Page 20 of Puck Daddies
Rocco looks up. “We tell her we’re not promising anything long-term. We’re not labeling. We’re setting conditions for when and how this can happen without wrecking her, us, or the team.”
I nod. “We can’t predict feelings. We can control behavior.”
Hudson snorts. “You should be a counselor.”
“I hammer nails and pour concrete. But thanks.”
We finish with fewer words and more coffee. We walk out together and split at the corner. Hudson heads for the arena. Rocco goes toward the shelter to check on a late intake. I call the site lead about the next job. After the call, I text the group:House meeting 8 p.m. Operation Un-Boring.
Hudson replies with a thumbs-up. Rocco sends a period, which is his version ofI got it.Meg sends a bee.
The day moves. I shake hands with the new recipients of the house. I push the shovel into the soil for the photographs and then step out of the way so the crew can work. I carry what they tell me to carry and buy the doughnuts. When I get home, I clean the dining table and bring out the good water glasses because I need the table to tell us what the night is. I remind myself this isn’t a hangout. It’s a meeting.
At eight on the dot, Meg knocks even though she has a key. Hudson opens the door and steps back. Rocco follows. We sit. Itake the chair at the end only because it gives me a clear view of everyone. I don’t want to feel like a captain. I want to feel like a host.
“Thank you for coming to my TED Talk,” I say, then shake my head. “Kidding. The agenda is simple. We make a plan, or we decide to stop. We don’t drift.”
Hudson folds his arms. “Plan.”
Rocco nods. “Plan.”
Meg looks from one face to the next. “I’m listening.”
I keep my voice steady. “It worked because we asked and answered every step. We can keep it working if we agree on rules. If anyone hates this, say so, and we’ll stop and figure out another way to keep the friendship where it belongs.”
“No one hates it,” Hudson says.
Rocco gives a short nod. “No.”
Meg looks at me again. “Say the rules.”
“Communication,” I start. “We say what we want. We say what we don’t want. We say when we need a minute. We say when we need to stop. No guessing. No testing. No picking this apart.”
She nods. “Clear.”
“Consent,” I go on. “We ask. We get a yes. We keep asking when things change. If anyone says stop, we stop. If anyone says slow down, we slow down. No questions asked. No debate.”
“Understood,” she says.
“Aftercare. We assume the person who gets quiet might be the person who needs the most. We get water and blankets. We check in later by text. We schedule a follow-up conversation if anything sticks. No leaving anyone alone with a spiral.”
She swallows and her shoulders sink. “Thank you.”
“No jealousy either.”
Hudson clears his throat. “This is a big one for me. I can’t pretend I’m made of stone. If I feel something ugly, I’ll call it and bench myself for a while.”
“Same,” Rocco says. Meg merely nods.
“Limited public PDA,” I continue. “A friendly hand on a shoulder is fine. Kissing outside this apartment is not smart. We protect Bea’s and we protect the team. None of us want a scandal.”
Meg nods. “I don’t want to mess anything up for anyone.”
Hudson nods. “I’m not talking about this in the locker room. I’m not even hinting.”
Rocco adds, “If a teammate asks a nosy question, we shut it down.”
I look at Meg. “We keep your staff safe from gossip. We don’t make them carry this.”
