Page 49 of The Best Number

When the food arrives, the plates are piled high and I watch in amazement as Jack and Tom both devour their brunches. And then I look down and see I’ve also devoured mine. All this sex is clearly hungry work.

It feels comfortable after the initial uneasiness, and I’m grateful that we seem to have worked things out. Although, who am I kidding? This is new territory and there’s going to be a lot we all need to learn about our relationship and each other as we move forward.

“Hey, what’s with all the New York books?” Tom asks Jack, his brow raised.

“I was chatting with Duncan, the guy I used to work with that moved there and thought I’d do some research.”

“You planning a trip?”

“Maybe. And there’s the possibility of some work coming up. But it’s all up in the air at the moment. Probably won’t come to anything.” Jack shrugs. I frown. He seems more indifferent about it than when he told me. Perhaps it’s looking less likely.

“I see.” Tom purses his lips but goes quiet, taking a gulp of his coffee.

Jack heads to the bathroom and sneakily pays the bill on the way back. Tom and I both try to give him our share, but he’s not having any of it.

“What’s the point of having two lovers if I can’t spoil them?”

I start to chuckle but have the wind taken from my sails when a woman at the next table tuts loudly, and leans to the man next to her to whisper shout, “Disgusting. They should keep their sordid love lives private. I shouldn’t have to sit here and listen to this.”

What a bitch.I look over to the guys to see if they heard it too. Tom is giving the woman a furious side eye, but Jack seems oblivious as he puts his wallet back in his pocket and reaches up to check for his sunglasses on his head.

Frozen in place, I don’t know what to do.Should I call this woman out for her bigotry or just leave and keep the peace?It turns out I don’t need to do anything because Tom has stepped past Jack and closer to the woman.

“If you weren’t eavesdropping on other people’s conversations, you wouldn’t have to hear it,” he tells her in a low voice. He means business. It’s evident from his tone and his stance.

“You shouldn’t be flaunting your perversions in public. This is a nice place.” Her lip curls.

That’s it. I can’t just sit here and watch. I stand up to move beside Tom. Jack is standing by, watching this play out, with confusion on his face.

“Are we offending you?” I ask her. “Scared of people showing love and affection for each other, are you?” I look across to the man beside her. He’s certainly not taking this woman’s side, but he’s looking at us warily. “I feel sorry for you, love. If you don’t share her bigoted views, I suggest you find someone that has a little more room for fun and adventure in their life.” I give him a fake smile and the woman huffs.

“Come on guys, this woman isn’t worth our time or attention. Let’s go.” I take hold of Tom with one hand and thread my other hand around Jack to make our way out.

“Er, guys, what did I miss? What the fuck just happened?” Jack asks as we stumble out the door. Tom still feels tense, and I pat his chest to soothe him.

“She made a horrible comment about us after you mentioned having two lovers,” Tom says quietly.

“Oh shit, sorry,” Jack says.

I spin around, now we are out of the cafe and have a bit more space. “What the fuck are you apologising for? Did you know her?” I ask him.

“What? No. I just didn’t realise I’d spilled it in a public place.”

“So you want to keep this a secret, then?” Tom asks. It’s all starting to spin again.

“I don’t know. I didn’t even realise what she was talking about until you guys ganged up on her.”

“Ganged up on her? You think she was the victim in this?” Tom looks furious.

“That’s not what I meant.” Jack’s eyes are wide as he looks between Tom and I. Trying to roll the tension from my shoulders, I draw a deep breath.

“Let’s all just take a moment. Let’s head back to mine and we can talk in private,” I say to them both.

“Sure,” Tom mutters. He also seems to take a moment to calm himself, putting his arm around my shoulder and kissing my forehead.

“You were fierce in there, Mac. I’m proud of you, standing up to people like that.”

“Thanks, Tom, you too.”

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