Page 33 of Her Three Tech Bros

“Where the hell did you come from?” Ryan asks me. “You can’t dip into the conversation when you don’t even know what we’re talking about.”

“And I don’t care,” I say. “As long as it’s not about work.”

After shuffling the cards and setting everything up, the three of us dive deep into our millionth poker game together. For a moment, I almost forget that there’s something I need to talk to them about, but as I check my phone for the time, I remember.

I stand up to get some snacks and another beer, turning to Ryan first. “Man, you better not be cheating.”

“Are you fucking kidding me with this shit again?”

“I’m just saying. You’re playing awfully well.”

I take two fingers and nudge Ryan’s head before walking to the bar and the kitchen.

Ryan calls after me. “It’s just a game, dude. Calm the fuck down.”

“I’m putting on some music!” Logan yells in my direction.

“Okay!” I reply. As I pull the pre-made charcuterie board out from the fridge, I hear jazz instrumental music playing over the sound system.

When I return, both Ryan and Logan are sitting in silence, listening to the music. I figure this is as good a time as any to settle my curiosity.

“So,” I start, my voice betraying a hint of nervousness. “Are you two seeing Jade?”

Ryan and Logan exchange a quick glance, their eyes filled with a mix of surprise and discomfort. I wasn’t sure if they were actually seeing her or not. I mean, it’s not like we tell each other about every single hookup or girl we take out. But all three of us had mentioned wanting to see her again that night on the way home, and this whole time I’ve been wondering if they actually went through with it like I did.

Judging by their faces, they clearly did.

“You know, I really like Jade. In fact, I’ve been dating her for the past couple of weeks,” I confess, my voice tinged with a mix of excitement and guilt. “I’ve been seeing her since that night at the club, and I feel like I should come clean about it.”

A heavy silence settles over the terrace, the words lingering in the air like a fog. Ryan and Logan seem to search for their own thoughts. I wait for them to find the words to express their emotions. They realize the truth is being laid bare, and now it’s on them to decide how to respond.

At last, I break the silence, shattering the uncomfortable tension. I hope they can hear the sincerity in my voice.

“Look, guys, I know this situation is complicated. But instead of vying for Jade’s affections and letting it affect our friendship, and possibly our business partnership, what if we talk about it openly and honestly? Maybe we can navigate this without losing anything that’s important to us.”

The question hangs in the air, a tangible presence that begs for an answer.

14

RYAN

Isit in silence, unsure of what to say. Ethan’s question lingers in the air, swirling around me, creating an atmosphere of uncertainty. It echoes in the corners of my mind, taunting me, forcing me to confront a truth that I have been trying to avoid with all my might.

Logan sits next to me, just as silent. I turn toward him, willing him to speak so I can piggyback off of whatever he says. But he looks just as uneasy as I feel. I don’t think I’ll be getting any boost or hint of inspiration from him.

The jazz instrumental music Logan chose plays a melancholy tune. It plays in my ear like an eerie film soundtrack.

Ethan speaks again, breaking the silence. “I’m sorry to kill the mood. I just figured we would be relaxed enough to talk about it, maybe.”

Logan finally speaks. “I don’t know if killing the mood is the right phrase, Ethan. You took it somewhere else. And I…” he trails off, obviously uncomfortable and unable to finish.

Ethan comes in on the tail end of Logan’s incomplete sentence. “Well, my question only needs a simple yes or no. It’s not anything you need to think about. Are you guys seeing Jade? I admitted I was seeing her. And that I really like her. And honestly, I’d like to keep seeing her.”

Once again, I turn to Logan, but he just sits there with a look of discomfort on his face. I turn back to Ethan, who is looking nervous. The intensity of their apparent emotions is too much for me. Unable to stand it any longer, I get up from my chair and head inside to the bar.

“Where are you going?” Ethan asks.

“To the bar. I need a drink,” I say over my shoulder.

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