“You’re the best boyfriend ever.”
The other two looked at me, crossing their brows. I winced.
“I mean… you’re one third of the best boyfriend ever!”
“One quarter, actually,” Dakota reminded me. “But for now, we’ll take it.”
We wolfed down our food while the others poured us tall glasses of orange juice. Between bites Ryan spat out our tale, going over everything that had happened last night. Kyle and Dakota listened intently when it came to the chase, the description of the SUV’s, and how we’d evaded them in the end. When he got to the part where we were sharing some cheap motel room, I wondered if he’d keep going and do a play-by-play of every deviant sex act we’d accomplished together.
“I just don’t see why you wouldn’t let us come and get you?” Kyle demanded. “Three times we offered to pick you up.”
I dropped my fork. It landed on the plate with a loud clatter.
“We were worried all night,” Dakota nodded.
I punched Ryan in the arm. Of course, it was like punching a bronze statue. He laughed.
“Your idea?” I growled.
He dropped his napkin and put up his hands in surrender. “Okay, okay, maybe the laying low part was my idea.” He eyed me shrewdly. “Are you complaining?”
I started to turn bright red, but then I realized who I was with. Kyle and Dakota had already had me. Numerous times, and often together. How the hell could I be embarrassed about sleeping with Ryan? He was my boyfriend, after all.
All of them were.
“We’re just glad you’re okay,” Kyle said. Then, more to Ryan than to me: “And we need to talk…”
I knew what it meant, and what he was inferring. And I was okay with it. Mostly. At least for now.
“I’m gonna head upstairs,” I said, rising from my chair. “Take a hot shower, with real water pressure this time. Maybe lay down for a bit.” I looked pointedly at Ryan. “I didn’t get much sleep last night. And someone woke me up early.”
Dakota laughed out loud, and I realized subtlety was not his strong suit. But that was okay. It’s what I loved most about Dakota.
Loved…
My mind, which was racing a mile a minute, stopped short on the word. Could there be love? Between me and three… no, four other guys?
“Thanks,” said Kyle appreciatively. “You’re being a rock star about all this, by the way.”
Ryan drained his glass and slammed it back to the table like a viking warrior. “I told her the exact same thing last night.”
“Better start treating me like a diva then,” I smiled. “I’m gonna need a green room upstairs. You guys could bring me snacks. Drinks. Alcohol…”
I kissed each of them with sticky orange lips before heading for the stairs. I did Ryan last. Our kiss was longer, more lingering… one last reminder of the night we shared.
“Wake me for lunch,” I yawned. “I’ll be hungry again I’m sure.”
Then, leaving behind my three gorgeous boyfriends, I headed for my fourth great love: the upstairs shower.
Thirty-Three
SAMMARA
One of the things that had happened to the house before I got there was the upstairs bathroom renovation. And that’s probably a good thing, because I never would’ve approved the giant walk-in shower.
Unlike the rest of the old Victorian, the shower was state-of-the art. Recessed into the natural stone tile were backlit LED shower heads that made it rain from above, and another three body jets gushing at you from different sides. There were waterproof bluetooth speakers. Streaming music. None of it fit the style of the house at all, not even a tiny bit.
But the whole thing was awesome, just the same.