Chapter 10 #2
“How are you, Baby?” he asks immediately, crouching near her like he needs to see her up close to believe she’s okay.
She gives him the same summary she gave me.
His jaw tightens. “What does that mean long term? What are they planning? Do we need specialists? Trials? Something more aggressive?”
There it is. The same panic I felt. Except his is circumfused in calm logic instead of raw emotion.
“I’m here,” he says firmly. “However you need. Appointments. Research. Financially. Anything.”
Lena looks between us, her eyes softening in a way that makes my chest swell.
“Enough,” she says gently. “I promise you, my medical team is handling it. I’m not dying tomorrow. I need you two to breathe.”
We both fall quiet—reluctantly.
She shifts, sitting up a little straighter, eyes flicking between us with new intent.
“I don’t want this visit to just be about my health,” she says. “I want to talk about us.”
The word crashes into the room like the Kool-Aid man on an episode of Family Guy.
Us.
My heart jumps. Calil straightens slightly beside Lena
Lena looks at me first. “Z, I know you’re nervous.”
Of course she does.
“I’m not,” I lie.
She raises an eyebrow.
I sigh. “Okay. I am.”
Calil doesn’t interrupt. He just watches, steady.
“I don’t want to lose you,” I say to Lena quietly. “And I don’t want to be a secret experiment while you both present like the perfect hetero couple.”
Calil speaks then, calm but direct. “You’re not a secrete anything let alone an experiment.”
Lena nods. “You’re not.”
She reaches for both of our hands, linking us together in a triangle that feels fragile and powerful all at once.
“I love you,” she tells me first.
Then she looks at him. “And I love you.”
No hesitation. No shame. My breath catches.
“I don’t know exactly what this looks like yet,” she continues. “But I know I don’t want to choose between you. And I don’t want either of you feeling like you’re secondary.”
Calil glances at me. Not possessive. Not smug. Just open.
“We move at your pace,” he says. “Both of you.”
His words lull the room into serene silence filled with possibilities.
It feels like the beginning of a negotiation where no one is trying to win. Instead, we all just want there to be understanding.
I feel like we’re standing at the edge of something that could hold and honor all three of us.
Scary. But steady. And maybe, just maybe—it’s worth it. My heart is still racing when I decide to say it.
“Before we make any decisions,” I say carefully, looking at Lena, “there’s something you need to know.”
She straightens slightly. “What?”
I take a breath. “I filled in at Allure last night. A drunk customer didn’t just get loud. He got handsy and aggressive. After my shift while I was waiting on my Lyft,” I go silent before finishing, “He tried to corner me.”
Her entire face changes. Where her eyes once held softness—they now hold rage.
“What?” Lena’s voice sharpens instantly. She leans forward, grabbing my face gently, scanning me, then patting my arms, my shoulders, my waist. “Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”
I can’t help but giggle at the intensity. “I’m fine. I promise.”
Her eyes still taut with anger. “Who was he? I’ll ruin him.”
Calil clears his throat softly. “He didn’t get the chance to do much.”
Lena’s gaze snaps to him.
“I was there having a drink. I peeped he was escalating,” Calil continues calmly. “I stepped in and beat his ass.”
I squeeze Lena’s hands. “If he hadn’t been there… this conversation would be completely different. You’d be getting a completely different version of me right now. Everything that could’ve gone wrong would’ve.”
Silence settles in the room. Lena looks between us, absorbing the weight of it.
“You waited?” she asks Calil.
He nods once. “I knew the guy wasn’t done. I made sure I waited in my car until last call. Just in case.”
Her expression softens, gratitude and something deeper flickering across her face.
“And then?” she presses gently.
“I drove her home,” he says.
I feel heat creep up my neck. The thoughts of how we connected replaying.
“And he came inside,” I add, glancing at him.
Lena’s brows lift. “Oh?”
Calil smirks slightly. “We talked.”
“Talked about what,” she asks as amusement dances across her face.
“About the feelings and intrigue we have for each other,” I answer honestly.
Lena leans back slowly, pleasantly surprised. “Go on.”
We both laugh at her tone.
“And,” I continue, trying not to blush like I’m sixteen, “I sat in his lap completely naked and stroked my dick against his until I made a mess all over him. Then swallowed his.”
Lena goes quiet for a moment. Just long enough for my stomach to flip.
Then she bursts out playful and dramatic. “I’m jealous as hell.”
We all laugh.
“I know that was a sexy filthy good time,” she adds with a grin, eyes sparkling. “And I cannot wait for the next round of pleasure between the three of us.”
The heat in the room shifts from tension to anticipation.
Then her expression turns serious again, but not heavy.
“I would love for the three of us to explore a relationship together,” she says gently. “There’s no pressure to answer now. I just want it on the table.”
I look at Calil.
He looks at me.
“I’d love that,” he says first.
I nod, heart steady. “So would I.”
The relief that washes over Lena is visible. She pulls us both in, and the three of us collide in a kiss that’s warm, grateful, full of promise rather than chaos.
And that’s when the front door opens.
“Oop,” Ajaih’s voice rings out from the entryway. “Not me interrupting.”
We all burst out laughing.
Calil stands to hug Ajaih before leaning down to kiss both Lena and me again.
“I’ve got family therapy,” he says. “Try not to have too much fun without me.”
“Impossible,” Lena shoots back.
I hug Ajaih next, and she squeezes me tight like she’s already decided I belong.
“I’m headed to Provocateur,” I tell them. “Gotta get ready for a long night of men begging for just one night,” I giggled.
I kiss Lena softly. Letting my lips linger just a second longer than usual. As I step out into the evening air—something inside me feels different.
Not fragile. Not fearful. Certainly not hidden. Chosen and finally safe.