Page 35 of Her Three Tech Bros

“Exactly!” Ethan chimes in.

Exasperated, I sigh and throw my arms up in the air. I don’t know what else to say. I’m trying to explain to my friends why they should not like Jade.

Why don’t they understand that it’s because I like her? Therefore, they should not like her because she is my type. Mine. Instead, Ethan keeps talking about how special she is.

But now, I realize that Ethan and Logan share a connection with her. It may not be the same connection, but it’s like the powerful attraction I have.

I’m not proud of this misplaced possessiveness, this competitive jealousy I’m feeling toward my friends. I don’t want to lose Jade, but I also don’t like the idea of sharing her. It’s an internal battle that leaves me feeling raw and vulnerable.

But maybe, by talking, we can find a solution. Maybe we can redefine our relationships and create something new built on trust, understanding, and genuine connection.

Maybe I’m talking like Ethan now. Or maybe I don’t want to jockey with my friends for a woman I can’t seem to let go.

As much as I despise this jealousy that’s creeping into my body, I cannot ignore it. But I also can’t allow it to poison the bond I have with my friends.

Love is never simple, and sometimes it requires us to step out of our comfort zones and confront our deepest fears. And at this moment, as Ethan’s question lingers in the air, I am ready to do just that - to fight against my own worries and find a way to not only be with Jade but also to keep the friends I care about and share so much of my life with.

With a heavy sigh, I speak. “So, are we going to keep staring at each other, or are we going to talk about it?”

The next words to come out of Ethan’s mouth are even more shocking than finding out that the two of them had been dating her this whole time.

“What if we all continued to date her together?”

15

LOGAN

Ihave no words to say right now. I’ve never heard something so utterly ridiculous in my entire life. Not even coming from Ethan. I would’ve expected something like this from Ryan, but Ethan’s supposed to be more level-headed.

“Date Jade… All three of us? Together?” I ask, not to be answered but just to sound out such a suggestion.

I don’t even know what to think right now. I know of polyamorous couples and those that have open relationships, and I always turned my nose up at them. I never saw the appeal of having more than one partner at the same time. I always thought it to be something perverse and pathetic.

Not to mention, I am, absolutely, positively, straight. When has Ethan had these kinds of thoughts? We’ve been friends for years, and he’s suddenly springing this on us?

“What the hell are you saying right now?” I blurt out.

My face contorts as it goes between disgust and anger. I wouldn’t have minded him being bisexual if he was honest from the very beginning. It’s the fact that he wants all of us to be involved… together.

I love these two fools like my family, but that’s something I can’t do for them.

“Logan, calm down. You’re going to hurt yourself,” Ryan says.

I look down at my hands, not realizing that I was burying my fingers in my palms. I unclench them but quickly ball them up into fists.

“How the fuck are you so calm about this?” I snap at him.

He jerks his head back. “I’m not. It’s new to me, too, but I won’t gain anything if I lose my shit like you’re about to.”

I turn my head over at Ethan. “And you? Did you think this through at all? Did you think about how we’d feel about your dumb ass idea?”

“I did. That’s why it’s just an idea.” He frowns. “I wanted to bring it up to see how exactly we all feel about this. To get on the same page or to have some sort of understanding.”

“Understanding!” I pace around while pressing my hands on my temples. “Listen to yourself! Years of friendship and suddenly you want it to change?”

“Well, obviously, things will be different between us. But I thought that since we've known each other for so long, it might be something we could manage.”

I’m nearing a mental breakdown. He’s saying these things so casually as if it’s not a big fucking deal. I feel like I’m being forced to see him and Ryan in a new light. I heave internally just thinking about being romantic with them.

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