Page 37 of Just A Little Magic

About time.

Anders

Do we know him?

Owen

Yes… Barrett

Rory

YAYYAYYAYYAY I’ve been shipping you two since we met.

Jakob

Fantastic news Second on the shipping.

Anders

Owen

^correctanswer

and he knows I’m doing the date auction

Rory

Jakob

Anders

OH SHIT. We’re all on the way. Jakob, Rory, and I will pick you up.

“So you did the deed but made him promise it was only the one time?” Rory’s tone was incredulous.

“That’s correct.”

“And you were little in front of him, and you don’t want to repeat that either?” Jakob’s tone was a near-perfect match to Rory’s.

“That’s correct.”

“I don’t understand why you don’t want either one. Do you not want those things at all? Not now? Not ever? Not with Barrett. It seems like you two are pretty compatible, given that you’ve been besties for freaking years.”

The four of us were gathered around my living room so my foolish decisions could be dissected face-to-face. I’d introduced Elizabeth to them, and they’d all marveled over how pretty she was. Sadly, that distraction only took a few minutes, and they were all too eager to hear about my overnight trip to the Land of Great Sex and Bear.

“Maybe it would help if you could explain why it’s a no-go. I get no one wants to ruin friendships, but some friends are meant to be more,” Rory said with his confusion evident.

“Well, I…uh…I mean…” My voice trailed off because I knew that explaining everything would only lead to more questions I didn’t know how to answer. “It’s hard to explain.”

“You don’t owe anyone an explanation,” Anders interjected, “but if you want to explain any part of it, we’re happy to listen. You know I’m not a little, but obviously, Jakob and Rory are, and I love playing uncle to them when they’re in a little headspace. They’d be happy for you to join them. It’s up to you, but we just want to make sure you know you could join if you wanted.”

“I’m not the same kind of little as them.”