19. Kai
Kai
I stood in front of the full-length mirror in my cabin, adjusting the waistband of the cute underwear I knew Casey and Yara would love. Casey's parents had headed out early in the afternoon, and Yara was due back any moment. Time for our date.
The soft fabric hugged my hips perfectly, accentuating the lines of my body just the way Casey liked. I ran a hand through my hair, styling it the way Yara always said looked hot—just the right amount of tousled and sleek.
I tugged on a t-shirt and jeans, smiling at the thought of a real romantic date with Casey and Yara. That, of course, would be followed by a deeply passionate night together. Tonight was going to be amazing. Each night with them, it felt like things grew deeper, more wonderful. I never wanted it to end.
My heart swelled as I told myself they must have wanted more. Any lingering worries that they didn't feel the same way I did were buried so deep, I'd probably never find them again. I needed to embrace this, to see where it went, and that was all there was to it.
Just as I finished spritzing on a bit of cologne, my phone rang. I picked it up from the dresser, seeing my mom's name flash across the screen. With a sigh and a smile, I answered the call, putting it on speaker.
"Hey, Mom. Hey, Dad," I greeted, knowing my father was probably listening on speakerphone — otherwise he spent the whole call yelling questions about what I'd said and drove my mom nuts.
"Hi, sweetheart!" my mom's voice chimed, filled with her usual warmth. "How are you doing? We were just thinking about you."
"How's everything with Yara? Not too painful, I hope?" My dad's voice echoed a little, and I could imagine him sitting ten feet away from her in his favorite armchair. The one my mom hated.
"Everything's great." I leaned against the dresser. "You guys don't need to worry about me and my crush on Yara. I'm fine."
"Us, worry?" My mom laughed, the sound like a comforting blanket. "Of course not. We just care about you, that's all."
"Yeah, yeah," I chuckled, shaking my head. They were the only ones who knew about the torch I'd carried for Yara since college. Moving back to Greendale had stirred up some old anxieties for them, but tonight, I felt more hopeful than ever.
"Well, just remember, we're here if you need us," my dad said, his voice softer now.
"Thanks, Dad. I appreciate it," I said genuinely. "But really, everything's good. Better than good, actually. I have a date, and I'm figuring everything out."
"Alright, we'll let you go then," my mom said, a hint of teasing in her voice.
Before signing off, I took a deep breath and stared at my phone for a moment. If there had ever been a time to be honest with them, it was now. They'd always supported me since I came out as bi back in high school, but this was different. This was big.
"Actually, there's something I need to tell you both."
"What's on your mind, sweetie?" my mom asked, concern clear in her tone.
"Well," I began, feeling a little like I was about to jump off a cliff, "the thing is... I'm not just crushing on Yara anymore. I'm actually dating her. And Casey too."
There was a beat of silence, and I imagined them exchanging glances through the phone. I could almost hear the gears turning in their heads.
"You're dating both of them?" My mom's voice sounded intrigued rather than shocked, which was a good sign. "How does that work?"
"They're married, and we're all together. It's called polyamory. A polycule. We all support and care for each other."
"Poly-what?" my dad asked, clearly puzzled.
"Well, we're still figuring things out," I admitted, running a hand through my hair. "But it feels right. It feels good. We are… growing to care for each other, maybe even love each other, and I really think we could make it work."
"Wow, Kai," my mom said softly, and I could hear the smile in her voice. "That's wonderful. As long as you're happy, that's what matters to us."
"It is?" my dad asked.
"Say it, dear." I could hear the gentle thwap of her playfully smacking his chest.
"Oh yeah. Right. If you're happy, we're happy, Kai. I'll do some searching on the interweb so I know all the right terms."
"Thanks, guys." Relief washed over me like a warm wave, but it made me wonder how
"Yeah, son." My dad still sounded a bit bewildered. "If it makes you happy, then we're happy for you. But be careful with your heart, okay? They're married, and they don't have a commitment to you yet."
"I trust them, Dad," I said, and I was surprised to find I meant it.
"Alright, now go enjoy your evening," my mom said with a chuckle. "And give our love to Yara and Casey."
"Will do. Love you both," I repeated, hanging up once more.
I stepped out of the cabin, feeling the cool evening air wash over me as I walked down the lane towards Yara and Casey's house. The scent of pine mingled with the distant sound of rushing water from Green Creek, creating a serene backdrop for my thoughts.
As I approached Yara and Casey's rustic ranch house, I smiled, anticipation bubbling up inside me as their home came into view. The summer sun hadn't yet set, and there was a soft, warm glow to everything that seemed like a good omen. Before I could knock, the door opened, and there they were—Yara with her vibrant curls bouncing, and Casey with his calm, reassuring presence.
"Hey, handsome," Yara greeted me, pulling me in for a kiss that sent heat rushing to my core. Her lips were soft, tasting faintly of cherry lip balm.
"Missed you." Casey planted a gentle kiss on my temple. His touch was always so grounding, a stark contrast to Yara's electrifying energy.
"Missed you both." As I hugged them, my heart swelled with affection. But as I pulled back, I noticed the worry etched on their faces.
"What's wrong?" I asked, concern tightening my chest.
Yara sighed, glancing at Casey before meeting my gaze. "Sage just called."
"Your brother?" My mind raced. Sage, the free-spirited wildlife photographer whose stories had always fascinated me but whom I'd never met. He hadn't even been home for Yara and Casey's wedding.
"Yeah," Yara confirmed, running a hand through his sandy hair. "His photo shoot in Africa is ending sooner than expected. He'll be back in Greendale in two weeks."
"That's great news, right?" I tried to sound cheerful, but the apprehension in their eyes told me there was more.
"Well, he's hoping to move back into his cabin," Yara said.
The words hit me like a punch to the gut. Sage's cabin. My cabin. I was losing my housing.
"Right," I managed to say, not sure why it was hitting so hard. "I mean, we expected that, right? Free rent isn't forever." But my mind was already spinning into panic mode. I would have to find an apartment right as all the college students came back into town. And even if I found a place, it wouldn't be the same. No more spontaneous visits, no more following the smells of Casey's cooking or the sound of Yara's laughter over to their house.
"Hey," Casey's voice cut through my thoughts, his hand finding mine. "Don't freak out. We'll figure something out for your housing."
Yara leaned in, squeezing my other hand. "We have tons of friends in town, I'm sure someone knows of something."
I nodded, trying to muster a smile. But inside, my heart was heavy, weighed down by the realization that our easy, natural rhythm was about to change. What if they no longer wanted me like this once I wasn't in their back yard. And why weren't they at all worried about me moving further away?
"Come on," Yara said, tugging me towards the kitchen. "Casey made a great dinner. You still up for this date?"
"Yeah, okay," I agreed, forcing myself to focus on the present. We made our way to the large wooden table, watching Casey as he put the finishing touch on his meal. The familiar routine of helping Casey and sharing stories was a small comfort.
"You're quiet," Yara noted, her eyes searching mine as she sliced bell peppers with practiced precision. "What's going on in that head of yours?"
I shrugged, attempting a nonchalant smile. "Just thinking about apartments in town. It's not like Greendale is New York City; I'll probably find something close by."
"We'll make it work." Yara reached out, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder.
"Right," I echoed, but the words felt hollow. A ten-minute drive wasn't the end of the world. It wasn't like I was moving to another state. But it was enough to change things. Enough to make spontaneous visits less likely. Enough to turn our effortless intimacy into something that required planning and schedules.
"Hey," Casey said softly, nudging me with his elbow. "You okay?"
"Yeah, I'm good," I lied, focusing on the task at hand. Chopping garlic, stirring sauces—anything to keep my mind off the growing pit in my stomach.
But as the aroma of Casey's cooking filled the room, memories flooded back. Mornings waking up to the scent of his freshly brewed coffee, evenings spent laughing over impromptu dinners, nights when Yara and I would sneak away to the cabin for some private time, our laughter echoing through the woods. Those moments felt like they'd be harder to come by now.
"Smells amazing," I said, forcing enthusiasm into my voice. Casey's cooking always did smell amazing, but tonight, the thought of not being able to taste it whenever I wanted made my chest tighten.
Casey thanked me and flashed me a wide, genuine smile. It was a look that made my heart skip a beat every time.
"Let's set the table," Yara suggested, pulling me from my thoughts. We moved around the kitchen, plates and cutlery clinking, as we prepared to eat. The familiarity of it all was comforting. We were quieter than usual as we sat around the table, and I wondered if they were thinking the same thing I was: this was a death knell for our barely formed relationship.
When the awkward dinner ended and they invited me to join them in bed, I pushed my worries aside and made the most of the time we had, losing myself in the intense connection between us.