Page 36 of Jalen & Colby

Tianna splutters and laughs. Yuen seems confused. The girls look at us in genuine interest. Anisha glances away and takes a large gulp of wine through her smirk. Andreas smiles indulgently at his grandma.

“We’re good friends, Nai Nai. Can I get you some food?”

She squints at the table. “Anything spicy?” That gets a laugh from her family as they make her up a plate and fetch a chili dip to make it more to her liking.

My heart is still banging in my chest, and I’m worried my face has gone bright red with embarrassment. I can’t believe she asked that, and although it got plenty of reactions, no one said it was disgusting or outrageous. In fact, they were either just surprised or intrigued.

But that’s crazy, right? Threesomes are something people do to be kinky. When couples want to revitalize their love life. None of us are dating. Yet this sweet lady from a far less open-minded generation just casually asked if Jalen and I were her grandson’s boyfriends. She even sounded kind of hopeful.

I glance over at Jalen. He was listening in on the conversation that’s going on about some other sci-fi TV show the family have been watching. But when he senses my gaze, he turns and smiles at me.

He doesn’t seem put out at all by the insinuation.

Could…could that be a thing?

I’ve been beating myself up anytime Andreas doted on me because I was worried about getting in the way of him and Jalen. But he kept making everything so equal between us, it was hard not to feel like it was okay. Like I wasn’t really taking uptoomuch space. And I promised myself that if—when—things changed, I’d gracefully step aside.

But…what if I don’t have to?

What if this plucky granny has cut through all the bullshit and hit the nail on the head?

Could Jalen and I keep sharing Andreas like we have done? But in a more intimate way?

The thought makes me feel shaky. Of course Andreas senses any little change in me, and rubs my back again. “You good?”

I blink at him, looking into his beautiful eyes, and my insides swoop. Am I insane? Would Andreas really be interested in me in that way? I didn’t think it could be possible with Jalen right there next to me. But I can’t think of a single time he’s made me feel anything less than cherished. In fact, he goes out of his way to make sure we both get the same amount of time and attention from him.

He asked us to come with him to the other side of the world and meet his family, for heaven’s sake.

It’s really hard for me to believe that anyone would be interested in me. I look at Jalen again, my heart aching like it always does. I love him so much, and I know he doesn’t feel the same way. But maybe…well, I’ve read online about open relationships and polyamory and stuff like that.

Perhaps Andreas really could be a sugar Daddy to both of us. I know he already is, sort of, but perhaps there could be some cuddles and kisses, too? How would Jalen feel about that? We’d still be close that way. I’d still have my best friend and maybe something more with Andreas as well.

I have no idea if I’ve lost my mind or if I’m seeing what’s been in front of my eyes all this time. But there’s a tiny flicker of hope that’s lit in my chest, and I carefully guard it for the rest of the night.

Who knows? I’m sure stranger things have happened.

CHAPTER15

Andreas

Thanks to our jet lag,we don’t last all that long after Nai Nai’s appearance at my parents’ house. Knowing we have several days of socializing ahead of us, I don’t mind so much as I order an Uber and bundle my boys back home.

It doesn’t hurt that my heart is both somehow light and full.

Deep down, I didn’t really think that my family would have a problem with me bringing my new friends home for Christmas. The reality of the evening is still extremely comforting. They loved them. Jalen was obviously dazzling, and my nieces adored him, but I could see the way my mum kept fussing over Colby as well, naturally seeking out the person in the room who needed just that little bit of extra care and attention. Everyone was genuinely friendly and engaging. Even old River got up to say goodbye to them, her tail wagging as she headbutted them both for attention.

And then there was Nai Nai. Goodlord.Trust that it would be her to immediately call out the elephant in the room. My first reaction was of course to worry about how the boys would react to being called my boyfriends. Colby was understandably rattled. I’m sure the idea that anyone would want to date him is tragically a foreign concept to him. But Jalen barely seemed to be bothered at all. In fact, I think he preened.

As I lie in bed that night, desperately tired but my whirring brain keeping me awake for just a little longer, I can’t help but feel like she’s given me permission. I’m not sure how much I can keep lying to myself.

I want both of these boys. I want them to truly be mine. I want to hold them and kiss them and make them feel good in every way I can imagine. I want to provide for them and protect them the way a good Daddy should. I know for sure that Jalen feels that way about Colby and I’m almost certain about me as well. The only piece of the puzzle is how Colby feels about us two.

I have a strong suspicion there’s attraction for both of us, but between them, he’s the one I’m most concerned about getting it wrong. He’s so delicate, and I’d hate to damage or break the wonderful relationship we’ve already built between the three of us.

But out of the two of them I know it’s Colby that needs to be loved the most. Jalen is easy to adore. He invites it in with a warm embrace. Colby doesn’t knowhowto be loved. He’s been trained to flinch and run from people who are close to him. He’s had his vulnerabilities used as weapons against him.

It’s become my mission to prove to him that he’s worthy of love. I know that Jalen and I can love the hell out of him if only he’d let us.

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