Page 9 of Finding Their Place

Rhett’s question rang in my ears long after I left his and Ash’s home in the hills.

Blaine had spilled his love life to me the summer before, and he too had thought the need to decide between Greyson and Lily would rise up before him.

Good thing his best friend and their girl had already fallen for each other by the time the three of them got together. Once the walls came tumbling down, he’d found out he wouldn’t have to choose.

Rhett was right. Why force myself to decide between male or female? Why not try for both? That was the reason Missing Link had come to fruition—two men wanting a woman to fill that missing portion in their lives.

Or rather, Rhett wanted to please his lover and find the perfect woman to bear those children Ashton wanted.

Talk about dedication and love.

I desired that. Someone to love and need me to clasp their hand through life. Two someones would be even better. A woman who drew out my tender side and a man I wouldn’t have to hold back with.

But finding even one had proven a tough chore. Guys loved my dick, but that was it. No one was looking for longer than a one-night stand, and women…well, the ones I’d dated had been clingy as fuck and not in the needy way I hoped for. I had a lot of love and affection to give, but having both demanded of me left a sour taste in my mouth.

Perhaps I’d been looking in the wrong place. Hookup apps and bars almost always offered me the opportunity to get off, but emptiness followed on their heels—and more than just my balls.

Rhett’s suggestion stayed with me on my way home, and later that night, after showering the sweat from my body and downing a half-pound of ziti broccoli, I sat in front of my MacBook. The process of creating a profile on Missing Link proved easier than I’d expected.

The questionnaire started out in broad terms—sexual identity, what I hoped to find, sexual preferences, general location, and how far I was willing to travel. A second screen of multiple choice dove deeper but wasn’t nearly as thorough, as I’d expected it to include limits and all that shit. But maybe that sort of information wasn’t necessary since I hadn’t clicked off the BDSM as an interest on the first page.

Finally, I ended with a brief write-up, a little introduction of myself. The image I chose was one from the summer before my mom had taken of me while out to dinner with her and Dad.

I’d worn a button-down dress shirt, blue like my eyes, and she’d caught me in a candid laugh. While I knew I was a good-looking guy, it was by far the best picture I had of myself.

An image of me shirtless and flexing probably would have gotten me more action, but I decided if I was going to download yet another dating app, it would be for the real deal. I’d grown bored with hookups and living alone and sick of the silence in my house. I wanted to wake up with a warm body beside me, someone I could hold—two someones that Rhett had made me realize I ought to try for.

Because why the fuck not?

Thousands had used Missing Link, and the feedback I’d seen while scrolling through the reviews promised what Rhett had stated—poly relationships were doable.

I just had to find my perfect matches who were as dedicated to finding their place as I was and willing to put in the time and effort to make a triad work.

A trace of adrenaline trickled through my bloodstream as I clicked on the finish button.

Let the hunt for happiness begin.

4

Haley

I hugged Lily long enough that the other patrons in Shadow’s Lounge started to stare at us through the dim lighting, but I didn’t give a shit. I’d missed my bestie while she’d been back east. She was the only person besides Garrett who loved me unconditionally, and the second she had walked in, my eyes and nose had burned with the need to cry.

“Sit your ass down and tell me everything,” I demanded, finally stepping out of her arms.

As always, she smelled like vanilla and chocolate mints, her eyes twinkling with light and happiness.

“Chardonnay?” she asked about the drink I’d ordered for her while settling into the chair across from the one I’d been sitting in.

“Mmm hmm. So should I ask why you were late?”

“My boys were feeling horny, and I was hungry.”

“You’re a cum slut.”

“Only for them,” she stated rather than offering an apology for keeping me waiting ten minutes longer than our agreed upon meet up time.

I rolled my eyes, the ugly green giant of jealousy and depression rousing in the back of my mind. If I had the kind of love and affection that she did at home, I would have been late too.

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