“Self preservation,” I reply honestly. I see sadness swim in her eyes but she doesn’t press the matter.
“If I was to consider your proposal of dating all four of you, how would that work? Don’t you all mind sharing?”
I can’t help but like where her questions are going. She has given this some thought, I’m so glad she hasn’t shut the idea down entirely. I laugh. “Oh Sophie, we have been sharing you for years already. We are willing to take any scrap of yourself you are willing to give us. But if you give yourself to us, each one of us will make it our priority to make you happy,” I say as she leans in to hear more. “We have a four bedroom apartment. Originally there was a room set aside for you. But now Tye is with us there isn’t that… But we can work it out. I travel the most, so maybe one of us shares or I don’t know. And you, you choose where you sleep, with whom and for however long. No jealousy, no fighting, whatever you want. That is the bottom line. We try it out, see what works. Maybe there are teething problems, maybe there aren’t. Some of us keep whacked hours,” I look over at Bear. “Some of us are interstate the majority of the time. Mack has early starts with his PT clients and now he has a lot of his time spent on his website. Tye is so in demand, thanks to the networking he does at the Clarendon, sometimes hehas big jobs that take everything from him. What I’m trying to say is, each of us alone might be a disappointing boyfriend. But all of us together, there’ll always be someone around to take care of you. See that your needs are met. We have that one thing in common, we just want to make you happy Sophie.”
TWENTY-EIGHT
Sophie
The doors open and wait staff come in and clear our plates and replace them with two dishes, one of Carbonara and the other of pasta meatballs. They smell absolutely divine. I hear the words that Rory has just spoken ping-ponging around my head, ‘we just want to make you happy Sophie,’ and it’s rendered me speechless. These men, these adorable men, each in their own way have put so much thought and effort into this idea, I can’t imagine any sane, hot-blooded woman turning it down. And yet here they are trying to persuade me. I am overwhelmed they all feel this way about me and have for a substantial amount of time when I was completely oblivious. “I don’t know what to say,” I answer as I look down at my empty plate and spread my palms out on the table trying to find the right words.
“You don’t have to say anything, you don’t need to make any decisions now, we just wanted to get to know you a bit more and tell you how we feel, finally,” says Rory, sosweetly I feel like my heart could burst. He genuinely thinks I need to think about it.
“It’s not that, Rory,” I say as I reach for his hand and then for Flynn’s. “I simply cannot believe this is happening to me; when would four of the most attractive, friendly, interesting, kinky men from the Clarendon declare their interest inme?”
“Right now, Sophie,” Rory replies as Flynn’s hand squeezes mine. I look between the two men who seem worlds apart in appearance. Flynn who takes up so much space at the table, built like my own personal bodyguard with his dirty blond hair tied up in a top knot and his broody come-to-bed-with-me blue eyes. And then there is Rory who is slender, with short clipped hair in tight curls and his eyes that always look like they’re undressing me. He watches me like a hawk, he enjoys the emotions he can wring out of me, usually torment, pain and pleasure. And then I think of sweet Tye who never lets a shift go by without seeing me. And Mack who I’ve tried to see outside of work on so many occasions.
“You know I couldn’t turn one of you down, let alone all four of you,” I say as I look from Flynn to Rory. I feel the hope that brightens their expressions as well as see it reflected in their eyes.
“You’ll consider moving in with us?” asks Rory, the look of disbelief making me smile.
“I’ll consider moving in with you,” I laugh the words out. “Can I get a proper tour first?”
“Of course, you can have the royal tour and anything else you might desire,” replies Rory with a mischievous smile.
“I don’t want to rush into anything or give up my own apartment and jinx it. Maybe we can take things slow and see how they go?”
“Absolutely, sounds like a perfect idea. We wouldn’t wantto rush you into anything, Sophie, even making the decision to see all four of us.”
“I know, I am picking up on that fact,” I smile at the two of them. I don’t feel hurried or pressured. “I should say before it’s completely gone—this is the best pasta I think I’ve ever eaten in my life,” I gush. I should feel conscious at the volume of food I have eaten sitting here but neither of the two have commented or have paid any attention to my diet, their sole interest it seems is to make sure I am happy to try out this strange relationship they are proposing. I look over to Flynn. “Please do tell your friend’s nonna how much I enjoyed her food.”
“I will do. She doesn’t work evenings anymore but I can pass on your compliments.”
“Thank you, do you come here often?” I say and then giggle. Rory starts to laugh and before long even Flynn has cracked a smile as the giggles take over me. It must be the bubbles or the relief that feels palpable in the room. Everything feels lighter, comfortable. It’s like the business has been taken care of and now the fun can begin. I have to take a sip of water before I start hiccuping.
When the hilarity has died down, Flynn replies, “Yes, I come here often,” which chokes me back into a fit of giggles and then full blown hiccups hit and I’m done for. Lucky for me, I’ve finished eating along with the men.
A moment later, like perfect waiters, a man and a woman enter the room quietly to clear our plates, open a new bottle of champagne, top up our glasses and leave delicate bowls of what looks like chocolate mousse in the centre of the table. I am not sure I can fit more food in at this time. When we are alone again, my hiccups subsiding, I look on at my favourite dessert. “I am not sure I have room for much more,” I say. “How about you?” I look from side to side. They exchange a look betweenthem which I catch. “You’re welcome to mine if you’re still hungry,” I offer.
“Believe me, you are not going to want to miss out on dessert,” says Rory, a wicked smile spreading across his face.
“I would ordinarily hate to. Can we let our main meal go down a little before we go in for the finale of Nonna’s?” I plead.
“We can do that,” replies Flynn as I sit back in my chair and sip on my champagne and take in the view out on the street as people walk by and go in and out of the different restaurants across the street. We spend the next hour chatting about small things, big things, families, friends and everything in between. Flynn and Rory ask about my parents, ask where I grew up and what I enjoy to eat. It feels easy and my heart feels lighter as I get to know these two men who I’ve known but never really known anything personal about in all this time. When the second champagne bottle is empty Flynn looks at me, “Are you ready for dessert?” I take a deep breath and wonder if I really have any more room left in my stomach for more food.
Not wanting to be rude, I reply, “I think I’m ready.”
My agreement seems to satisfy him as he looks to Rory and then back at me. “Good, because I’ve been looking forward to dessert all evening.”
Seems like a strange thing to say.Maybe he really enjoys Nonna's mousse?I wonder.
“You need to stand Sophie,” Rory asks.
“Stand… why?”
“We don’t want to get anything on your pretty dress, as gorgeous as it is. I don’t trust Flynn and his big muscles to keep it intact on your body.
“I’m getting undressed?”
