Page 59 of My Five Daddies

So we hashed it out. It was difficult and awkward, but in the end we came up with a system, a model so to speak, for how this relationship cancontinue.

Hunter comes back not long later with a couple bottles of whisky. Relieved, we all pour drinks and start bullshitting, talking about nothing in particular, just nervous chatter as we wait for the real reason we’rehere.

And she doesn’t keep us waiting long. Jordan checks his phone about a half hour later. “She’s here,” he says. “On her wayup.”

We all perk up. The vibe gets palpable as we sit there inanticipation.

“I’ll do the talking,” Isay.

Nobody argues with me. I finish my glass of whisky and take a sharp breath as there’s a little knock at the door a few minuteslater.

Tori steps into the room. We all turn to look at her at once, and I can tell it embarrassed her. Whenever we’re all together like this, every single one of us stares at her, attention totally focused on her, and I think it’s overwhelming. I think she likes having us in small groups, makes it easier for her. But together, it’s the full weight of our attention and desire all at once, and it’s hard for her tohandle.

“Hi, guys,” she says, letting the conference room door shut behindher.

I stand up. “I’m glad youcame.”

She looks nervous. “Jordan said it wasimportant.

“It is. Come here, take a seat.” I walk around the table and steer her into a chair. When she’s sitting, I head back to my spot, and we all look ather.

She laughs nervously. “Okay, what’shappening?”

“We’ve been talking,” Isay.

“For hours now,” Jordangrumbles.

“About what?” sheasks.

“About you,” I say. “And about what all of this is.” I gesture at the guys aroundme.

She hesitates. I can tell she’s holding something back. “Okay, what did you talkabout?”

“We came up with a plan… with a way for this to keep going.” I lean toward her, my eyes staring into hers. I can see that she’s nervous, even a little afraid, but there’s excitement buried deep inside aswell.

“The most important question is this: do you want this to keepgoing?”

She doesn’t even hesitate. “Yes.”

“Good,” I say. I can sense the relief around the table. “We dotoo.”

She looks at each of us in turn. “Are you all sure?” she asks. “This is so… strange. I don’t really know how to handle it. Or how itworks.”

“Neither do we,” Chrissays.

“But we’re working on it,” Jordanadds.

“And we have a plan,” Isay.

She looks at me and nods. “Okay, what isit?”

“It’s simple, really. Just two simple rules and adefinition.”

She raises an eyebrow. “Adefinition?”

I nod. “We’ll get to that. First, the tworules.”

“Okay, what arethey?”

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