I guess that means a person can have more than one soul mate, because these two are so crucial to my happiness that I’d live a miserable existence without them. But I’m done thinking I don’t deserve them. As long as I give them all of me, then I deserve them, and I always have.
There’s not a drop of light in the room for our eyes to adjust to, but for the first time in my life, I see things very clearly.
Rule #39: You know you’ve done well if you can shock Madame Kink.
Isabel
“They didn’t say anything?”Drake asks, turning his head toward Hunter, his now buzz-cut head leaning against the headboard.
“Not really,” Hunter shrugs. “Garrett had some questions, but other than that, they just sort of…moved on.”
“Wow,” I say, running my fingers through Hunter’s dark curls against my bare leg. The lights are back on now, which means I can drink them in, both of these gorgeous men, somehow all mine.
“They probably figured we were fucking the whole time,” Drake adds, and the three of us laugh together.
“They did,” Hunter replies.
“How did that feel? Coming out to them, I mean,” Drake asks.
“It felt good.” He seems so at peace now, as if he breathes a little easier and is more present than before. Hunter has always lived in a state of constant anxiety, always on edge and desperate to make the right decision and do the right thing. Never for himself, of course.
But now, he just looks freer than I’ve ever seen him.
“You know, I never came out, not officially.”
Hunter and I both look at Drake with our brows furrowed. “What?” I ask.
“I just never actuallytoldanyone my sexual orientation. I mean…I remember the look on your face when I told you I kissed a guy,” he says with a laugh, looking at Hunter. “But you never really asked me to elaborate or gave me shit about it. You just…accepted it.”
Hunter is wearing a heavy expression as if he has something on his mind. “I used to hate people who could express themselves so openly. My father taught me that. He made me hate what he hated, and I realized, over time, that I didn’t hate anyone but him. I was jealous of people like you, Drake. People who could live without fear.”
Drake’s hand lands on Hunter’s shoulder, giving it a reaffirming squeeze.
“I think you deserve a proper coming out,” Hunter adds. “So, go ahead.”
Drake laughs. “I just fucked you and you want me to come outnow?”
“Yep. You deserve to say it out loud.”
With a proud grin plastered on his face, Drake states with confidence, “I’m bisexual.”
Tears spring to my eyes as I clutch his arm harder. I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy in all of my life.
“Hey, me too,” Hunter replies, and the three of us laugh again. It’s ridiculous and touching all at the same time. But that’s how we’ve always been. We never stopped beingusand we never will. Sex doesn’t change that because we loved each other then and we love each other now.
With my head on Drake’s shoulder and Hunter’s head in my lap, I let out a long yawn.
“We should get home. You’ve had a long day,” Drake says, and I notice Hunter watching us for a moment before anyone moves. Something about the way his friend said that, as if he knows the kind of day I’ve had, like he knows my work schedule—which he does—makes this slightly uncomfortable.
“Let’s just get this awkward conversation over with,” Hunter blurts out as he sits up to face us.
I feel my eyes widen. “You want to talk about it?” I try not to put too much emphasis on the wordyou,but it’s there. Hunter never wants to talk about the awkward stuff—never.
“Yes, if I’ve learned anything, it’s that getting the tough conversations out of the way now prevents a lot of bullshit later. Plus, I’ve been reading up on poly relationships and the number one thing they say over and over is to have open communication, so if I want you both, I need to just get used to it.”
Drake and I are staring in shock at Hunter. After a moment, I bite my lip to stifle the smile I feel growing across my face.
“Well…” Drake starts.