6. Pivot
SIX
PIVOT
I have to pinch myself to see if this is real—having brunch with three women from high school. I’ve had sex with each of them within the past twenty-four hours. The tape of each encounter spins in my mind as I enjoy the tasty breakfast Amy made for us. She rubs my thigh, and I turn to grin at her, and she blushes. When I glance at Paige across from me, her toes run up my shin under the table. Leah reaches to touch my hand and gets my attention as well.
“When do you have to return to work on Monday?” she asks.
I have to think about it more than I usually would. Work is usually the only thing on my mind. But I’ve barely considered it since I checked into Amy’s lodge. I chew on the mouthful of delicious food as I stitch my mind back into the real world.
“Class starts at nine a.m. on Monday back in Eugene. I booked my cabin through Sunday night and already have a hotel near the customer’s site. I was planning on getting up early and driving in the morning.” Even as I say it, I wish I could extend my time with these surprising women. But I remind myself that this was a planned weekend getaway, and I have a real job I need to attend to. The heaviness of that thought weighs on me, but I plaster on a smile. “What about you and Paige? When are you going back?”
“Initially, we were planning on heading back Sunday afternoon,” Paige answers for Leah. She tilts her head toward her wife before locking eyes with me. “But I can be persuaded to go back early Monday. What do you think, babe?”
“I don’t have to be back until Tuesday,” Leah says, squeezing my hand. “But we need to check if Amy has a free cabin for Sunday night.”
We turn to Amy, and she smiles as her eyes flick between us. “The first check-in is Monday afternoon, so you’re okay staying another night. I’ll have only your two cabins to prepare, which is easy. My staff will be back Monday morning.”
“Would it help if you only had one cabin to prep?” Paige asks as her foot slides up between my thighs and taps on my groin. “We can share Kurt’s room if it’s okay with him.” She looks at me, then bites her bottom lip as her toes make contact with my stiffening cock.
I’m speechless and have to close my eyes when I feel the gentle pressure of her toes running up and down my cock. Even trying to mask my arousal fails as a moan escapes my lips. I gently push her foot away, then grab my fork.
“The three of you are welcome to stay with me Sunday night if you help me clean your cabins before you leave,” Amy offers with a grin. “Would that be alright with you, Kurt? We don’t want to make any assumptions.”
“I would question my sanity if I refused.” I laugh and enjoy each of the women sharing the table.
The conversation goes quiet as we enjoy the food. Nailing down the plan for Sunday night is exciting but also highlights how this magical weekend will soon end. The struggle of business travel, fighting through airport crowds, new hotels every week, and the gaping lack of adult companionship percolate in the back of my mind. I dread the return to my mundane life, but I can’t change what needs to happen on Monday.
“I’m thinking about making this trip my last one,” I blurt out after taking a bite of toast. “Y’all have shown me the disadvantages of my road-warrior lifestyle.”
“You need to do what is right for you.” Amy squeezes my thigh. “I know we all have enjoyed having you stay with us, but don’t let that distract you from your responsibilities. We can schedule another reunion in a few months. What do you think?” She turns to Leah and Paige.
“First boo for leaving,” Paige smirks. “But yay to another reunion. I hate that Kurt has to leave, but planning another reunion takes out the sting.”
“I’m always down for fun weekends,” Leah adds. “But I want to know more about your thoughts, Kurt. Do you really want to quit your job and relocate? You know how cold and gloomy it is in the fall and winter.”
I finish chewing and take a sip of coffee. My mind is racing with the opportunity to change my lifestyle, but am I moving too fast? Maybe I’m making a hasty assumption, thinking they’d want me to be part of their lives.
“I’ll be honest with you,” I start, then wipe my mouth with a napkin. “I hadn’t given it much thought until this weekend with you all. I need to change for me, and you’ve helped me see that I have the second half of my life ahead of me. I don’t want to spend it flying on airplanes and staying in empty hotel rooms.”
“That’s sounds sane to me,” Leah says. “I don’t want to assume that you quitting your job means moving to Oregon.”
“That’s what I’m considering,” I admit, shrugging. “I don’t want to assume anything about what’s happened here. I don’t know how that would work if I lived close.”
“None of us do,” Amy says, taking my hand. “We’re open to exploring it, though. Right?”
“Bingo,” Paige says, joining her hand with Amy’s. “We live in a pretty liberal town, and polyamory is accepted if not embraced. Having you near and part of our life would be incredible. Right, Leah?”
“Right,” Leah says, then leans and places her hand on the pile while kissing my cheek. “We can make it work. We all seem open to whatever happens. The question is, can you handle a harem after living solo for so long?”
“Never liked solo,” I say, dropping my other hand onto their joined hands. “I’m willing to risk it, and I can start by sending my resignation letter.”
The girls smile as they pick up the thread I’ve started and discuss plans. I need to untangle my life in Texas and find a place to call my own. As we examine the drastic changes, I realize that none are as complex as my initial thoughts. The most challenging part is getting out of my rut because it’s no longer comforting. The presence of the three women around the table discussing my future is much more reassuring than my isolated past.