Chapter 17
Brody
The first rays of sunlight filtered through the curtains, gently rousing me from my restless slumber. I stretched, feeling the ache in my muscles from sleeping in an awkward position on the couch. As I became more alert, the events of the previous night came flooding back – Scarlett's grief, her need for comfort, and Drake taking over the watch.
I made my way to the kitchen, drawn by the aroma of freshly brewed coffee. As I approached, I could hear hushed voices coming from the dining room. Drake and Sensei were seated at the table, their heads close together in what appeared to be an intense conversation. They fell silent as I entered, both looking up at me with expressions that were difficult to read.
"Morning," I mumbled, reaching for a mug and pouring myself some coffee.
Drake cleared his throat. "Brody, we need to talk."
The seriousness in his tone made me pause. I took a seat at the table, my eyes darting between him and Sensei. "What's going on?"
Drake took a deep breath, his fingers drumming nervously on the table. "It's about Scarlett... and me. Last night, we... we were intimate."
The words hung in the air, and for a moment, I felt as if all the oxygen had been sucked out of the room. A mix of emotions surged through me – jealousy, hurt, confusion. But as I looked at Drake, I could see the conflict in his eyes, the worry about how I would react.
"I see," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "And how do you feel about that?"
Drake's eyes widened slightly, clearly surprised by my calm response. "I... I care for her deeply, Brody. You know that. But I also care about you, and Graham, and this whole situation we're in. I don't want to hurt anyone."
Sensei, who had been silent until now, spoke up. "This is a delicate situation, but it's one we've all been moving towards, whether we realized it or not. The question is, how do we proceed from here?"
I took a long sip of my coffee, letting the warmth of it ground me. The truth was, I had been preparing myself for this possibility ever since we started discussing a polyamorous relationship. It didn't make it any easier, but I knew that my feelings for Scarlett were strong enough to overcome the initial sting of jealousy.
"We proceed together," I said finally. "If this is what Scarlett wants, if it's what we all want, then we make it work. We support each other, we communicate, and we put her happiness first."
Drake's shoulders visibly relaxed. "You're really okay with this?"
I managed a small smile. "Okay might be a strong word right now, but I'm committed to making this work. We all bring something different to Scarlett's life, and if she wants all of us, then I'm in."
Sensei nodded approvingly. "This is a mature approach, Brody. It won't always be easy, but with open communication and mutual respect, it can work."
As we continued to discuss the intricacies of our new dynamic, the sound of cars pulling up outside caught our attention. Moments later, the front door opened, and April, Christian, Stewart, and Rory filed in, with Graham not far behind. [1]
"How is she?" April asked, her face etched with concern.
"Still sleeping," Drake replied. "She had a rough night, but she's resting now."
Graham's eyes met mine, and I could see the same mix of worry and affection that I felt reflected in them. "Can we talk privately for a moment?" he asked me.
I nodded, following him into the living room while the others settled in the kitchen and dining area. Once we were alone, Graham turned to me, his usually composed demeanor slightly ruffled.
"Drake told you about last night?" he asked quietly.
"Yeah, he did," I confirmed. "How are you feeling about it?"
Graham ran a hand through his hair, a gesture I'd rarely seen from him. "Honestly? I'm struggling a bit. But I also know that this is part of what we signed up for when we started discussing a polyamorous relationship."
I nodded in agreement. "That's pretty much where I'm at too. It's not easy, but I think we need to focus on what's best for Scarlett."
"Agreed," Graham said. "She's been through so much, and she needs all of us. I don't want to complicate things by getting jealous or possessive."
"So we're on the same page, then? We let Scarlett lead on this, support each other, and make sure she knows we're all in this together?"
Graham's expression softened, and he reached out to squeeze my shoulder. "Absolutely. We're a team in this, all of us. It might take some getting used to, but I think we can make it work."
As we rejoined the others, I felt a sense of solidarity with Graham and Drake. We were navigating uncharted waters, but we were doing it together, united in our love and concern for Scarlett.
The sound of a door opening drew everyone's attention. Scarlett emerged from her room, her hair a wild tangle around her face, eyes still heavy with sleep. She froze for a moment, taking in the scene before her – the room full of people, all eyes on her.
Graham was the first to move, crossing the room in a few quick strides. He cupped her face gently, brushing a few errant strands of hair away before placing a soft kiss on her lips. "Good morning, beautiful," he murmured.
As Graham stepped back, I moved forward, pulling out a chair for her and kissing the top of her head as she sat down. "How are you feeling?" I asked, my hand lingering on her shoulder.
Drake approached last, leaning in for a more passionate kiss that left Scarlett slightly breathless.
"Good morning, Cheri," he said, his voice warm and intimate.
Scarlett's eyes darted between the three of us, a mix of emotions playing across her face – confusion, affection, and a hint of worry.
"What's going on?" she asked, her voice still rough with sleep.
April stepped forward, placing a steaming mug of coffee in front of Scarlett. "We just wanted to check on you, honey. After yesterday... well, we were all worried."
Scarlett's expression clouded over at the mention of yesterday, and I could see the grief threatening to overwhelm her again. But she took a deep breath, wrapping her hands around the warm mug, and looked up at all of us.
"Thank you, all of you," she said softly. "I don't know what I'd do without you."
There was a moment of silence as we all absorbed her words, each of us feeling the weight of our commitment to her. Then Scarlett straightened in her chair, a determined look coming into her eyes.
"I want to go to the funeral," she announced, her voice stronger now.
The room fell silent, tension filling the air. We all knew the risks involved – the killer was still out there, and a public event like a funeral would be the perfect opportunity for him to strike. But looking at Scarlett's face, I could see the resolve there. This was something she needed to do.
"Scarlett," Christian began, his tone cautious, "we need to consider the safety implications. The killer-"
"I know," Scarlett interrupted. "I know it's dangerous. But Maddy was my best friend. I need to say goodbye. I need to be there."
I exchanged glances with Graham and Drake, seeing my own concerns mirrored in their eyes. But we had all agreed to follow Scarlett's lead, to support her in what she needed.
"If this is what you need," I said, breaking the silence, "then we'll make it happen. Safely."
Graham nodded in agreement. "We'll need to coordinate with the police, set up proper security. But yes, if this is important to you, we'll find a way."
Drake moved to stand behind Scarlett, his hands resting on her shoulders. "We're with you, Cheri. Whatever you need."
Scarlett's eyes welled up with tears, but there was a glimmer of relief in them too. "Thank you," she whispered, reaching up to squeeze Drake's hand.
As the others began to discuss the logistics of securing the funeral, I watched Scarlett. Despite the grief and fear she was dealing with, there was a strength in her that never failed to amaze me. And looking around at all of us – Graham, Drake, April, the detectives, Sensei – I knew that strength was multiplied by the support system she had built around her.
Whatever challenges lay ahead – the killer, the complexities of our relationship, the process of healing – we would face them together. As I caught Graham's eye across the table, I saw the same determination reflected there.