Page 16 of Bred Winner

“Do you think there are couples out there like us?” she asks under her breath. “I mean, what is our situation even called?”

“Polyamory, and yes, there are families out there like the one we want with you.”

“I thought it was called polygamy.”

“Polygamy is about who is married to who. Polyandry, specifically, is one woman marrying multiple men. Regardless, it is illegal in all of its forms in the US. Polyamory is more about having multiple romantic consensual relationships, regardless of who is married to who.”

“That sounds like what we’re doing.”

“How are you doing with it so far?”

She shrugs. “I’m having a blast, but I’m the center of attention to three amazing men, so what do I have to complain about? But I worry—”

“You worry we’ll get jealous of each other. Or that this will come between our friendship.”

Playing with her fork, she nods. “Yeah.”

“Sweet girl. You let me, Tristan, and Oakley worry about regulating our feelings about each other regarding you.”

“I can’t tear you apart.” She shakes her head. “I’d never forgive myself.”

“Are you saying you could give any of us up?”

“No.” Frowning, she takes a healthy swig of her drink. “I can’t. I won’t.”

“We won’t tear apart for the same reason.” I lift her hand and bring it to my lips. “Let’s enjoy ourselves.”

The server drops off our food and checks on what we need.

As soon as they’re gone, Alora pokes at her pasta versus digging in. “I’m going to gain a ton of weight if I go out to dinner every night for ninety days. My belly will swell whether or not I’m pregnant.”

“We’ve known each other for a long time and have done most everything together. In some ways, this is like old married couples dating to keep the spark alive.” I take a couple of bites of my blackened salmon.

She spears a jumbo shrimp on her fork. “I know, and I appreciate you making our time together special—but don’t you know? The time we spend together has always been special to me.”

“Me too, sweetness.”

“You know, I couldn’t do this single mother thing without you. I mean, even if we were truly only friends, I need you in my life and as part of my life to pull something like this off. With my momma gone, I have no other support system should something happen to me after I have a child. I wouldn’t have entertained the idea of IVF without you in my life.”

“I know. I wouldn’t have suggested trying us if I didn’t think it wasn’t the best plan for all of our futures. You know we love you and we love kids. Half our business is kid-friendly activities.” I nod to her mostly full plate. “Are you not hungry?”

“I think I’d like to go home now.” She puts down her fork and slides her hand on to my thigh. My stomach clenches. Fifteen years of anticipation rushing forward in a sheer moment of panic. Tonight is the night—when all my fantasies finally come true. The first night of what I hope is the rest of my life.

I put my hand in the air and grin. “Check please.”

7

ALORA

We’re at my house, relaxing on my couch. I fix us a small cocktail and then climb into Coen’s lap, wrapping my arms around his neck. “Have you ever had a serious girlfriend?”

He takes a sip and then sets his drink on the table. “Not really. In the back of my mind, I was waiting for you to decide what you wanted.”

“I’m sorry. I never meant to do that to you.”

“Nothing to apologize for. You’re worth the wait.”

“You guys are so nice to me. How did I get lucky enough to attract three amazing men?”

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