Chapter 18 #2
This is exactly what I needed.
The following week, Jack pitches taking Bree out to dinner. Arthur and I are both surprised by this turn of events but try not to show it.
“What?” says Jack, who notices our expressions anyway. “You don’t think I can be romantic?”
“I think you can do whatever you set your mind to.” I shake his shoulder playfully. “If you want it to be romantic, we could always wear something nice. Take her to a fancy spot.”
I wonder what she’d wear. I bet someone as stylish as Bree has a great collection.
“Ask her if she’s free at seven tomorrow,” says Jack. “I’ll make a reservation.”
Arthur reports back that she’s available, and Jack quickly makes the call.
We put on our best clothes that aren’t suits, which results in me in a collared shirt and slacks, Arthur in a polo, and Jack in a slim-fitting gray vest.
“Haven’t seen you wear that since that wedding a few years ago.” I walk up behind him in the mirror. I lean over his shoulder to rest my chin on it. “You look good.”
Jack nods. “Thanks.” Then he relaxes and he reaches up to scratch me behind the ear the way I like.
We head to Bree’s place in Jack’s SUV to pick her up in style. She’s waiting on the curb in a cute green polka-dot dress and a matching bag over her shoulder, and I knew she’d look good. I’m sitting in the front seat, so I hop out, take her arm, and guide her into it.
Then we’re off, headed downtown to a place we’ve only been once on an anniversary a few years ago. Jack eventually finds a parking spot on the busy street, and I jump out immediately to offer Bree my arm. She giggles as she takes it.
“You’re such a gentleman, Bennett,” she croons, and my dick practically gets hard.
We walk arm-in-arm behind Jack and Arthur, and it’s good to be close to her again. Maybe tonight I’ll finally kiss her the way Jack got to. I want to find out what she tastes like. Then I want to taste other places on her, if she’ll allow it.
Yeah, I have plans, so sue me.
The restaurant is packed, being a Friday night, and we weave through tables to get to ours. Right away, Jack orders us wine, not even asking the table what we’d prefer. Which is very typical. Bree giggles into her elbow as I make a face.
Conversation is easy as we catch up on our days. Then Arthur dives in, asking Bree if she’s gone back to work. She shakes her head and sighs.
“Not yet. Luckily, I still have my first few payments from DreamTogether, and they’ve invited me to come back when I feel up to it.”
I sit up straighter at this news. “You’d go back to DreamTogether?”
An aching jealousy rears its head. Someone else mating Bree? Not one of us?
“Sure,” she says. “I want to buy a condo. I think I could save up a down payment, you know?”
I bristle at that even more. I don’t want her living alone. I want her living with us. Having a fawn with us. I’m about to speak when Arthur beats me to it.
“Don’t,” he says, gripping his napkin. “When you want to try again…” He trails off, glancing at Jack and me. We haven’t talked about this, what another attempt would look like, but I think it’s been on all our minds in the background.
Across from me, Jack nods, then I do, too.
“Why not do it with us?” Arthur barrels on. “We know each other, and we don’t need DreamTogether anymore to accomplish it.”
Bree’s eyes fly up to his. Her mouth twists in uncertainty.
“How would that work?” she asks. “Then you wouldn’t have DreamTogether anymore to facilitate.”
“What needs facilitating?” I reach into her lap to take one of her hands in mine. “We know what to do.”
“Well, yeah, for that part.” Brie giggles. “But what about everything else?”
“We would still pay you.” Jack’s voice is serious. Both Arthur and I look at him with surprise. “If that’s what you’re worried about. You can still buy that condo, if you want.”
I try to read his face, but as always, it’s tough to tell what he’s thinking.
Bree’s mouth opens, then closes again. Before she can speak, the wine appears, and the waiter takes our orders. When he’s gone, though, it looks like she’s had her time to think.
“We would need a contract,” she says, her tone changing into one I haven’t heard before: her businesswoman voice. “I won’t feel comfortable without one.”
Arthur wilts beside me. “Don’t you trust us?”
I’m a little hurt, too, when our relationship has been going so well.
“I do trust you,” she says, expression softening. “And I’m so grateful for what we have. But…”
Jack waves a hand. “I understand. You want protection. I’m happy to consult with a lawyer for a surrogacy contract.”
Still, I’m over the moon that she’s really considering this. It hadn’t been on the to-do list, but now that it’s come up, I know exactly what I want. Arthur’s sitting on his hands, clearly trying not to get too excited.
“Really?” Bree says, looking directly at Jack. “You still… want this? With me?”
He reaches across the table toward her, and she takes his offered hand hesitantly.
“I think you are the perfect mother for our fawn,” he says, his voice softer. “If you’re willing to give us another shot.”
Bree glances at each of us, then nods her head. “Get a contract together, and it’s a deal.”
Arthur pumps his fist in the air, and I wrap an arm around Bree’s shoulder to give her a sideways hug. She giggles, and I love the sound of her happy.
Our fancy dinner is exceptionally good, and by the end we’re all a bit tipsy except for Jack, who only had one glass before switching to water. His eyes have been trained on Bree for most of the night, though he doesn’t speak much.
I wonder if he’s imagining what I’m imagining. I wonder if he sees a future here, and this is just one step toward it. Because I do, and I’m ready to take the leap.