Chapter 44
AT THE SAME TIME?
Trina
I feel like I’ve drunk ten cans of Monster Blitz drinks, even though I’ve had nothing. But I’m shaking with nerves on Tuesday morning and about to breathe into a paper bag.
Aubrey grabs my wrist. “You can do it,” she says, reassuring me.
I take a calming breath and nod. She’s at my home—my new home—and the guys are off at the gym.
I’m about to leave to meet my family for an early breakfast before work. “I can do it,” I say.
“You’re going to nail it,” she says, then winks. “Just like they nail you.”
“Actually, they double nail me.”
She narrows her eyes. “I hate you. All I want is a damn good nailing.”
“Some girls dream of unicorns. Some dream of unicorn dick,” I say, then we leave together, and she walks with me through my new neighborhood and over to Fillmore, then says goodbye when I reach Mindy’s Café.
I smooth a hand along my shirt, then gulp. I head inside, spotting my family immediately in a booth. I make my way over and join them, sitting next to my sister, who I swear is going to be pregnant forever.
“Forty weeks—so you’re pumpkin size now, right?” I ask, focusing on her since I need to wade my way into the I’m in a three-way relationship pool.
“Forty weeks, two days, and five million hours,” she says with a miserable moan. “Which makes me house size.”
I pat her shoulder sympathetically.
My mom laughs. “At this rate, you’re going to be a mansion.”
“Maybe even an entire complex,” my dad says.
Cassie frowns. “I’m a whole city.” Then she turns to me. “But thank you again for all the books on my registry. That was cool.”
I smile, thinking of Chase, buying out all her books at Target.
He’s such a good boyfriend. I can do this.
I can tell them. Any second now. “Glad you like them. Can’t wait to read to my niece or nephew,” I say, and as those words come out, so does a new realization.
I will be an awesome aunt for that reason. I can read my ass off to the baby.
“But how are you doing?” Cassie asks, her bossy voice back. “How’s the studio? Are you okay? Is the neighborhood safe? Do you want to come back to my place?”
There it is. My chance. “That’s what I wanted to talk to you about,” I say, even though the nerves are now a whole battalion in my belly. “I’m involved.”
That’s a start, but only a start, since I haven’t used the plural pronoun yet.
My mom beams. “Oh, you got back together with the guy from the dog park? So it’s serious?”
She can’t even hide the hearts and flowers in her voice.
Just say it.
“Yes, and his best friend too. I’m in a relationship with two guys,” I say, putting it out there for them at last. This is me. Take me how I am.
Cassie’s brow knits. Mom tilts her head. Dad’s face is blank. And I keep going. “I don’t expect you to understand it. I don’t expect you to even like it. But I like it. And I love them, and they love me. And I want you to know that this is me. This is real. This is who I am.”
Cassie’s jaw drops, and you could probably fit a mansion in her mouth now. But she says nothing. She’s shocked speechless. That’s a first.
My mother recovers her voice first. “You’re with both of them?” It comes out as a clarifying question, like she can’t possibly have heard me correctly.
“Yes. We’re together. I’m with both of them, and each guy is with me.”
“Oh,” she says, then tilts her head the other way. “Ohh.” She blinks. “At the same ti—” She slaps a palm over her mouth.
My dad raises a stop-sign hand at Mom. “That goes under things I don’t need to know, honey.”
Yeah, I agree, Pops.
Chagrined, my mom looks at me. “I’m so sorry.”
I scripted this morning a million different ways, but never did I think my mom would apologize for accidentally asking if I take a double dose of dick with my morning coffee.
“It’s no big deal,” I say, even though they’ve got two very big deals.
Cassie lifts a finger, speaking at last. “That’s why you were so upset the night you came to my house?”
“Yes,” I admit. “I didn’t think it was going to work out with them. But it did after all.”
“You didn’t tell me. You only said it was one guy. Why didn’t you tell me the truth?” she asks, hurt in her tone.
Is that a real question? “Because you don’t like most of my choices?” I say, but it’s more of a question. How is this a surprise for her?
“I don’t care if you’re with two guys,” she says, and is that honesty in her eyes? It sure looks like it. “I care if somebody hurts you. I never want anybody to hurt my little sister. And if they hurt you, they’ll have me to answer to.”
“That’s sweet,” I say, as unexpected tears prick the back of my eyes.
“It’s not supposed to be sweet,” she says briskly. “It’s supposed to be threatening!”
Mom laughs, then Cassie and I join in, and I guess her personality type is the one I added—the protector. Like Ryker. That helps me understand Cassie a little bit more. “So you wouldn’t have judged me for being in love with two guys?”
She’s quick with an answer, like she always is.
“I think it’s strange. I don’t understand it.
I don’t get it. But you brought me pound cake and called me when you needed someone, and you came to my shower with books.
I think that’s all I can really ask for in a sister,” she says, and I suppose that’s as good as it’s going to get with her.
“Thanks,” I say, meaning it.
My mom clears her throat. “I have questions though.”
“Darling, please don’t ask that again,” my father warns, his tone stern.
“Not that,” Mom says, staring intensely at me.
“More like what should I call them when I meet them? Will they both come over for Thanksgiving? I don’t understand how any of this works.
It doesn’t make a lot of sense to me, but I understand it was a big deal for you to tell us.
So I’ll have some questions. Like when I introduce all of you, should I say This is my daughter Trina and her boyfriends? ”
And I was today years old when I learned my romantic mother is highly practical too.
I guess people have a way of surprising you. “Yes, that would work.”