Bash: SEXUALLY.
Aiden: I don’t think you needed to spell it out for her.
Me: He didn’t, but I liked it anyway! I wish you were teasing me sexually. Both of you.
Aiden: Amen to that.
Bash: I guess that’s a good segue: now that a few more days have passed, how do you feel about this whole thing? Sleeping with both of us?
Me: So far, it still sounds great to me. The more I wrap my mind around it, the more comfortable I am. Although it would be easier if you both weren’t away at the same time.
Bash: Yeah, this kind of ruins the point of us sharing you. Usually we alternate trips.
Aiden: It sucks, but this is a rare situation. It won’t be like this in the future.
Me: And I want to reiterate that I like how we’re all friends. That’s the most important part to me: I don’t want things to get too serious. That way if things end, we can all remain friends and neighbors without any drama.
There was a long pause before they answered, long enough that I began to question if they agreed with me, or if they wanted something more serious.
For that matter, I was still wondering ifIwanted something more serious.
Eventually, I couldn’t wait any longer, so I texted them again.
Me: Does that sound good?
Aiden: I agree, keeping it casual is best.
Bash: Yup. We’re all on the same page. And don’t worry—I haven’t forgotten about your greenhouse. We can get started on it when I get home.
Me: Oh I meant to tell you. Dante is helping me with the greenhouse.
Aiden: Wait, seriously?
Bash: What?
Me: I woke up yesterday morning and he was in my backyard moving stuff around. Scared me half to death. We’ve repaired most of the metal framework already.
Bash: I mentioned the greenhouse to him, but I didn’t expect him to jump in and help without being asked.
Aiden: That’s not like Dante.
Me: He did make some demands. He wants half the greenhouse space for his plants, and he wants unlimited access to it around the clock.
Bash: There it is. I knew there was an angle.
Aiden: Yeah, he’ll do anything for those damn plants.
I was disappointed to hear them immediately assumethat’swhy Dante was helping me. Yeah, it made the most sense, butpart of me was still hoping he was lying about not being into blondes.
When I got home from work on Monday, Dante was hauling two long metal bars out of Bash’s car. “Perfect timing. Get changed and meet me in the back. We’ve got three hours of daylight.”
I gestured down at myself. “You don’t think heels and a pencil skirt are the perfect clothes to repair a greenhouse?”
Dante glanced at me and snorted. It was the closest thing to a friendly laugh I had gotten from the brusque man, so I took it as a win.
I brought beers out with me after changing. Dante gave me an appreciative nod and chugged half the bottle with a satisfied sigh.
Two wins in one evening? Maybe I’d make Dante like me after all.