Page 12 of The Skinny

“Thanks.” Not even a minute later, Holly Seung came on the line.

“Zel? Holy shit, girl! Why didn’t you tell me?”

“About what?” I was completely confused.

“Aboutwhat?” She laughed. “Don’t get cagey with me. Dwayne was screaming like a little girl when he checked our social media accounts at lunch.”

Ohhh.“You saw Drew’s announcement.”

“Yes! When did this happen? What about Tristan? Tell me everything!”

Holly was fifty-three going on fifteen. She was a major romance fan and had a raging crush on Drew. Never mind that she was happily married — with four kids — to her childhood sweetheart who was a ridiculously successful thoracic surgeon.

I laughed. “Tristan and I split back in October, and Drew was in Seattle at the time. He’s never hidden his interest—”

“But you were involved—”

“And he’s not a home wrecker. But he wasted no time letting me know he planned to fill the gap in my life.”

“And you let him. Awesome, Zel! I’m so happy for you both!”

“Thanks.”

“Are you happy? You look really happy in the video.”

“I am. Drew and Aithan are amazing.”

“Wait.” I could practically hear her brain screeching to a halt. “Who’s Aithan?”

Oh. Right.“Umm, my other boyfriend,” I said, waiting for her to freak out. Aside from my family and Tobias, of course, I hadn’t talked to anyone else about being polyamorous. It wasn’t one of those things that came up in casual conversation when I was grocery shopping or going to the pet store or whatever. (“Hey, can you help me pick out the right brand of cat litter, ’cause choosing is tricky, right? I mean, like, that’s why I’m fucking two guys. Why choose? I didn’t. Ha! Ha!”)

“Oh. My. Fucking. God. Zel, are you — do you — you have a harem? Like a real, live Drew Katterman reverse harem for real?”

Wow. I hadn’t really thought about it like that, but …. “Yeah, I guess I do. Sorta. I mean it’s just two guys.”Just.Even I had to laugh at that.

“Whoa.” She paused, obviously taking it in, then asked, “How does that work?”

“Holly! Read the books!”

We both started laughing. “Oh God, you’re right, Zel. I’m sorry! This is not my business. I just never expected you to be in a poly relationship.”

“That makes two of us.” I snickered. “Maybe three or four.”

She giggled. “Drew hasn’t been in one? Hard to believe.”

“I don’t think it was a lack of trying on his part. He just couldn’t find the right woman.”

“Well, he has now from what I saw in that video.” She sighed. “Lucky you. He’s hot and charming and rich as hell.”

“I’m not with him for his money, Holly.”

“I know that. You can take care of yourself, but money sure helps. So tell me about this other guy. Aithan is his name?”

“Yeah. He owns a gym.”

“Are you kidding me?” She groaned. “He’s gotta be even hotter than Drew.”

I giggled. “Yeah, well, he’s no slouch.”

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