Page 132 of The Holy Grail
“I have to do that in mine, and it sucks,” Evan said, only to quickly move on. “Now, what about a bathtub?”
“He has one of those spa tubs, or garden tubs, or whatever they’re called, with some jets on the sides—”
“Oh, my God,yes. That’s perfect.”
Malcom’s eyes were zinging back and forth, like he was watching a tennis match at Wimbledon, while the merits of his house were discussed in great detail. When they were finally done, Evan and Jules were both grinning.
“So, do we agree Mal’s place should be our headquarters?” Evan asked.
Jules nodded. “I wholeheartedly agree.”
Malcom looked from one to the other. “Do I have any say in this?”
“Of course,” Evan said.
“It’s your house, after all,” Jules pointed out.
Malcom knew a done deal when he saw one, so he simply gave in. “Fine. My house is now our … headquarters. I’ll get you both a set of keys this week.”
Jules and Evan both blinked at Malcom in surprise.
“It might be premature,” Malcom told them, “but I like the idea of you two being able to come and go as you please, as we work on … trust.”
“Okay,” Jules agreed.
Evan nodded. “I’m good with that.”
Malcom cleared his throat. “So … back to boundaries …”
The breadsticks decimated, Evan leaned forward, arms on the table. “You have some in mind?”
“Well, I don’t want to have too many, because that seems counterproductive to forward progress,” Malcom said slowly. “But I do think for a while, sex needs to involve all three of us—”
“Here are a few more breadsticks,” Anthony said, before exchanging a full basket for the empty one on the table. “And I promise, your meals will be out shortly.”
“Thank you,” Evan told him.
“You’re welcome.”
As soon as Anthony was out of earshot, Malcom gave both Evan and Jules confounded looks. “Neither of you saw him coming?”
Jules quickly defended herself. “I’m sorry. I was distracted by thoughts of three-way sex.”
“I didn’t see him, either,” Evan replied, then shrugged. “But like I said, ‘In one ear and out the other’.”
Malcom grabbed a breadstick and bit the end off.
“Anyway, I agree with the sex rule,” Evan said, getting the conversation back on course.
“Me, too,” said Jules.
“Okay, good,” Malcom, continued, still slightly unsettled over the second embarrassing moment with the waiter, having barely recovered from the first one. “So, I think it’s fair that kissing is okay, when there’s just … two people.”
“Are you saying if Jules and I are waiting for you to come home from your job at the Boring & Boring Law Office,” Evan said, “we can make-out on the couch?”
“Yes.”
“What about … groping?”
