did his best to shrug without disturbing the blanket they were all cocooned in. “It is what it is, but on the plus side, I think I’m most likely going to be assigned to keep them company. That’s why they wanted me to come home early.”
“Oh, well, we could totally help with that, right?” Aspen said, popping up on their elbow to look across at Charlie. “We don’t have to tell them we’re your bird and anchor partners, but I bet they’re more likely to be cool about it than anyone else here.”
Noah worked his jaw back and forth. “You’re right about that, and I’d love to introduce you both to them, but…what does that mean for the rest of the week? I’m assuming there will be a lot of other family obligations.”
“What do you want it to mean?” Aspen asked, but when all Noah did was scowl at the ceiling, Charlie propped himself up on an elbow as well.
“What do you want, peanut? Gordy Simple—no thinking, just say it.”
“I want you both,” Noah said easily. “I want you to be there, and I want to introduce you as my…my bird and my anchor, and I want everyone to be cool about it, but they’re not going to be, so?—”
“So, that’s their problem,” Aspen said.
“We both flew out here because we’d love to spend the week with you, your family’s opinions be damned. We’d never want to make you uncomfortable, though, so ifyoudon’t want us there?—”
“No,” Noah breathed, squeezing his eyes shut. “I do.”
“Then let’s make it happen. Do you think it’s best for us to show up to lunch? Rip the bandaid off right away, and far enough in advance of the wedding that it doesn’t seem like we’re trying to gate crash?” Aspen asked.
“And we’re not demanding they make space for us at the wedding,” Charlie added, waiting for Aspen to nod theiragreement before continuing. “We’re just here to support you and spend quality time with you and the family that wants to meet us.”
Noah's next few breaths came out shaky, and Charlie and Aspen lay back down, surrounding him with their bodies and keeping him safe while he breathed through whatever war he was fighting in his head.
“Could it…be that simple? I love you both, and I want you to be there with me this week, so…you will be?”
Aspen grabbed Noah’s chin and turned his face until they were eye to eye, their mouths only a breath apart. “If you want me, babe, I willalwaysbe there.”
They kissed him, waiting until his jaw finally loosened enough that they could slip their tongue between his lips. He groaned into the kiss, and when the grip he still had on their hand relaxed, they pulled back.
“I love you, babe. And to me, that means I show up for the good, the bad, and the potentially rage-y.”
Noah huffed out a laugh and allowed Aspen to turn his chin to Charlie, who pressed his forehead against Noah’s. He used his free hand to grip the back of Noah’s neck, while Aspen kept their hand on his jaw.
“It will always be that simple with me, peanut. You know I don’t do all your family’s messy emotions or any kind of mental gymnastics. If you want me—in your bed, in your polyamorous romantic-ish relationship, and here with you this week—I will be here.”
Noah’s breath punched out of him, and he released both of their hands to throw his arms awkwardly around their shoulders. Aspen and Charlie pressed in at the same time until they were half on top of Noah.
“I love you,” Noah whispered.
“We love you,” Aspen and Charlie said together.
It took the combined willpower of all three of them to get out of bed. Aspen did a poor job of keeping their hands to themself, and Charlie had to distract them with kisses so Noah could get dressed, and vice versa.
It just felt so good to be reunited, not just as a trial threesome, but as a real triad. Aspen felt like they were floating all the way down to the lobby, into the ride share, and up the steps to the restaurant where they were meeting Noah’s family.
The feeling dissipated a bit when his mother stood up from the table and looked at them like they were a piece of gum on the bottom of her spiky heels.
“Noah, what is this? Who is that?” she said, pointing a sharp, glossy red nail at Charlie. “And why is Aspen here? I refunded the plane ticket, and we’ve already redone the seating chart. There’s no space for yourfriendsto be here.”
