“I thought you were faithful to each other.”
Nathan chuckled.
“We’re a poly couple. We bring in other people, but only if both of us consent to that person. It’s not that hard to share someone in the long-term.”
They were polyamorous? Darren had had no idea. They had been living with him for some months, and they had never brought someone else home. He tried to get his head around it.
“Look, we all want Marigold, and if you want to come in and share her with us, we’re more than happy to include you as well.”
“I can’t share her, Marigold.” Darren looked out at Jake, who was now shouting at someone else. “If you want her, why haven’t you two approached her about it? Why are you and Jake having problems?”
“Because Jake said he knows how you feel about her, and it goes deeper than attraction.” Nathan tilted his head to one side. “You’re in love with her, and it’s clear to see. Much as he wants her, he knows it would break you. But he also knows if you take the plunge and ask her out properly, we’re going to struggle with it. He sees you as a really good friend, and he doesn’t want to hurt you. Neither do I.”
Darren had had no idea about any of this. He never thought Jake and Nathan’s relationship would be fractured somewhat because of a one-night stand. Nor did he expect to be jealous that other men were looking at Marigold and wanting her.
It also felt a little embarrassing that Nathan had figured out he was in love with her. Darren had tried to deny it for a while, not wanting to sound like a lovesick fool, and he just couldn’t.
He wanted to tell her. He really did. But Darren felt like he couldn’t.
He rubbed his hands over his face.
“This is fucked up. We fucked up.”
“You’re only just realizing that now?”
“I shouldn’t have needed two other people with me to get the confidence to finally have her. That just makes me feel like I’m incompetent to get a woman on my own.”
Nathan snorted.
“You could do it. You just chose not to. And, you have to admit, you liked the idea of three guys being with one woman. It turned you on more than you cared to admit.”
“I’m not going to be fucking either you or Jake.”
“I never said you would need to. We can all share Marigold. If she agrees to it.”
If she agreed to it. Darren didn’t think he could agree to it. It might have been arousing for one night, but on a long-term basis?
He didn’t think he could do that.