“Ah,” I said, finally understanding. “Are you two…?”
“No,” Dex answered.
“Yes,” Connor replied.
The two of them exchanged a confrontational look.
“Sort of,” Connor amended.
“I’m not into that.” I directed the comment at Connor so he would know I was serious.
“I heard you loud and clear.” Connor put up one hand in a lazy surrender.
“Look,” Dex said, leaning forward, “we’re each in love with Bre. Can we at least agree to communicate with each other and try to work together?”
“I can agree to that,” I allowed.
“With pleasure,” Connor replied.
“I’d also like to bring up the age difference,” I proposed.
Both Connor and Dex groaned.
“It doesn’t matter,” Connor argued. “I’m older than both of you, but I’m by far the funnest one among us.”
“That’s not fair,” Dex threw in his two cents. “I’m fun.”
They both looked at me.
“I’m successful,” I replied.
Fun wasn’t in my vocabulary, unless it was of a sexual nature. I took Connor’s point to mean that he was out in the clubs hooking up with lots of strangers while Dex and I were sitting at home waiting for Ms. Right to walk through the door. Only now that she had, the fact that Connor had a swinger’s lifestyle wasn’t helpful.
“You’re going to cool down on the clubbing, right?” I asked.
“I love Bre as much as you do,” Connor replied. “I have no desire to sleep around on her.”
“Good,” I approved.
“I’m just trying to tell you that age doesn’t matter. It’s not a consideration.” Connor brought his message home.
“Okay,” I grumbled. It bothered me that we were all significantly older than Bre was, but if it didn’t bother anyone else, then I guessed I could set it aside.
“We’re going to go,” Dex said, rising from his chair.
“Thank you for taking care of her.” I stood up to walk him to the door.
“Come on, Connor,” Dex called out.
Connor took the last shot of my expensive whiskey, leaving the empty glass on the coffee table. He lumbered to his feet, giving me a pat on the shoulder. I felt like we were leaving things in a good place. We had made a pact to work together, to communicate and respect one another. That was all that you could ask, and more than Bre had expected.
I watched them walk down the front steps before shutting the door behind them. Alone in the house finally, I went upstairs to check on Seanan. She was sleeping peacefully, her arms wrapped around her favorite stuffed animal.
I kissed her on the forehead and rearranged her blankets so they weren’t falling off the bed. Then I went to my room. Everyone else in the house was asleep, but I felt a strange mixture of excitement and exhaustion. The day had been a strenuous one for me, too, but it was still early. I changed into my pajamas, a set of matching dark cotton bottoms with a button-down top.
Feeling vastly more comfortable, I regarded my bed in dismay. I didn’t want to lie down there, to stare up at my ceiling and worry. I decided to go back downstairs to watch some television. I stood in the doorway to my office, in danger of being sucked into reading and responding to emails. I was sure there were quite a few. I hadn’t checked since morning.
Instead, I turned around and went to Bre’s room. Inside, the room was dark, and I had to move by memory. I climbed into the bed, feeling around for her luscious body. Locating her hips, and then her shoulders, I settled down beside her. She murmured softly but did not wake up. I held her close, drifting off to sleep with my goddess in my arms.