It breaks the spell between us and Stephen steps away. “Come in!” he calls.
I feel my face burning and my heart is still pounding in my chest, my ears ringing like there’s a marching band in my skull. What the hell was that?
Joel steps through the front door and it’s like someone’s dumped a massive bucket of ice water over my head. I feel a wash of guilt and shame as he flashes me that ever-adoring smile.
“Oh, wow, it smells amazing in here,” he says.
“Doesn’t it?” Stephen agrees, “I’ve been drooling since I walked in.”
“You guys are gonna give me a big head,” I complain, laughing.
“It’s not being egotistical to simply acknowledge your own skills,” Joel reminds me.
Stephen nods. “Seriously, man, between her cooking and the fact that she’s been helping me unpack all week while she’s been watching Judy…you ever get tired of this one, send her my way.”
He winks at me, making my traitorous heart flutter a little, and I wonder how much of a joke it really is. But Joel just laughs, striding over to me and planting a kiss on my lips. “Don’t see that happening, unfortunately, my man,” he says, “But I’m not a jealous guy, I can share a little.”
My face flames, and I wonder just how far he’d take that “sharing.”
But I quickly shake the image from my brain like an Etch-a-Sketch and distract myself by pulling out the garlic bread. “Dinner’s ready.”
And with that, the topic’s dropped. But it sticks in my brain like a thorn, all through dinner and even long after Stephen’s put Judy to bed and the three of us are sitting around playing card games. I lose every round, because all I can think about is that weird moment between Stephen and I and the prospect of him and Joel “sharing” me.
I think every adult human being has considered the idea of a threesome at least once in their life. I don’t think I could see myself sharing Joel with another woman, realistically, especially since I’ve never had any particular leanings that way. But yeah, the prospect of being sandwiched between two hot guys holds a certain appeal.
It's never come up with Joel, and it’s not something I can imagine asking of him. So any possibility has always just lived deep within my brain.
“Well, I think we’re gonna call it a night. You still want me to come over tomorrow and help you with all your cables and shit?” Joel asks Stephen.
The two of them had plans to get together over the weekend to get help Stephen get his desktop setup finished. “Let’s make it Sunday, I think. Judy’s been asking to go to the park, so I think I’m gonna spend the day with her.”
“Of course, man,” Joel smiles and nods, “You guys have fun.”
“I should probably finish cleaning up the kitchen, there’s still some dishes,” I get to my feet, but Stephen shakes his head.
“No, come on, you cooked and already did most of the cleanup, and that’s after you’ve been chasing after a toddler all day. I can handle what’s left, you guys go on home.”
“Are you sure?” I protest, “I mean, I don’t feel right about making a mess in your kitchen and leaving you to clean it up.”
“You’ve literally fed me four out of five nights this week, this feels like the least I can do,” he insists.
“Well, okay. Thanks,” I smile.
“Of course. Oh, let me get you your check for this week.”
I wave him off. “Don’t worry about it. It’s late. I know you’re good for it; it’s not like I don’t know where to find you.”
“True,” he chuckles, “I’ll have it ready for when you guys come by on Sunday, ok? And tell you what, why don’t we order in from that Chinese place you guys keep raving about? My treat.”
“Sounds great,” Joel agrees with a smile.
The two exchange some sort of handshake involving a fistbump and a mock explosion and I can’t help but smile. No matter how old they get, boys will be boys.
Stephen pulls me into a hug and I just pray my poker face is better than I think it is, because I feel like the weird flustered feelings are completely transparent.
But the guys don’t seem to notice, and Stephen walks us out. The moon is high in the sky above us as we traipse through the grass into our own yard, and the stars gleam bright. “Wow,” Joel remarks, pausing in his tracks and gazing up, “Nice night. Look, you can see Orion right above our house.”
I scan the sky, trying to find the constellations, but I’ve never been all that talented at finding the abstract pictures. “Is it that bright one right over the chimney?”