Page 112 of Double Pucked

I take a calming breath and nod. She’s at my home—my new home—and the guys are off at the gym.

I’m about to leave to meet my family for an early breakfast before work. “I can do it,” I say.

“You’re going to nail it,” she says, then winks. “Just like they nail you.”

“Actually, they double nail me.”

She narrows her eyes. “I hate you. All I want is a damn good nailing.”

“Some girls dream of unicorns. Some dream of unicorn dick,” I say, then we leave together, and she walks with me through my new neighborhood and over to Fillmore, then says goodbye when I reach Mindy’s Café.

I smooth a hand along my shirt, then gulp. I head inside, spotting my family immediately in a booth. I make my way over and join them, sitting next to my sister, who I swear is going to be pregnant forever.

“Forty weeks—so you’re pumpkin size now, right?” I ask, focusing on her since I need to wade my way into theI’m in a three-way relationshippool.

“Forty weeks, two days, and five million hours,” she says with a miserable moan. “Which makes me house size.”

I pat her shoulder sympathetically.

My mom laughs. “At this rate, you’re going to be a mansion.”

“Maybe even an entire complex,” my dad says.

Cassie frowns. “I’m a whole city.” Then she turns to me. “But thank you again for all the books on my registry. That was cool.”

I smile, thinking of Chase, buying out all her books at Target. He’s such a good boyfriend. Icando this. I can tell them. Any second now. “Glad you like them. Can’t wait to read to my niece or nephew,” I say, and as those words come out, so does a new realization. I will be an awesome aunt forthatreason. I can read my ass off to the baby.

“But how are you doing?” Cassie asks, her bossy voice back. “How’s the studio? Are you okay? Is the neighborhood safe? Do you want to come back to my place?”

There it is. My chance. “That’s what I wanted to talk to you about,” I say, even though the nerves are now a whole battalion in my belly. “I’m involved.”

That’s a start, butonlya start, since I haven’t used the plural pronoun yet.

My mom beams. “Oh, you got back together with the guy from the dog park? So it’s serious?”

She can’t even hide the hearts and flowers in her voice.

Just say it.

“Yes, and his best friend too. I’m in a relationship with two guys,” I say, putting it out there for them at last.This is me. Take me how I am.

Cassie’s brow knits. Mom tilts her head. Dad’s face is blank. And I keep going. “I don’t expect you to understand it. I don’t expect you to even like it. But I like it. And I love them, and they love me. And I want you to know that this is me. This is real. This is who I am.”

Cassie’s jaw drops, and you could probably fit a mansion in her mouth now. But she says nothing. She’s shocked speechless. That’s a first.

My mother recovers her voice first. “You’re with both of them?” It comes out as a clarifying question, like she can’t possibly have heard me correctly.

“Yes. We’re together. I’m with both of them, and each guy is with me.”

“Oh,” she says, then tilts her head the other way. “Ohh.” She blinks. “At the same ti—” She slaps a palm over her mouth.

My dad raises a stop-sign hand at Mom. “That goes under things I don’t need to know, honey.”

Yeah, I agree, Pops.

Chagrined, my mom looks at me. “I’m so sorry.”

I scripted this morning a million different ways, but never did I think my mom would apologize for accidentally asking if I take a double dose of dick with my morning coffee.