Page 26 of Complete Me

“What about one of the guys who visited you in the hospital?” When I glance up, he’s busy mincing. Or purposely not looking at me. Or both.

I tiptoe around the topic, not sure I want to get into that discussion in the middle of the cooking class. “How do you know about them?”

“Astrid. Jules told her he’d seen them at the hospital and wondered if she knew who the tall one was. I guess he knows the one with the blond hair?” He glances over at me. “So, who are they?”

I relax slightly. Who they are is easily answered and not dangerous territory. “The one with white-blond hair is Kaino Nieminen. You remember them.”

Gunnar’s eyes widen in surprise. “Didn’t he used to have blue hair? You dated him years ago. I thought he moved away. And what, he just shows up at the hospital to check on you after all this time?”

“Yes, that’s them.”

When I stress the correct pronouns, Gunnar nods. “Right. Sorry, I forgot. So they saw the news and showed up?”

“They saw the news and came to make sure I was alright. The other guy was Xander.”

Gunnar’s mouth drops open. “The sassy professor?”

I snort, already planning to share the nickname with both Kaino and Xander next time I see them. “He’ll love being called that, although he’ll pretend he hates being called sassy.”

Gunnar’s expression remains neutral, so something’s up. “He’s way too high maintenance for me.”

“Good thing you’re not dating him, then. Not that I am. And I don’t mind.” I wink at him, so he knows I’m not upset at that comment. “He’s incredibly smart but equally insecure, and it comes out as snark and sass. Yeah, it makes him a little bit needy, but he’s actually quite kind and funny.” Xander cuddling the baby animals was all I needed to see to know that part of him hadn’t changed. “Anyway, the three of us have been hanging out and reconnecting.” Gunnar stares at me. “What?”

“You’re all friends now? You just hang out? I’ve never known you to date more than one person at a time, so you can’t be dating both of them.” When I don’t say anything, he puts down his knife and stares at me. “Are you dating both of them?”

Sighing, I shrug. “I have no idea what we’re doing, but I’m not doing it with just one of them. We haven’t said we’re dating, but I think we might be? Whatever it is, it’s fun. And I don’t need to label it.”

“But you want to be doing whatever it is with both of them? I thought things didn’t work out with either of them before.”

Gunnar’s tone is curious and a bit perplexed, but there’s no hint of judgment. The tension I didn’t even know I was holding eases. “Yeah. I think I do.” I dump the onions into a bowl and grab some of the leeks Gunnar hasn’t finished yet. “I really like them both. A lot. And we’re all older now. It seems like we’re more settled. Maybe that’ll make a difference. Maybe it won’t.” I catch his gaze and hold it. “Thanks for not being judgy about it.”

He dumps the minced garlic into a small bowl, then helps me finish off the leeks. “So, do they know you’re doing whatever with both of them? Because that would be the only thing I’d judge you for. If they both know what the situation is, and they still want to do whatever with you, then fine.”

“Yes, they know.” I think. Shit. I probably should make sure they do. “And I kind of think they might be into each other, too.”

Gunnar’s eyes practically bug out of his head. “Really? So, what? You’re all poly?”

That brings me up short. Polyamorous? Technically, it would be multiple romantic, consensual, and hopefully sexual relationships at one time. So, yeah. Huh. Mind blown. “I guess. Not in the ‘I want to date anyone I’m attracted to’ kind of way. But in the ‘I’m really into both Kaino and Xander, and if they’re on board, I’m all for being a… a… throuple?’ Right?”

Gunnar nods. “Yeah, that’s what it’s called, if you all agree that you’re not dating anyone else.”

“Which would be my plan.” I glance at him again. “You’d be okay with that? It wouldn’t weird you out?”

He rolls his eyes. “Look. You’re all adults and able to consent or not. As long as you’re all on the same page with whatever you get up to, then it’s cool. The rest is your business and no one else’s.”

Shaking my head, I stare at him. “I’m so fucking proud of you.” It’s about all I can get out without moving into dangerously emotional territory, and there’s only so many tears I can blame on the onions.

“Cut it out. You’re going to cry, then I’m going to cry. Let’s talk about something else. When’s your next date?”

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I grin and rest my hands on the workbench. “I had a date last night. It was perfect.”

“Yeah?” He beams, eyes sparkling. “And?”

“I think tonight I’ll try a grape.”

His brows draw down in confusion, and I wait for him to get the joke. When he does, finally, he groans and tosses a clove of garlic at me. “No jokes! You’re not funny!”

“But I am. I see you grinning.” Which he is. Then we notice the others in the group have gone quiet and are staring at us. “Whoops. Sorry.”

---