Chapter 33
Adrian
“It’s just dinner,” Maddy says, her voice the only thing soothing about this moment. “We’re going to be fine. We’ve made it through dinner with Riley and then Caleb’s mom. This is going to go just as well.”
I glance over at my beautiful girlfriend as we sit around the table at an upscale restaurant on the east side of the city.
“You don’t know my parents. There’s nothing about this that’s going to be like those dinners.
My parents are rigid. That’s why we’re here ten minutes early.
If we’re late, we’ll get grilled even worse. ”
“They are assholes,” Caleb mutters under his breath beside me. “But this is just going to be what it’ll be. We can handle it.”
“It will be fine.” Maddy slides her hand over mine, thumb working the groove where my pulse hammers.
“Well, I’m sure they’ll blame me for being a bad influence if they really get going off on a tangent.” Beck is already through one full glass of wine. He’s feeding off my nerves, and that’s only making it worse.
“Can I get you another glass?” A waiter appears, and Maddy suddenly stiffens beside me, her caress halting.
I whip my head around to her, and then follow her gaze to the waiter, standing just to the left of Beck. Maddy’s eyes are locked on his, and his on hers.
What the hell?
“Do you know each other?” Caleb beats me to the punch.
“Yeah,” the waiter says, his jaw tensing. His dark hair is gelled out of his face, and his bright blue eyes are suddenly malevolent. “We dated for a little bit.”
“Two years, actually,” Maddy corrects him, her tone sharp. “This is Wes, my ex-boyfriend.”
Beck tips his head back and visibly makes it a point to size him up. “This is the dipshit who cheated on you at your friend’s wedding? What a fucking disappointment. I thought for sure he’d be more… impressive.”
Wes’s jaw slackens, and he keeps his attention on Maddy. “Yeah, well, good to know I’m still on your mind.” His voice is so sharp, it has me considering what a felony would look like on my record.
“I don’t think she wonders much about you.” Beck is on top of it, jutting out a hand to ease him backward. “But I’ll have you know, I slept with her the same night and reminded her what a goddamn prize she is.”
“Since when do you wait tables?” Maddy cuts in and makes a face at him, just as I squeeze her hand. “I thought you were busy helping businesses build their brewery brands.”
“Life changes,” Wes snaps at her and gives her a dirty look, and that’s it.
I’m out of my chair.
“Adrian,” Maddy grabs my hand. “It’s okay.”
Wes’s eyes jump from Maddy to the hold she has on my hand. “What? You’re with this guy, too?”
“All three, actually,” Maddy snarls. “And they all treat me better than you ever did.”
He glares at her. “That’s fucking disgusting. I had no idea you were so…easy.”
Yep. I have to stop this before I end up in jail.
I wave my hand, catching sight of the manager, who immediately comes over. “I’d like to request another server,” I say, as soon as she arrives at our table. “This man is being incredibly rude to my girlfriend. Borderline sexual harassment, actually.”
Maddy tugs me back down, but I don’t relent, loving the fear etched in her ex’s face.
“I’d like him removed, so she doesn’t even have to look at him.”
“Of course, Mr. Frank,” the manager nods, brushing her gray hair from her face. “He’s been a bit of a problem in general.” She glares at Wes. “Go work the patio, Wes.”
His eyes widen, but he shuts up, glaring at the four of us, before disappearing, his manager following him. I take my seat again and then turn to Maddy.
“I can’t have him making a hard night any harder,” I chuckle.
Maddy lets out a little giggle. “Well, honestly, I was kind of enjoying it.”
I open my mouth to say something about it, but then I stop.
My mother is heading for our table, her mouth set in a thin line, but her eyes are bright and eager, maybe even kind.
She’s dressed in a white turtleneck, pearls, navy slacks, and her hair pulled back with the same relentless discipline she once tried to apply to me.
Behind her, my father looms, taller than memory, his eyebrows preemptively furrowed, but otherwise unreadable.
Perfect fucking timing.
“Adrian!” My mother waltzes around the table and wraps me in an awkward hug. “You look wonderful.”
“Hi, Mom,” I manage. She turns immediately to the others.
She holds out her hand to Maddy. “You must be Madeline,” she says.
“Just Maddy will do,” she squeaks, taking my mom’s hand and shaking it.
“Well, I can’t wait to get to know you. I’m sure all these boys have been good to you, right?”
Maddy’s shoulders suddenly relax. “Yes, they have.”
“You can call me Nora,” she pats Maddy’s hand, and then takes her seat at the table.
My father gives Maddy a nod. “Nice to meet you, Maddy.”
She gives him a smile, and we all let them settle in at the table, ordering their drinks from the new waiter assigned to our table. My heart pounds uncomfortably in my chest, but I force myself to breathe through it.
Everything is going to be okay. They already kind of know what’s going on.
“So,” my father says, as soon as the server scurries off. “I have to admit, I was a little confused by your last text, Adrian. The wording was unusual.”
Here it comes.
Maddy squeezes my knee. I set my glass of wine down.
“Well, I wanted to explain the fact that while Maddy and I are together, she’s also with Beck and Caleb as well,” I force the words out. “We’re kind of polyamorous, I guess.”
My mother’s arm stops midair, the water sloshing in the glass. My father’s jaw doesn’t move, but his eyes fix on mine, drilling for truth.
There’s a three-second eternity where no one at the table moves or speaks.
Beck breaks the silence. “It’s obviously a little unconventional, but the heart wants what it wants, right, sir?” He flashes a smile.
And I wait, watching my parents carefully.
Mom recovers first. She sets her glass down, laces her fingers on the table, and looks directly at me. “And are you happy with this arrangement?”
“Um…” The question stuns me. “Yes, I am.”
She nods and then gives me a tight-lipped smile. “Well, then that’s what matters. I would have liked a little warning that this is what you meant by it being ‘different,’ but I suppose you always did prefer to keep us on our toes.” She lets out a laugh, and a huge rush of relief floods my body.
Beck and Caleb’s shoulders drop as well. Maddy remains poised with a sweet little smile on her face. She’s just that fucking amazing in tense situations.
I turn to my father, gaining some courage now. “What do you think, Dad?”
Dad’s voice is soft. “Is this how you see your future?”
“Yes,” I answer him, not even bothering to add an explanation. “We have a solid agreement on how we want this to go, and we’re all happy with it. We openly communicate, and don’t keep things from each other.”
Dad seems to consider my words. He looks at each of them in turn, then back to me. “Well, you’re a braver man than I ever was,” he says, and lifts his glass. “I guess, to family, however you make it.”
Everyone toasts. Maddy’s eyes are shining, and when she looks at me, there’s so much pride it’s almost unbearable.
It’s like she knew it was going to work out.
The rest of dinner goes smoother than I dreamed possible. Mom asks questions about how we intend to split holidays, and Dad wants to know more about Maddy’s place at the company. Beck and Caleb volunteer for a golf weekend, which I know my dad will never go for, but the three laugh about it anyway.
And by the time we’re leaving, there’s not an ounce of worry left.
Dad places a hand on my shoulder, holding me back as Maddy, Mom, and the guys stay ahead. “You know,” he begins, “I always thought you were holding something back, Adrian. I worried you’d grow up and turn into me.”
I shake my head, letting out a breath. “No chance of that.”
He smiles, patting my shoulder. “You did better. I’m proud of you, son.”
I feel something loosen in my chest. For the first time in my entire life, I think I believe him when he says it—and it didn’t take running a billion-dollar company.
Just authenticity.
We join the others, and when my parents’ cab pulls along the curb, Mom hugs all four of us, lingering a second longer with Maddy. Dad shakes everyone’s hand again, then pulls me into a hug that is brief but solid.
“Don’t wait so long next time,” he says. “We want to be a part of your life.”
“Okay, Dad.”
After they disappear, we walk back to the car together. Maddy’s arm stays around my waist, Beck bounces ahead whistling, and Caleb trails behind with the leftovers. Halfway down the block, Maddy stops me.
She turns me to face her, hands on my cheeks. “You did it,” she whispers.
I grin down at her. “We did it.”
She kisses me. “And I can’t wait to spend the rest of forever with all of you.”
“Me either.” I squeeze her once more.
This is everything I needed, and never even fucking knew it.
When we get to my apartment, I pour us each one more glass of wine. This whole night gives us a reason to celebrate. Maddy met my parents. They loved her.
And they seemed to approve of the dynamic.
“A toast?” Caleb grabs a glass and raises it.
“Yeah.” I lift my glass. “To family.”
“To family.” Maddy’s eyes go glossy. She clinks my glass, then Beck’s, then Caleb’s.
“Fuck yeah,” Beck drawls, and drains half his drink in one go.
Caleb looks at Maddy, a mischievous look on his face. “Let’s go to the bedroom. I think we need more than a toast.”
My cock twitches at the thought. “I can’t disagree with that.”
We file into my room, and the city follows us, the skyline a silent witness through the wraparound windows.
Maddy is first on the bed, flopping backwards with a giggle that cracks the tension.
Beck dives after her, and they wrestle for a second, limbs everywhere, before she pins him with a knee to the chest and a grin that could break hearts.
Maddy sits up, pulls me down next to her, and we’re all there on the mattress, the boundaries gone.
Maddy’s mouth finds my neck, my jaw, and then my lips. I let out a moan into her mouth, my hands threading through her hair, as Caleb and Beck begin to strip her of her pretty silver dress.
Maddy undresses me as soon as they finish, like she wants to see every square inch. Her hands are soft and her mouth hot against my skin. Beck moves behind Maddy, as she kisses down my abdomen, her mouth finally sucking on the head of my cock.
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
She takes me deeper, and then moans as Beck spreads her ass, burying his face in from behind. Caleb strokes himself, and then slides beneath Maddy, positioning himself to slide into her pussy, when she’s ready.
Maddy moves to straddle him, and I hold her hair, so she can keep sucking my dick while she and Caleb situate themselves. Beck follows her ass, continuing to lubricate it with his mouth as Caleb moves slowly.
I moan as she suddenly deep throats me, my balls pressing to her chin. “Goddamn, Maddy. You’re so good.”
Beck watches, jerking himself as he leans back, eyes dark and hungry. “Let me have your ass, Maddy Girl.”
“Mhmm,” she whimpers, releasing my cock from her mouth to take a breath. “You can have my ass, Beck.”
“I love it when you say that,” Beck groans, lining up against her.
She sucks my cock, as he presses into the back of her, and the sight of it makes me throb even harder against her tongue. I could fucking come right then and there, just seeing how good my pretty girl takes us.
“You feel so good, baby.” Caleb fucks her from below, careful at first and then faster as soon as Beck’s work his way fully in her ass. I enjoy the sight of them simultaneously fucking her.
“Oh god,” Maddy moans out, as Caleb reaches down between the two of them and rubs her clit, helping her reach her climax. She makes these cute little noises as she goes back to letting me face fuck her, and I feel her jaw tense as she reaches the edge.
“There it is,” Caleb pants, thrusting harder. “That’s it, baby girl. Come for us.”
She peers up at me and locks eyes. It’s so beautiful, seeing all the pleasure there in her blue irises. I explode down her throat right as she reaches her orgasm, and she swallows my cum and cries out, tipping her head back.
And it sets off a domino effect.
“Oh fuck, Maddy, Maddy, Maddy,” Beck reaches climax in her ass, gripping her hips as he finishes, letting out some sort of guttural grunt.
Caleb is the last to go, and he sucks on her nipple as his hips stutter upward, spilling into her pretty pussy. He moans into her chest, and I release Maddy’s hair, letting her collapse down onto Caleb’s chest.
I look at Maddy, and she’s watching me, her eyes soft. “This is all so amazing,” she whispers, just as I plop down on the bed beside them.
I kiss her damp temple. “You’re the one who makes it amazing, Maddy.”
Beck sighs as he pulls out of her. “It’s sappy, but true.”
Caleb nods, nuzzling in close to her. “But I can’t imagine living a life any other way. I love you, Maddy.”
“I love you all,” she closes her eyes, as I caress her back and Beck begins to rub her feet. “I don’t ever want this to end.”
I smile. “I don’t think it will.”
I think we’re going to make it to forever.
The four of us.