Chapter 33
FOUR-GONE CONCLUSION
MAJOR
Abby’s fucking perfect.
And I mean that in all the ways it can be meant.
She’s gorgeous, kind, unbelievably sexy and she matches with all three of us in different ways. It’s like a portion of her soul was created for each of us.
I internally cringe at my sappiness because that sounds cliché, but it’s the truth.
Is it possible to meet your perfect match and know she’s not just for you?
I’ve been around a lot longer than all of them.
I know exactly what I want and what makes sense for me.
I knew I would never remarry. I enjoyed marriage for what it was, but I also knew that it wasn’t for me.
It didn’t have anything to do with committing to another person.
I’m without a doubt loyal and committed in anything that I’m passionate about, but my likes and dislikes are too particular and what makes sense for me would probably not make sense for others.
But with these three, something just clicks. Physically, emotionally, sexually.
Now, if I can just get Wade to see it.
The moment he heard Rachel’s voice, he kicked Jasper away so fast, I swear it was like he thought he was a bomb waiting to explode.
I’m actually surprised at how well Jasper is acting. Well, maybe not. Jasper takes everything in stride. But I can’t imagine how vulnerable he felt when Wade did that.
He seems to be okay now but he’s also using Abby as a shield, holding on to her like he wants to trap her in his arms and never let go.
She’s smiling and asking questions as they cuddle on the couch talking about his family farm and their first meeting at the Farmer’s Market. I love how relaxed they feel together.
“They’re good together,” Wade says as he steps up next to me, placing the cutting board on the counter.
His body is rigid, rivaling the intensity of his gaze on them, contradicting the easiness in his words and I see exactly what he’s doing. Pushing her, us, away before he gets hurt.
“We’re all good together,” I reply as I turn toward him and lean into the kitchen island. I can tell he wants to say more. He wants to say a lot. I think he normally does but he keeps to himself, holding back all the things he wants to say and do for fear of what, I don’t know.
“Lily’s getting big,” I change the subject because I know this will get him talking.
He smiles, that adoring smile only a smitten father can have. “She is, she’s talking a lot. Understanding so much more everyday. Scary as hell.”
“She’ll be understanding about a lot of things, you know,” I add and he just nods slowly as he chops the carrots I left out on the counter.
“She’ll understand your schedule is challenging, working the shifts we work.
She’ll understand that you do this to give her a good life with as many opportunities as possible.
And she’ll understand if you start dating someone, anyone,” I pronounce slowly, deliberately, “male, female…multiple,” I add.
He stops chopping and side-eyes me, then looks down taking a deep breath through his nose.
His eyes shut, like he’s talking himself into speaking and when he reopens them they’re laser focused on Jasper and Abby.
“What the hell does that even look like Major? I’ve never even had a healthy relationship with one woman, how could I even manage being good enough for her, for…us.”
“I’ve had multiple relationships that have ended in a break up and one massively failed marriage. I’m definitely not the right person to answer that question,” I say, honestly.
His shoulders are still tense and his face screws up as he glares at me.
“If you’re trying to sell me on this whole poly thing, you’re failing miserably.”
I chuckle, because it’s not often that Wade has a snarky come back. Jasper is rubbing off on him in a good way.
“No, what I’m saying is I haven’t had the best run with women and neither have you.
Jasper has had a ton of surface level relationships but nothing serious because, honestly, I don’t think one person will ever be able to satisfy him.
We’re all still single and we’re enjoying this.
I don’t see why we can’t figure it out…talk about it.
See if it will work, you know?” I glance over at him and I can see he’s absorbing my words even though he’s completely silent.
“There’s a strong connection we all have with Abby.
You and Jasper are…” He winces as he frowns and I can tell it’s not from disgust but from shame.
And I don’t know if it’s because he likes Jasper and doesn’t know how to process it or feels bad for how he treated him.
I skim over that and avoid elaborating my thoughts on that.
“And me, well, you know my situation. It’s a good fit,” I state, factually.
He pauses for a moment then shakes his head.
“I don’t know, Maj. I just—”
Wade is interrupted by the incessant buzzing of Abby’s phone that’s on the corner of the coffee table.
It’s already buzzed once, which by way of modern day default we all easily ignored.
But as it continues, the microscopic but continuous movement now places the phone at the edge of the table and it’s on the verge of falling off.
Just as Abby glances in its direction, it takes the dive off the table and hits the floor with a resounding thud.
Jasper reaches out for it from his spot on the couch, his body still wrapped around Abby, and she giggles as he squeaks out a grunt, his fingertips finding the corner of the phone case and finally takes a hold of it.
He passes it to Abby only after making her give him a kiss for it.
Wade rolls his eyes, but I don’t miss the corner of his mouth turning up ever so slightly at their adorable behavior.
Although I keep my eye on Abby because as I’ve seen so far, she’s got a lot of so-called friends that aren’t really friends, and I’m wondering if it’s the same person who called to cancel on her earlier.
She was so disappointed after getting off that call, and when she told me why, I completely understood.
No one as young as her should be alone on Christmas.
She shouldn’t be alone ever, but during the holidays, that’s ludicrous in my opinion.
So, for her friend to cancel on her, well, that doesn’t seem like much of a friend to me.
I watch as she taps on her phone, her brows pinch together and her expression slowly morphs from happy to confused, a concerned look crosses her face, then her face falls as her eyes skim back and forth over the screen.
Jasper is none the wiser, since he’s laying behind her, mindlessly twirling a piece of her hair in his finger.
She must tense because he stops, glances over her shoulder and peers at her phone.
He looks dumbfounded and slightly confused.
He cranes his neck forward, trying to get a good look at her face, as if to check on her well-being.
She sits up urgently, and now I can’t help but ask, “What’s wrong, Abby?”