Catalina
Three months later
"Idon't know about this," I muttered, looking out the sliding glass door into the guys' backyard.
"Since when are you a chicken?" Suave teased.
"These are our friends," Brandon told me, crossing his arms over his chest. "And they happen to live the same lifestyle we do."
I perked up at that. We'd been home for three months, and things between us were amazing. I was falling more and more in love with them every day. They made me so happy. Everything had settled down since Russia. They kept me in the loop on each of the girls getting home to their families, and each time that a new faction of the Raleka was immobilized. It was slowing down and almost every woman on Drew's list had been accounted for. The teams Brandon had secured were working overtime to find the rest.
We'd come home and the guys took time off work so that we could learn how to be a couple. Couples? I still wasn't sure exactly how everything worked, but I'd promised to try it out. And truthfully, I was happy. So damn happy.
The only problem was my comfort in public. I refused to hold any of their hands, or kiss them, or show any affection in public. They really didn't like that, especially Brandon. But I didn't know how to behave. I still hadn't told my parents that I was dating them. They just thought I'd taken a new job and moved.
We were living together, and other than my hesitation to let anyone into our secluded little bubble, everything was perfect. Never would I have thought that being in a relationship with three men would be so fulfilling. I focused back on Brandon. "What do you mean? Lifestyle?"
Drew pointed, and I stared at the blond woman happily chatting with a dark haired man. "That's our friend Zinnia," he explained. He pointed out four men spread throughout the yard. "And those are her men."
"All four?" I asked, surprised. I wasn't sure why. Four was only one more than three. It was just all so new to me.
"And that's Bailey," Drew continued. "Those three are hers."
"Each one of the guys here belongs to one of the women," Suave said with a grin. There were only a handful of women, yet there were men everywhere.
"And everyone knows?" I asked.
"Yeah," Brandon answered. "They're all either CIA, or some form of military."
I looked over my shoulder at him. "Is that a thing for you guys?"
"Not normally," he said with a chuckle. "But it is with these particular guys. We're all friends because it's easier to know others who understand how this lifestyle goes."
"Do you have friends who don't share?" I asked.
"Sure," Suave said. "And they know about it as well. If they gave a shit, we wouldn't be friends with them."
"How do you think the women's families reacted?" I asked.
They all gave each other meaningful looks, but it was Drew who answered. "How about you go ask?"
"Oh, I couldn't! That would be rude."
Brandon snorted. "Since when do you care if asking a question is rude?"
I shot him a grin, not at all offended. That was sort of an integral part of my job, to be pushy.
"Come on," Drew said, grabbing my hand.
I dug my heels in. "I don't think so." Even though I spoke to people every day as a part of my job, I was more of a loner. The idea of going into this large crowd of people and entertaining set me on edge.
Suave made a bwaking sound, like a chicken would, but let out a heavy grunt when I elbowed him in the stomach.
"No one is going to judge you," Drew promised me. He looked so excited to go out there and see these people. If he could handle the large crowd, I could too.
They all but dragged me outside to join the barbeque. The guys had already been out and said hi to everyone, but now they were stopping to introduce me to everyone. We stopped in front of the blonde woman and she turned with a warm smile. She was heavily pregnant and I did my best not to stare.
Don't you dare ask who the father is, I scolded myself.