Six Months Later
Performance Review
Names: Derek Brooks and Jansen Bennett
Position: Ana’s Boyfriends
Reviewer: Ana Flores
Ratings by Skill Area (0=Poor / 1=Fair / 2=Good / 3=Excellent)
Communication Skills - 2.5
Notes: Derek and Jansen tell me daily that they love me, often several times a day, and also demonstrate this clearly through their actions.
They still scowl frequently, and sometimes need to be prompted to elaborate beyond one-word answers when asked questions, but their grumpy demeanors are somehow a big part of their charm.
They are excellent and patient listeners, even when I’m telling them every plot detail from books I’m reading.
Team Collaboration - 3
Notes: The two of them work together very well, coordinating their work and travel schedules with one another so that I rarely eat dinner alone, and never spend the night without at least one of them in bed with me.
Where they really excel in collaboration is when all of us are together in bed, and they have me do that thing where my hips are at the edge of the bed and my legs are spread so wide that both of them …
well, let’s just say their combined efforts yield results that reliably shake my world off its axis.
Quality of Work - 3
Notes: See above. Work in the bedroom exceeds all expectations. Outside of that, the men are accommodating and empathetic, making space for me in their lives both physically and emotionally, and they strive to understand and consider my feelings in all situations.
Overall Performance - 3+++
Notes: With sexual performance factored in, this rating is so far off the charts, it can’t be quantified.
Challenges Faced: Though it took a while for them to accept that I wouldn’t be returning to Community Bean, and a few small arguments were had, both men are now very supportive of my career path.
In the early days of their boyfriend position, there were a few obstacles having to do with jealousy and trust, but improvements were quickly made, and this challenge has turned into a strength. Both men make me feel valued and respected.
Strengths: Though they often seem to intentionally disguise it, their biggest strength is their kind-heartedness. They care a lot about so many things, and though they don’t often verbalize it, their actions make it clear.
They regularly give me gifts, both big and small and often made of paper and print, to let me know they’re thinking of me. They continue to do excellent charitable work through their growing company, and they step in to help wherever and whenever they can.
My friend Stella is very grateful for the flexible work-from-home position they created for her, and her daughter Jessie’s face lights up whenever she sees them.
This has been especially true ever since Derek and Jansen volunteered to babysit while her mom, Marissa, and I enjoyed a girls night out.
Jessie hasn’t stopped talking about how much fun she had that evening, and I’m still wishing I’d had a camera set up so I could have seen the dress-up tea party that was said to have taken place.
Areas for Improvement: As I strive to be the best girlfriend I can be, it would be helpful if the men were better at sharing their feelings and letting me care for them as well as they care for me.
Ana
Jansen frowns as he hands the paper off to Derek. “We share our feelings.”
“Every time I ask how your day’s been, you say ‘fine.’”
He shrugs. “Most days are fine. What else is there to say?” When I shake my head and grin at him, he says, “You’re the perfect girlfriend, and you do take care of us.”
Wrapping my hands around his upper arm, I stretch up on tiptoes to kiss his cheek. “I’m glad you think so.”
He turns into my kiss, pressing his lips to mine and sliding his arm around my lower back to pull me closer. I sink into his embrace, ever amazed at how I can feel both incredibly comfortable and turned on at the same time.
Meanwhile, Derek reads the review, chuckling once and making a quiet growl in his throat at another point. Finally, he sets the sheet of paper on the dining room table. “Based on this review, it sounds like we deserve a raise.”
I’m about to take a sip of the whiskey ginger Jansen made for me, but I pause to look at him over the rim of the glass. “A raise? Since I don’t pay you, and you make considerably more money than I do, what kind of raise are you looking for?”
“More kisses would be nice. More lunches together …”
The company I work for as deputy director of human resources is only five blocks away from Community Bean’s corporate office, so the three of us usually have lunch together a couple of times a week.
My employers are great proponents of work-life balance, and because they don’t mind if I take long lunch breaks, every once in a while, Derek and Jansen take me into the conference room to reenact the first time we met.
“More nudity around the house,” Derek adds.
Jansen nods, continuing to caress my back as Derek steps in to kiss me. When we part, Jansen says, “All of those are great ideas, but I think Derek and I also deserve a better job title.” His voice sounds oddly hoarse.
“Better title?” I echo. “Like what? Boyfriend Specialist? Co-Chief Significant Other?”
Derek reaches into his pants pocket and pulls out a small velvet box.
Jansen opens the lid to reveal a diamond so blindingly sparkly I can barely make out the shape. “We were thinking Fiancé, with a planned promotion to Husband,” Jansen says.
Now I’m the one having trouble communicating, and I hope they can read my face as I struggle to find words. “I … I wasn’t expecting this.”
Derek brushes a hand along my cheek, gently cupping my chin. “We love you, Ana, and want to be with you always.”
“I …”
“We love you, and want to keep showing you how much for the rest of our lives.” Now I realize what’s wrong with Jansen’s voice. He’s nervous because this means so much to him.
Tears fill my eyes, as I say, “I love you both, too, so very much, but how can we get married?”
“We can have a commitment ceremony. You can wear our ring, and we’ll wear bands that connect us always,” Derek says.
Jansen’s eyes search mine. “We’ll be married in our hearts, where it matters. Will you say yes, Ana?”
I nod quickly as the building tears overflow, and Derek slides the ring onto my finger.
I’m theirs, and they’re mine. It’s been that way since the day I met them—it just took me a while to figure it out.
It turns out the happily ever afters I read about in books are a real thing, and my love story is just getting started.