Page 6 of Higher Notes

I hurried through everything, feeling uneasy leaving Snipe unattended. It was rare we were ever apart, and I couldn’t tell if the butterflies were due to his behavior when I left or at seeing Jason again. But my gut told me to hightail it back there. Sure enough, when I pulled up Snipe was outside pacing.

“What’s wrong?”

“Ugh. Everything. Nothing. It’s like I’m losing my damn mind.”

“Start from the beginning and tell me what I missed.”

“You didn’t miss anything except your partner losing their cool. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. It’s like being frozen in time and trying to fast forward in the same breath.”

“I don’t understand. I’ve never seen you like this. Maybe we just need to forget the whole thing.” Fuck, I never should’ve brought the idea of bringing a third in, and a principal at that. Seeing this reaction from the man I knew better than anyone and vowed to spend the rest of my life with wasn’t worth it.

“No. No.” He stood firm. “I want this, and you know my history with wanting shit and having it go south. You’re the only win for me in a long life of losses and I won’t risk losing you, but I just…” He clenched his fists. “I just know he belongs with us, and I hate the whole dating-trying to win someone over shit. You and I clicked and fell into place. It was easy, but this is right, don’t you feel it?”

“I do but this is insane. You’re gonna drive yourself mad and I have no clue how to reel you in.” Fucking hell, nothing like watching the man you loved lose his shit.

“I know. I know.” He paced some more. “I’ll get it together. I promise. Why don’t you go back inside and check on them?”

No need to, the door slid open and out came Jason.

“Um, is everything okay?”

Was it?

“Yeah, sorry. Just needed some fresh air.”

Jason glanced around, not buying Snipe’s bullshit. “It’s raining.”

“Something we don’t get much in the desert so we better enjoy it while we can.”

This was akin to watching a tennis match and if Jason chose to be a part of us, he’d need to call us out on shit like this. So I watched and waited for Snipe’s inevitable crash and burn, though I’d be right there to pick him back up.

“Fresh air comes after the rain is gone so why don’t you tell me what’s really going on? Because if I walk back inside on a lie, I may just walk away for good.”

There it was, and the smirk on my face said it all. Way to go, Jason!

Snipe glanced at me, but this lifeline was stepping aside. He got himself into this mess and he was the only one getting him out.

“Fuck. Sorry. I’m complete and total shit at this dating thing. All I want to do is fast forward and know the three of us are going home together after work.” That took a lot for Snipe to admit to which said a lot.

“I bet you’re the kind of kid who opens the ends of his presents then tapes them back up before his parents find out, aren’t you?” Jason winked.

“I would’ve been had I had any presents, or parents for that matter.”

“Fuck, man, I’m sorry. I-I didn’t know.” Poor Jason walked into that one but they both had to learn. Hell, all three of us did.

“You didn’t but you also called me out on my shit and for that I have mad respect. I’m sorry, I’ll get my act together. It’s just, ugh,” Snipe ran a rough hand over his face. “I’m fucking this up, huh?”

Jason shook his head. “You’re not fucking this up. You guys have been together for a long time and a relationship is something I’ve never had. Dating is how we learn the quirks, likes and dislikes, and fuck, I’m just as nervous.” Jason paused for a second. “Okay, group hug time. Bring it in.”

Hmm, touching and hugging would be something to get used to but denying Jason’s request wasn’t happening. But with Jason more or less sandwiched between us, I felt Snipe’s anxiety as I took it unto my own and eased it away. Jason was the missing piece for us. Now, to hope he saw the same in us.

“Will you allow us to take you out while we’re here?” Might as well ask.

“I thought that was the whole point to setting up this visit. See how we work. How this works. But I’ll tell you right now, two inside me at one time ain’t happening.”

Snipe lost it. First real laughter I’d heard from him in far too long. “Yeah, size wasn’t lost on either of us in any capacity and hurting you isn’t an option.”

Jason stared up at us, nestled perfectly between our bodies. “Nice to see both of you can actually smile.”

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