Chapter Ten
Cypress
I should have told her everything right at the beginning.
Should have discussed all our customs and how it might affect our life together.
After Zephyr left for work, I tried to do some myself, but I couldn’t settle down.
She had a very busy day ahead, between dealing with the previous night’s cleanup and the huge order she’d placed and a trip to the farmer’s market.
And all of that was before things got busy.
Before leaving for work, she’d suggested we could talk later on and told me not to worry.
But there was no better way to get me worrying than to say that.
I held out as long as I could, but finally called her just to check in.
Then sent flowers.
And shortly after what would be the noon rush at the coffeehouse, I showed up to ask her out to lunch. It probably wasn’t the best day to ask her to leave work for a break, but I hoped she’d be able to find the time.
If the rush was over, it wasn’t obvious.
Lines stretched nearly to the door, and the hum of conversation rivaled the hiss of steaming milk and patter of espresso dropping into the glass.
She’d never be able to go anywhere right now.
I turned, intending to leave rather than disturb her, when I heard her call my name.
“Cypress? Where are you going?”
I turned back. “It’s okay. I thought I’d try to lure you away for lunch, but I can see that’s not possible. I’ll see you tonight.”
“Wait.” She came out from behind the counter and hurried to my side. “I have to eat sometime, and what’s better than a meal with my mate?” She patted my arm. “Sam? I’m going for a bite. Be back shortly.”
“Of course.” Samantha waved from behind the register. “Have a nice time.”
It was more likely to be interesting. Which somehow was rarely as great as it sounded.
I held the door open, and my mate strolled out ahead of me onto the sidewalk. “Where would you like to go?” I asked.
“I don’t want to be out too long, so maybe the little café?”
It lay just a few doors down and offered outdoor seating, little tables separated by plants that offered a bit of privacy, so it might be a good opportunity to talk.
We were seated and the server brought menus right over.
Typical for this sort of casual restaurant at lunchtime, when most people had limited time.
We had eaten there enough times that we already knew what we wanted and were able to order right then.
After we got our iced teas, I took my mate’s hands and kissed them. “Can we talk a little now?”
“Yes,” Zephyr said. “I’ve been thinking a lot.”
“Me too, but mostly about what you’re thinking.”
“I want to know if you feel like you’ve missed out by not living the way you expected to.”
I considered, not because I thought that was true but because I didn’t want to have any more dishonesty between us. Did I feel liked I’d missed out? “Yes and no.”
Her face fell. “Oh.”
“Wait. Let me explain. I did expect to be part of a reverse harem, but only with my friend. Without him, I didn’t want to be.
It’s a very intimate relationship, even if there is no sexual contact between the males.
But it’s deep, and it’s family. Not something I’d seek out with someone I didn’t know and trust.”
We paused while our baguette sandwiches were set in front of us. After the server left again, Zephyr said, “We could try again to find Birch, that is if you wanted to.”
“I did. This morning.” Between calling and sending flowers. “No luck.”
“Then I think, since it is your family custom, we should at least check it out on the app.”
“But nothing will happen, at least I don’t believe so, since I only ever wanted that relationship with Birch.”
“Then what could it hurt to find out.”
I left my mate at the coffeehouse and went home to try to work, but if I’d been ruffled before, now, I was much more so. My mate was not only not objecting to the idea of a third, she was suggesting we check out the app instead of taking the out I offered.
What did this mean?