Page 125 of Three Bossy Boyfriends
I sigh. “Yeah. And it’s nothing against you guys. It’s just not how I imagined my life.” I shake my head. “Not that I imagined my girlfriend having two other boyfriends, but I guess I’m okay with sharing her, but not sharing a bathroom and a fridge.” I roll my eyes at myself. “I realize that sounds stupid now that I say it out loud.”
“Christopher has more than one bathroom.”
“I just?—”
Evan chuckles. “Just giving you shit. You just need to be honest with Finley about everything.”
“I know. I guess I wanted to ask you where you and Christopher stood on things too. If I was the one who was the problem. I guess…” I shove a hand through my hair.
“What?”
“I thought maybe you and Christopher would just want her to yourselves. You’d just say too bad if I can’t get on board.” Is it possible that this can work? Can I still have Finley? Most importantly, can she actually be happy this way?
“I couldn’t do that, Tucker.”
“No?”
“No.BecauseI love her. I want her to be happy. That comes before anything that makes it easier or more fun for me. And for her to be happy, her life needs to include you.” He shrugs. “So, my life needs to include you in some capacity. If it’s just the guy who is taking care of my girl when I’m not with her, then that’s fine. But I hope it’s as a friend who I can also spend time with sometimes and laugh with and make some memories with. Christmas. Barbados. Ax throwing.”
I again feel that unwinding in my tight muscles. I study him. Evan is a good guy. Christopher too. I was comfortable with them from the first minute I met them. I trusted them with mybusiness problems immediately. And yes, I can see how Finley feels about them. They make her happy. More, they make her feel seen and safe and loved. They accept her in a way I know she hasn’t had before. They celebrate and are attracted to all the things that she’s used to keep others at arm’s length. I like them and appreciate them for that alone. As I get to know them better, I’m sure I’ll like them even more.
Fuck. They are really good for her.
I want them for her.
“Yeah. I get that,” I finally say. “With any other guy, I’d just compete. I’d just try to be everything she needs. I’d tell her it’s me or him. But with you guys…you’re right. You can give her things I can’t. Weird as it sounds, I want that.”
“Good.” He seems relieved.
“And maybe, sometime down the road, after we have to share space in Barbados, I might come around to sharing space here, on a more permanent basis.”
He nods. “Maybe. And I appreciate you saying that. But no expectations. Let’s let it all happen however it happens. If we never share a permanent space, I don’t think that means we’re failing or that we can’t be happy.”
I’m very relieved. “Okay. Great.”
“We should talk to Christopher and Finley about it all, of course,” he says. “We should sit down and lay out how this is all going to work. Hear both of them out. I know Christopher is on board, but he might have questions, or even solutions we’re not thinking about.”
“Wonderful. We can all have dinner soon.” We can even do it at someone’s house. More intimate. No interruptions.
“And you should be the one to invite Finley,” Evan says.
“You think so?”
“For sure. You want her to know that you’re in on the plan, that you agree with it. I think it’s a given that Christopher and I are okay with sharing.”
“Can I get you anything else?” our server asks as she picks up our plates.
We say no, and Evan grabs the check she puts down.
“Hey, I should pay. I invited you.”
“You can get it next time,” Evan says, pulling out a credit card.
“Next time? We’re going to have lunch again?” But I like the idea.
“Of course.”
I smile. Maybe this whole thing is going to work out after all.
