Page 49 of Elusive

Bellamy’s face scrunches, so aggravated that I have to chuckle. “I didn’t want to intrude, but now that I’m sure you’re feeling better, and, I couldn’t help but overhear the change in conversation, to absolute nonsense.”She pops out a hip, cutting narrowed eyes to her best friend. “Brynn, you’re allowed to explore both relationships, at the same time even, as long as you’re upfront with them. It’s called dating. People, especially guys, do it all the time. You can too! In fact, for some asinine reason, the more explorative a guy tends to be, the more his allure seems to increase. Just ask Jerry Springer! Made a fat paycheck off the mysterious phenomenon!”

“Go easy, killer.” JT presses himself to her back, hands on her shoulders. “You’re getting awful worked up. No sense in having a brain aneurysm when nobody’s arguing with you.”

“Yeah, okay,” she breathes deep. “You’re right. I’ve just, I’ve heard all the double-standard bullshit I can stand for one night. Brynny,” her volume and tone find a rational level, “as long as you’re honest, you’re not doing anything wrong. But, make sure you’re prepared for their reactions. Either one, or both of them, could tell you they’re not okay with it and walk away. And if I’m guessing, I’d say there’s a very good chance that’s exactly what Ryder will say. Or, suppose he does agree. You have to be alright with them doing the same, seeing other girls… so consider that before you go proposing arrangements you don’t wanna be on the receiving end of. But, if you are okay with it, and you are upfront about it all, there’s not a damn thing wrong with casually dating two guys at once. There is, however, a lot wrong with being dishonest, sneaky, or a hypocrite.”

“Nice speech, baby.” JT kisses the side of her head.

“That’s what I was gonna say too, she just beat me to it,” Presley grumps. “And drug it out a bit long for my likin’. I’d have summed it up much faster. Who let her come in here?” She grins at Bellamy, who sticks her tongue out.

“Of course you would’ve,” I quietly tease in her ear. “And you’re not wrong, for Brynny. But just in case it ever comes up, for you, lemme save ya some trouble. I would not be okay with it, and he wouldn’t either, since he’d be dead and all.”

“Do you seriously think you can boss me around? That I’ll think it’s sexy or something?” She whispers back, with a lil’ bite to it.

“Don’t know, but I just did it anyway. So, is it?”

“Is it what?”

“Sexy or something.”

“Kinda.” She hitches a shoulder. “And a lot. But don’t-”

“Read too much into it?”

“Exactly.”

I wait until she turns her attention back to the girls before grinning. I’m getting better and better at this. If I let her think she has the upper-hand, she doesn’t have to actually use it. And I’m more than okay with playing along.

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