Page 34 of The Marriage Policy

Good point.

“Anyway, then he said we should take care of them, and I asked if he meant together because we’ve never done that before, and—”

“You haven’t?” Anthony interrupts.

“No. We’re best friends.”

“So? I must admit I haven’t had one of those, but isn’t that a thing that happens?”

I’m struck for a moment by him saying he never had a best friend. We’ve talked about it before, how the three of us didn’t grow up with a lot of friendship, and how we were all loners for one reason or another, but I just can’t imagine that for Anthony. He’s so sweet and outgoing. He seems up for anything, like an extrovert, and just…well, his looks don’t hurt him either.

How did Malcolm find us all? I might have had Eric, but if it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t have ever had anyone. From what they’ve said, Hayes and Anthony didn’t even have an Eric.

“You have a best friend now—two of us.” I nod to Hayes, including him. “When have we jerked off together?”

“I meant when you were younger, but I most definitely would if Hayes didn’t have a big hockey boyfriend, and you weren’t basically married to your best friend.”

I flush.Little does he know…

“We’re getting off track,” I say.

“Wait. You would want to jerk off with me if I didn’t have a super-hot hockey boyfriend?” Hayes asks.

“I said big, you added the super-hot—validly. But yes.”

“Wow…” Hayes leans back on the couch, looking very impressed with himself. “I can’t wait to tell Rylan.”

“He’s not going to want to beat me up, is he?” Ant asks.

Hayes rolls his eyes. “No. We don’t have sex with other people or anything, but he’ll be happy for me nonetheless. He always says I don’t see how desirable I am. Oh God. Not that you desire me.”

Anthony waves off his concern. “You’re hot, sweetheart. Your boyfriend is right.”

Hayes grins, blushes, and I add, “You are.”

“Huh. Go me,” Hayes says, and the three of us laugh. “Okay, back to Donovan and his sex story with Eric.”

“It’s not a sex story.” Though I guess it kinda is. “I can’t remember where I left off—him saying we should take care of our boners, I think. I asked if he meant together. He said no but that we could, and I said no.”

“Why did you say no?” Hayes asks.

“Did you not want to?” Anthony adds.

I think for a moment. There’s no denying I did want to, but wanting was confusing. All this is confusing. “I did…and I never have before, so I’m not sure how to feel about it. But I mostly said no because I don’t want to mess things up between us. I’ve worked really hard to keep a firm friendship boundary between Eric and me. I never wanted it to get blurry because I can’t imagine my life without him. I could never risk that.”

“Why are the two of you automatically not lasting in this scenario?” Anthony cocks a brow.

Because Eric has never been in a serious relationship.

He’s never even wanted one.

He’s said before he doesn’t get that spark. Sex? Yes. Relationship? No.

Because he’s straight.

Because I’m already amazed that Eric loves me as a best friend, and I figure it’s smart not to push my luck. I can’t get that lucky twice.

Oh, and I don’t see him like that. I really, really don’t.

---