Chapter 17 #3
"The three of us," Gavin continues, his expression wounded. "Me, James, and Caleb. Our little... arrangement." He wiggles his eyebrows suggestively.
James catches on immediately and slides an arm around my waist from the other side. "We were waiting for the right moment," he says solemnly. "A throuple isn't something you spring on people."
My father looks like he might pass out. "A... what?"
"Throuple," Gavin says helpfully. "Three people, all dating each other. Very progressive. Very modern."
To drive his point home, Gavin plants a quick, chaste kiss on my lips that leaves me too stunned to react.
"I... need to speak with the governor," my father stammers, beating a hasty retreat.
As soon as he's out of earshot, the three of us break into laughter.
"Did you see his face?" Gavin wheezes. "I thought he was going to swallow his tongue!"
"That was brilliant." Wiping tears of laughter away. "Completely insane, but brilliant."
Fuck that's gonna come back and bite me in the ass, but father's face was absolutely perfect. I almost don't care about the fallout. That was so good, I want to kiss Gavin, maybe I should. No, that's not a good idea. Maybe on the cheek? No, I’ll just kiss James a bunch more.
"A throuple reveal," James smirks. "Not how I expected the evening to end."
"Sorry about the kiss," Gavin says, looking between us. "Just wanted to see your dad's face implode. No offence, James, but he's all yours."
All his. Yeah. That works.
James rolls his eyes and mock punches Gavin's shoulder. "Keep your lips off my boyfriend, Robins."
The casual claim sends a thrill through me that I try not to examine too closely.
"Ready to get out of here?"
"God, yes," James says.
We're halfway to the exit when my mother appears in front of me, perfectly timed as always.
"Caleb, before you go, the Jeffersons were asking about you. They have a daughter at Pacific Coast who's pre-law. Could you spare five minutes?"
I stroke the arm of James’ jacket. "You mind?"
"Go ahead," he says. "We'll wait by the door."
As my mother steers me toward an elderly couple, I glance back to see my father approaching the guys. Something cold settles in my stomach, but before I can excuse myself, my mother's grip on my arm tightens.
"The Jeffersons donate very generously to the campaign," she murmurs, her smile never faltering.
Five minutes turn into fifteen as I'm introduced not only to the Jeffersons but also to three other couples with university-aged children. By the time I extract myself, Gavin is talking to a short man who is gesturing wildly like he is throwing a football, and James is nowhere to be seen.
Scanning the room anxiously for James, I spot him near a large potted plant, his expression unreadable as he stares at nothing in particular. Whatever my father said to him… it wasn't good.
"James?" I approach cautiously. What the hell happened?.
He blinks, focusing on me. "Yeah. Fine." He tries to but it doesn't reach his eyes. "Ready when you are."
Making eye contact with Gavin, I see him glance at James and quickly excuse himself. Gavin's hand lands on James's shoulder while I continue to search his face for damage.
"Ready to bounce?" Gavin asks, already steering us toward the exit.
James nods, but the tension in his jaw hasn't eased.
"I'm okay," he says quietly, meant for me more than Gavin.
"Didn't ask." But my hand finds the small of his back anyway.
We're almost to the door when an elegant woman in a navy dress intercepts Gavin.
"Mr. Robins? Jennifer Baker, University Alumni Association. Could I have a word?"
Gavin glances at us with a small sigh. "Go ahead," he says. "I'll catch up."
James and I step outside into the cool night air. The contrast between the stuffy ballroom and the open sky makes me take a deep breath.
"Thank you. For tonight. For all of it."
James turns to me, his expression softening. "You don't need to thank me."
"Yes, I do. You were amazing in there. With my family, with the donors, with everything." A pause. "Especially after what I learned about your past."
His eyes search mine. "Does it bother you? That I was homeless?"
"God, no! It makes me admire you more. You built yourself up from nothing. You created your own life. I'm still playing by my parents' rules."
"You're breaking those rules more than you realize," he says. "What you did tonight for Rainbow Haven—"
I don't let him finish. Instead, I close the distance between us and kiss him. Not like our snowball fight kiss, which was all heat and confusion, but something softer, more deliberate, a choice.
He responds immediately, his hand coming up to cup my face, holding me like I'm something precious. When we break apart, his eyes are dark in the moonlight.
"Still pretending?" he asks quietly.
Shaking my head. "No. Not for a while now. You?"
"No," he admits. "Not since the snowball fight. Maybe before."
I feel lighter than I have all night. "Good."
We're still standing close when Gavin emerges from the hotel, looking odd.
"Everything okay?"
"Yeah, fine," he says with a small smile, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. "Just tired. Let's head back."
As we walk to the car, James has gone quiet. He's holding my hand, but he seems distracted, like his mind is somewhere else.
Something happened inside, something I missed.
But as we drive away from my father's world and back toward campus, toward what's becoming our world, I decide it can wait until tomorrow. Tonight, despite everything, feels like a win.
James's thumb traces circles on my palm while Gavin snores from the backseat.
And for once, that's enough.