Page 14 of Treble

Once inside, I’m rooted in place. The living room and kitchen are open concept, and it appears to be recently renovated. “Make yourself at home,” Noah insists. I finally close my gaping mouth as I walk further inside.

“Hey Meghan?” Henry calls into the apartment.

“In here,” she shouts back. “I’ll be out in a second!”

Henry disappears into one of the bedrooms. I slip off my shoes and admire the chef’s kitchen with gray quartz countertops and white cabinets. If I had all the money in the world, this is exactly how I would design my kitchen. Noah pulls out a bottle of wine and pours three glasses, passing one to me. A moment later, the woman who I assume is Meghan appears, tying up her hair. When she spots Noah, she practically prances toward him with a smile I can’t help mirroring.

She tucks into Noah’s side and he kisses her temple as she takes a glass of wine. “Hi! You must be Keri. I’m Meghan. Sorry this is how we’re meeting. The boys told me about the, uh…” She scrunches her nose. “If you haven’t eaten yet, I’m about to start dinner and I promise there won’t be extra protein.”

Noah lets out a full laugh and I picked the worst time to sip my wine, nearly spitting it out. “Thank you. Yes, I’m starving, but I can help cook. It’s the least I can do.”

“No one is allowed to cook in my kitchen,” Meghan replies without a hint of teasing in her tone, then beams at Noah. “Isn’t that right?”

“I’m lucky she lets me pour a glass of wine in here. Meghan owns a few restaurants in town,” Noah explains, and it makes a lot more sense how they can afford this place with them both running successful businesses. He goes on to tell me how she mostly works at the location next door to his bookstore. It’s a high-end restaurant I’ve never been able to afford, and I’m excited to try whatever she’s making for dinner.

Henry reappears, joining us in the kitchen. He’s no longer wearing all black, instead donning a dark gray polo and jeans. Flanking Meghan’s other side, she kisses him hello. While I’d love to know more about how their unconventional relationship works, now doesn’t feel like the right time to ask.

Meghan begins dinner and the other two lead me over to the sofa. There are several large windows and I imagine they let in a lot of natural light during the day. Maybe there’s something to having two partners. If nothing else, it monetarily makes sense, especially with the cost of housing in the city.

Henry is about to say something when their intercom buzzes. “I’ll get it.” Noah stands and makes his way to the small speaker by their door. “Hello?”

“Hey, it’s Victor. Is Keri there?”

Noah glances back to us and my gaze darts between him and Henry. “Yes,” Noah replies, but offers no additional information.

“Can we come up?”

We?

I nod and tell Noah, “Only if you’re okay with it.”

Noah lets them up, and Henry whispers, “If it gets weird, I’m kicking them out.”

A few minutes later, there’s a knock at the door and I let them know I’ll answer it. I hop off the couch and open the door, finding Victor nervously shifting foot to foot, and Paul refusing to make eye contact with me. “Can we come in?” Victor asks, and I’m tempted to shut the door in their faces.

“No. And don’t get any ideas of sneaking in and watching me sleep.”

“You do that too? I just watch from the window though,” Paul questions Victor with a small laugh.

“Seriously?” I groan. “I have my audition coming up and don’t have time to deal with you two.”

“Come home with me,” Victor pleads, and I hate that it’s not a question.

“No. I’m going to crash here with Henry and Noah until my apartment has been cleaned and properly aired out.” I don’t add Meghan’s name into the mix since they were hesitant to mention her earlier.

“Please?”

I’m startled when Henry sneaks up behind me and growls, “She said no.” My eyes fly wide and I don’t dare turn around. Henry is always so unassuming, his commanding presence catches me off-guard.

“I think you both should leave,” Noah adds, though significantly softer than Henry.

“Let me get through my audition and then…” I huff a small laugh. “Well, you both will know where to find me.”

Victor lets out a defeated sigh and Paul nods. They glance between Henry and Noah for a moment before reluctantly turning away and leaving.

I close the door, and Meghan calls to us from the kitchen, “We have about an hour until dinner. Noah, could you put together a little cheese tray? I need something to hold me over.”

“I’ve got it,” Henry insists, and Noah takes my hand, squeezing it once before releasing it. They’ve taken me in like a stray cat and I’ll forever be grateful to them for saving me from my ridiculous predicament. Except, when my audition is submitted, part of me hopes Victor and Paul will find me. I’d love to have a small taste of what Henry, Noah, and Meghan have.

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