Page 27 of Room One Hundred and Twenty Nine

“Count the seams!” Zahra yells.

The pitcher from the other team throws the ball. Mei takes a big swing but misses. There’s a wave of “awes” from the stands, but the team doesn’t stop cheering. The pitcher throws the ball again and this time Mei hits it to right field. Haruko and Karla take off running as Mei drops the bat and heads to first base. Karla makes it home and Haruko gets to third base with Mei on second.

Tanya is now at the plate. She’s a natural at bat. I don’t doubt she’ll hit it far enough to get Haruko and Mei home.

Tanya rolls up her sleeves and stares down at the pitcher. The pitcher looks behind her, then back at Tanya, who’s close to baring her teeth. Yeah, she’s a little intense about the game, but she’s also a lot of fun.

The pitcher throws the ball, and Tanya swings the bat hard, sending the ball into the sun. Everyone cheers as Haruko, Mei, and Tanya book it around the field. They all make it home.

I look at the scoreboard and it’s ten to eight. We win.

All the women hug each other and I catch Haruko’s eye. I nod my head to the bleachers where everyone’s clearing out, and she nods.

I take a deep breath and remove off my cap, running my hand through my hair again, thinking of what to say. I don’t get a lot of time to think, though. Just like that, Haruko taps me on the shoulder. I turn around and see her standing there, sweaty and out of breath, looking amazing.

“Hey,” she breathes, toeing the grass under her feet.

“Hey.” I clear my throat. “Listen, I wanted to talk about the other night.”

“Yeah, me too,” she says, smiling.

Okay, this conversation might go well.

A little less nervous after seeing her smile. “Are you okay with what happened?”

She licks her lips. “Yeah, I am. Very okay. In fact…” She looks to the ground, then back up at me with a nervous glint in her eyes, “I want to go again.”

I don’t even bother hiding the smile on my face because thank fuck.

“Really?”

“Yeah.” She grins wider. “I mean, it was a lot of fun. Though will you guys come with me?” she asks.

And that’s when things get complicated.

On the one hand, I’m happy she’s thinking of us three men as one, on the other hand we’re still her bosses. This isn’t just about a foursome at Club Sin. This is about the ethics of having sexwith your bosses. We already went too far the first time and I’m not sure I can stop myself from going further given the chance.

“I’ll be honest, Haruko. I’m sure we all want to go with you. You’re…”

Fuck, what do I say? You’re amazing? We want you more than our next breath? You’re the love of our lives? That may be too much, but she’d need more than just “a good time” to risk this, wouldn’t she?

“I’m…” she says, waiting for me to finish the sentence.

“You’re amazing. We had an amazing night with you and we’d love to take you again. Plus, you know us and it’s easier to feel safe with people you know, right?”

Haruko nods at him.

“I agree,” she says softly, taking a step forward. “Um… can I ask you something?”

I nod, inhaling her vanilla shampoo.

“Is helping me feel safe the only reason you want to go with me? Because I was thinking last night that I felt something, but I wasn’t sure. I know having feelings for your bosses is… wrong, but I want to know, would you want more if we could have more? Or is this just a fun time and you caring about me is why you want to come again?”

I shouldn’t be making any kind of proclamations without talking to Parker and Elijah. In fact, I may have already said too much. In my defense, Parker started this the second he invited her without talking to us. And fuck, I don’t want her to think for a second that we don’t want her.

Because we do. Elijah too, even though he won’t admit it.

I wrap my arm around her waist and tip her head back with my finger, feeling her soft skin.

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