23. New And Old Friends #2
“The only thing you need to decide,” I add.
“Is if you want to find a place nearby, or if you want to move in with us. We’re already looking for places near the Paladins arena, and we’re planning to line up some viewings during spring break.
All you have to let us know is if we should factor you into that decision. ”
We enter the locker room; we’re the last ones in. All our teammates must be already on the ice even if we don’t have to be there for another five minutes; the entire team has been on their best behavior since the latest bag skating practice.
“You’d want me to move in with you guys?”
I shrug. “Why do you sound so surprised? We live together now, so how would San Francisco be any different?”
“I don’t know,” he muses. “I guess you’re right. But would you guys be ok with me moving in even if I didn’t share Bex with the two of you the way you do? I understand she isn’t choosing between us, but I don’t think I could watch you two fuck her in front of me.”
Connor is the one who answers his question.
“Bex cares about you, and Jamie and I care about you. You don’t have to do anything you aren’t comfortable with, and we’re going to find out what boundaries we need to make these relationships work.
We’ll play it by ear. As long as we respect one another and, most importantly, we respect Bex, I don’t see any problem.
Besides, we can consider these next few months a trial run. ”
I agree with that. “Exactly. If there’s any problem, we discuss it as we’ve been doing so far. I’m sure Bex will be excited if you move in with us too.”
I know things will eventually work out when Keene nods. “My only non-negotiable stipulation is that we need to find a place that allows pets. I’m not leaving Poonani.”
“That goes without saying. She’s one of us.”
We file out of the locker room to join the rest of our teammates before Coach Harrison blows his whistle declaring the start of practice.
Connor
It’s Friday night and things are looking up.
I’m the first one home after my last midterm exam, and I can’t wait to kick off our weekend as soon as Bex and the guys get back.
We played our home game yesterday and won easily against the Portland Beavers.
In a rare show of generosity, Coach Harrison gave us the weekend off since many of us had exams to take today.
He knows that tomorrow is the Zeta President Gala night, and he probably realizes that he won’t be able to do much with a sleep deprived and mostly hungover team.
So, in other words, we have a rare weekend of total freedom before the Thanksgiving break next week.
Deciding to be proactive, I ordered some Chinese takeout, making sure to get all Bex’s favorites. I have news she’s going to be happy to hear when she comes home from dress shopping with Jamie.
The lucky bastard had his last midterm yesterday morning, so he got to accompany Bex to choose a gown for tomorrow’s gala.
As if summoned by my thoughts, Jamie and Bex come through the front door carrying a few shopping bags with the logo of one of Star Cove’s most expensive boutiques.
“Hey Con,” he greets me, placing the bags on one of the two recliners at either side of the couch. “You need to brace yourself for how hot our girl looks in the dress she got for tomorrow night.”
“Bex looks hot in anything she wears.” I say, taking in how the floral dress she has on right now clings to all the right places.
Her cheeks flush pink at my compliment, and she leans down to kiss me. “Thank you, Connor. You always look hot too.”
I drag her down onto my lap, unable to contain a smile when she surrounds my neck with her arms. “I missed you, beautiful.” I murmur, nuzzling her neck.
“We also got some matching heels, and Bex promised that she’ll put them on for us later to break them in before tomorrow.”
A smile forms on my face at that thought. “Is that so?” I ask her, and she giggles.
“Yeah. If I break them in, the new heels won’t destroy my feet tomorrow night.”
Jamie lowers himself onto the couch next to us, taking Bex’s hand and bringing her knuckles to his lips. “Anything to make sure your feet don’t hurt. And if breaking in the heels fails, Connor and I can give you a nice massage when we get home.”
My dick perks up at the idea of giving Bex a massage, or maybe it’s just the contact with her ass as she squirms when Jamie turns her hand and begins trailing open-mouthed kisses on the inside of her wrist.
“Jamie and I can definitely give you a massage.” I agree.
“We could start right now.” Jamie’s lips have reached the crook of her elbow. “Practice makes perfect.”
I like where this is going, but before we get distracted by our girlfriend’s sexy body, I want to give the guys my news.
“We can do all that after dinner. I ordered us Chinese. But first, I have some important news. I heard from Ares. He called me when I got out of my midterm.”
My words get their attention.
“That can only mean one thing.” My best friend says. “They got the DNA tests, didn’t they?”
I nod. “Yup. Priestly is a match to the scrap of fabric Poonani got from the burglar who stole those hockey masks.”
There’s a beat of silence as Bex and Jamie let the news sink in.
“I had no doubt it would be,” Jamie says. “So that’s it. The motherfucker is gonna go down for both assaults and for breaking into our place.”
Bex relaxes against my chest, her long hair tickling my face. “It’s a relief that it was him and not some rabid social media follower.”
We agree with her. “Do you think your father was aware of what Kurt was doing?” I ask.
“I’ve been thinking about it.” Bex muses.
“I don’t want to think that my own father would want to hurt me to that extent, but I left.
I didn’t follow whatever sick plan he had for me.
I know for a fact that the bullying posts are how he deals with clients who don’t follow in line and think they can leave him.
So it’s not a stretch of the imagination that he would encourage Kurt to make me pay. ”
I tuck a lock of silky blonde hair behind her ear.
“It sucks that your father let his bigotry and his hunger for power get in the way of having a relationship with his two amazing children. And I wish there were a way to hold him accountable for his part in what happened to you. But if there’s a silver lining in this situation is that I think he’s going to have to stay on the straight and narrow.
The police are looking at all his agency’s social media as part of the investigation, and he must be working hard to do some major damage control. ”
Bex nods, relaxing even more against me. “Yes. Thank goodness this is all over. I want to forget my father ever existed, like Luke has been doing for the past four years. Does that make me a terrible person?”
“No,” Jamie reassures her, lacing his fingers through hers. “That makes you someone who values self-preservation. You have the right to live a free, happy life, baby.”
She lowers her gaze, tormenting her bottom lip with her teeth. “I know. But I’m worried about Aisha.”
“There is nothing you can do for your friend if she doesn’t want your help.” I say. “All you can do is to be here for her if she decides to leave, like you did. And Jamie, Keene and I have been talking about it, and we’re going to support you if that happens and you need to be there for her.”
Jamie and I look at each other, and he looks at his smartwatch. “Speaking about Keene, where the fuck is he?”
“He should be home any second now,” Bex muses. “He has art class on Friday afternoons.”
“ Meow .” As if answering our questions, Poonani darts out of Keene’s bedroom and stops by the front door seconds before it opens.
“Honey, I’m home!” Keene calls out to no one in particular, stopping to toe off his shoes at the entrance.
“Hey girl.” He smiles at his cat but doesn’t move, lifting the many bags in his hands.
“Can anyone come to help me? The Chinese restaurant delivery was here, and they left the food with me. By the way, I didn’t know the whole hockey team was coming here for dinner. ”
I roll my eyes, pulling Bex up with me as I go to take some of the bags with our takeout from Keene’s hands.
“No one is coming for dinner, dumbass. I might have gone a little overboard when I ordered, but I like to have options. Besides, we’ll have leftovers for tomorrow night.
You know how Candace and the Zetas love to serve dainty little finger food that makes you more hungry than before you actually ate it. ”
Keene unloads all the bags into my hands, freeing his to pull Bex into his arms. “Hey kitten.”
Jamie and I smile at each other as we watch them kiss.
“ Meow .” Poonani wraps her tail around Keene’s ankles, purring for attention.
He breaks the kiss with Bex to pick up his cat. “Hey baby girl,” he coos, scratching the spot between Poonani’s ears.
But once she got his attention, the feline set her sights on Bex.
“She’s staring at me,” Bex says nervously.
“Do you want to pet her?” Keene offers.
Bex takes a small step back. “I would love to, but I don’t really have a death wish.”
As if confirming Bex’s assessment of the situation, Poonani hisses in her direction.
Keene doesn’t relent. “It’s my fault. She might have picked up on my tension whenever you were around.
But now that things have changed between us, I would love it if the two women in my life could try to be friends.
Come on, try to pet her. I won’t let her attack you.
Did you hear that, Poonani? Bex wants to be your friend, and it would make your daddy very happy if you were nice to her. ”
To our surprise, Poonani lets Bex stroke her briefly in the same spot Keene was petting a second ago, but she’s over it very quickly and jumps out of Keene’s arms.
“ Meow .”
The cat stares at Bex for a few intense seconds and then retreats back into Keene’s bedroom.
“What just happened?” Bex’s mouth is open in a little surprised o. “Did Poonani let me touch her without shredding me like pulled pork?”
Keene winks at her. “Before you know it, you two will be the best of friends.”
“I don’t know about that, but I’ll take a truce with her, too.”
“Yeah, what do you know? I’m a big fan of truces.” He chuckles, pulling her against his chest.
I’d be lying if I said that I wasn’t a little jealous, but I get exactly how Keene feels. Jamie was gracious enough to let me have some extra one-on-one time with Bex when we first got together, so the least I could do is to give Keene the same opportunity.
The most important thing is that everything is slowly falling into place, and I’m excited about the future for the first time in forever.
“Before we eat,” I say to Keene. “I got a call from Ares earlier…”
I explain everything again, and Keene doesn’t even try to hide his satisfaction. “Great. I hope they lock that scum bag up and throw away the key. But you aren’t the only one who had some good news today.”
Bex immediately perks up at hearing those words. “Did you get your grade from Professor Cantucci?”