16. Aubree
SIXTEEN
“Let me get this straight. You have a harem of men who want you to be with them, and you’re asking me if I think you should do it?”
I roll my eyes at Lacey. “First of all, for it to be a harem, it’d have to be three or more guys with one woman. In my case, there are only two, so it would be a menage or a polyamorous relationship.”
Lacey snorts. “It sounds like you’re familiar with these terms. Is this the shit you read about? I might need to pick up reading.” She waggles her brows, and I groan.
“Can you focus, please?”
“Sorry.” She shrugs, clearly not at all sorry. “So Brody and Hayden knew the entire time you were dating them both, and instead of being mad, they proposed you continue to date them both. And you’re not sure if you should. Am I following?”
“Yes.” I’m also upset that they hid the fact that they knew all along, but since we all made some shitty choices, and they clearly aren’t mad that I was two-timing them, I’ve decided to let it go. No point in dwelling on what’s already happened.
“I only have one question,” Lacey says seriously, her eyes locking with mine. “Will you be fucked by them both at the same time?”
“Lacey!” I hiss, glancing around to make sure her husband isn’t listening.
“What?” She throws her arms up in the air. “C’mon, Bree. Just the other day, you were in tears because you thought you had to pick one and you couldn’t. Only to now be told that you get both of those yummy men. What’s the issue here?”
“The issue is…” I clear my throat. “The issue is that…” I sigh and bang my head on the table in frustration.
“The issue is that you’re seriously considering it, and that scares the hell out of you,” Lacey says, hitting the nail on the head.
I glance up at her. “This isn’t just like a one-time threesome, Lace. They want an actual relationship. Like to date both of them.” I swallow down the emotion clogging my throat. “They talked about a future. Like with the three of us and my kids.”
“Do you like them both enough to see where it goes?”
“Yeah, I do. I mean, I know it’s only been a few weeks, but…”
“But?” she prompts.
“I told you about the butterflies. I knew the moment I met Pete that he was the one. And I think the reason it was so hard to pick between Hayden and Brody was because I felt that same connection with them.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“A poly relationship isn’t the norm. I have two kids who lost their father. I’m trying to provide stability. Their mother being with two men is hardly considered stable. And what if this all goes wrong? Where does that leave me? Where does that leave us?”
“You had the perfect stable life with Pete. You guys did everything the right way. Dated, got engaged, married, moved in together, bought a home, had two beautiful babies. You guys were the definition of perfectly stable, yet it still ended with you heartbroken.”
I swallow thickly. “We weren’t perfect,” I mutter.
“Pretty damn close,” she says. “My point is that nothing’s guaranteed.” She takes my hand in hers and squeezes it gently. “So maybe it’s okay to live your life however you want because at the end of the day, what’s the point if we’re not living and loving, even if it’s not considered the norm?
“I’ve only met Hayden and Brody a few times, but even I can see how much they care about you. Why not see where it goes? And as far as your kids are concerned, is it so bad that they see their mom being loved by two men? I think there are worse things in life than that.” She shrugs.
“And,” she adds, not finished, “after losing their dad and Grandma Violet, would it be so horrible that they’re loved by two more people? Because we both know Miles and Evie are so freaking lovable, and I have no doubt the moment they meet Brody and Hayden, they’ll have them wrapped around their little fingers. Nobody is immune to their charm.”
She finishes her little speech and stares at me patiently, waiting for me to think, but the truth is, there’s nothing to think about because she’s right. I learned the hard way that life is too damn short, and people can be taken from you in the blink of an eye, so it’s pointless to worry about the what-ifs. I have two men I care about who want to continue getting to know me and like me enough to consider a future. Maybe it will work out, maybe it won’t, but I would be crazy not to see where it goes.
“You’re right,” I tell her. “I would be a fool to let two men who care about me walk away simply because our relationship wouldn’t be conventional.”
“Exactly,” she agrees. “Plus, who the hell would say no to being DP’d?”
“D what?” I look at her in confusion.
“DP’d,” she repeats. When I look at her like she has two heads, she sighs. “You know, when two guys take a woman at the same time. One in her pussy and the other in her ass.”
“Lacey!” I hiss, smacking her hand and shoving it away.
“What? Don’t you read all those romance novels? Watch porn? It’s been like forever since you’ve gotten laid. You have to be using something to get yourself off.”
“Yes, I read those kinds of books and watch porn, but I didn’t know it was called that.”
“Okay, so now you know. And you, my lucky best friend, get to be DP’d. I’m totally going to be living vicariously through you.”
“I doubt that will be happening,” I say, trying—and failing—not to think about Brody and Hayden taking me at the same time. Jesus, that would be hot.
“Why not?”
“For starters, my life isn’t a romance novel or a porno. They said things would continue how they are. Me dating both of them. Although…” I trail off, remembering what they said about being with women at the same time in college.
“You should probably talk to them,” Lacey says. “Make sure you guys are on the same page…in every way.” She waggles her brows suggestively.
“You’re right.” I pull out my phone and send a group text, asking them if we can get together to talk. This is all complicated as it is. I’d rather figure this all out before my kids get home. That way, they aren't affected if it doesn’t work out.
They both text back that they can meet me anywhere and anytime. Since I’m already out, I offer to go to them, and Brody texts back their address and that I can come over whenever I want.
“I’m going over to their place so we can talk.”
“Good.” We stand, and Lacey pulls me into a hug. “Just remember that the only thing that matters is your happiness. And when you’re happy, your kids will be happy too. Everyone else outside your bubble can go fuck themselves.”
“I don’t know what I would do without your crazy ass,” I tell her, hugging her back.
“Well, it’s a good thing you’ll never have to find out.” She pulls back and winks, and I smile, despite the pain her words elicit deep inside me. She meant it as a joke, but since Pete and my grandma died, I’ve learned not to count on anyone to be there. Maybe it’s time I start letting people in again and stop living in fear of losing everyone I love.
When I walk into the lobby of Hayden and Brody’s place, I’m met with an elderly gentleman dressed in a suit who greets me with a soft smile. Brody warned me that I’d have to check in with the front desk before I could go up the first time, so I’m prepared. After introducing myself and giving him my ID, he scans it. He then has me sign a couple of papers before handing me an elevator key and the code I need to input to go to their floor, which is apparently the penthouse.
“Thank you,” I tell him when he hands me the key. “Do I return it here when I’m done with it or?—?”
“No, ma’am,” he says. “It’s yours to keep. If you should ever no longer need it, we can deactivate it at the desk.”
I thank him, shocked that Brody has requested I have my own key before I’ve even agreed to anything.
As I take the elevator up to their floor, I send him a text:
An elevator key, huh? A little presumptuous, aren’t we?
A text from him comes in almost immediately after mine goes through:
More like hopeful.
Instead of responding, I get off the elevator, expecting to end up in a hallway, only to find myself standing in their foyer.
“Is that elevator just for you?” I ask as I walk deeper into their home.
“It is,” Brody says, coming over and giving me a kiss on my cheek. He takes my hand in his and guides me farther inside. “Hayden is on a business call, but he’ll be out shortly. While we wait, why don’t I give you a tour?”
We start in the spacious living room that looks professionally furnished and decorated. With onyx hardwood floors, stylish black leather furniture, and pristine white walls, the place screams single and wealthy. A beautiful fireplace sits in the corner next to a black spiral staircase that must lead to the second floor.
“And this is the kitchen,” he says as we walk into a gorgeous, state-of-the-art kitchen bigger than my entire apartment. I admire the top-of-the-line appliances, and the number of cabinets and counters are a baker’s wet dream.
“We don’t cook much.” He shrugs sheepishly. “So it’s kind of a waste, but it came with the place.”
“God, I could live here,” I blurt out. When Brody’s brows fly up to his forehead, I quickly backtrack. “I mean, in this kitchen. Not here, like here, here. Like, I’m not trying to move in… I just really like the kitchen…” Brody snorts at my rambling, and I sigh. “I just meant that this kitchen is amazing, and if I had one like this, I’d probably bake in it all day.”
“Well…” Brody steps toward me and pushes me gently against the counter. “You’re welcome to bake here any time you want.” With my hair in a high ponytail, he wraps his fingers around the strands and tugs my head to the side, giving himself access to my neck. “Hell, if you wanted to live here, I don’t think either of us would be opposed.”
“I don’t think that’d be?—”
Brody presses his warm lips to the sensitive spot just beneath my ear, cutting off my train of thought, my only focus now on how good his lips feel on me. He trails his tongue along my heated flesh, and I moan.
“Damn, I leave to make one phone call and miss all the fun.”
I jump at Hayden’s voice and try to push Brody away. Only when I reach out, he snags my hand and spins me around, so he’s leaning against the counter, and I’m facing Hayden with my back pressed against Brody’s very hard front.
“Sorry,” I squeak out, dropping my face to look at the ground in embarrassment at having been caught with Brody.
“For what?” Hayden steps around the island and stops in front of me. “What are you sorry for?” He pinches my chin and forces me to look at him. “A part of dating both of us means you’re with both of us in every way, and we don’t get jealous.” He proves his point by leaning in and pressing his lips to mine in a passionate yet quick kiss. “Fuck, I’ve missed those lips,” he murmurs as he pulls back.
“Well, Bree here, was just saying how she wants to move in,” Brody says with a laugh.
“I did not!” I smack his chest and try to get away, but he wraps his arms around my torso and holds me tighter. “I said I could live in your kitchen.”
Hayden chuckles. “Have you shown her the bedroom yet? Maybe we can convince her to live in there.” He waggles his brows, and I reach out to playfully smack him. Only when my hand lands on his chest, he grabs ahold of it and tugs me out of Brody’s arms and into his.
His mouth crashes down on mine and his tongue darts past my parted lips, tasting me. I can’t help but sigh into the kiss, wanting more. I always want more. The kiss ends all too soon, and I’m left panting like a dog in heat, wishing I could hump his damn leg.
Of course, Hayden notices. “Later,” he says with a smirk. “First, we need to talk.” When I pout, he chuckles. “Didn’t you say you wanted to talk?”
“Yes,” I say reluctantly.
The guys show me the rest of the place, and holy shit, it’s incredible. I’ve heard about places like this, but I’ve never actually been in one. For most in New York, like me, eight hundred square feet and two bathrooms is considered luxurious. This place is at least five times the size of my place, with four bedrooms, three bathrooms, a loft, a gym, and two offices. The living room is huge, and their bedrooms are gorgeous, furnished with dark woods and decorated in soft browns and creams. Their bathrooms both have a spa tub, complete with jets—forget the kitchen, I could live in the damn tub! Give me a glass of wine and my e-reader, and I’d be good for life. They also have a laundry room—even though they tell me that they never use it because they get all their clothes dry-cleaned—and a dining room that’s separate from the kitchen and seats six people.
My, how the rich live.
Once the tour is over, and I’m actually considering moving in here—I’m just kidding, but damn, that bathtub!—we settle in on the couch in the living room to talk. I’m sitting on the same couch as Hayden, but there’s space between us, so I can focus, and Brody is sitting on the loveseat adjacent to me. Brody and Hayden have beers in their hands, and Hayden’s poured me a glass of my favorite white wine.
“So what would you like to talk about first?” Brody asks, taking a sip of his beer.
“Are you planning to DP me?”
Both guys spit their drinks out at the same time, and I realize I probably should’ve worded that better. Whoops, too late now.