Double The Ache

“Is it true you’re dating both Dean Farmer and Wes Green?”

“Were you cheating on Wes and Dean with that man last night?”

“Are they known to get violent?”

“Have they ever hit you?”

“What does your father say about this?”

“Were you part of the deal when they signed an extended contract this morning?”

That question hits me like a smack to the face.

“How long do you think the NFL will suspend them?”

My stomach knots. I push my way through all the people. I need to get to the stadium as fast as I can. Finding a taxi, I hop in and tell the driver to take me to the stadium. My hands shake as I try to call my dad. Tears leak down my face. This is all my fault.

“Daddy,” I cry when he answers the phone.

“Melly! I’ve been trying to get a hold of you. Don’t leave your building. I got a call that—”

“It’s too late,” I sniff.

My picture is probably going to be everywhere, and I cringe when I think about my mother seeing it. I’m shocked she isn’t blowing up my phone already. She’s going to be livid. She likes everything shiny and clean and I’m guessing her daughter dating two men is nowhere close to shiny and clean to her.

“Where are you?” he rushes to ask.

“I’m in a taxi on my way to the stadium. Are you there?”

“Yes. I’m here. Give me the taxi’s number.”

I give him the four-digit number and I hear him talking to someone else about waving my taxi in through the gates so we don’t have to make any stops.

“Where are Wes and Dean?” My voice wobbles when I ask the question. I need to see them.

“They’re here. I’m going to get them right now. They were about to leave to head your way.” Relief fills me. “I’ll tell them to wait.”

“Thank you.” I sniff again.

“Everything is going to be okay.” My dad tries to reassure me, but all the questions the reporters were asking bombard my brain.

I’m not sure why I never thought about what everyone would say when they found out two star NFL football players shared a woman. I should have known it would be everywhere. But how does everyone know already? Wes, Dean and I haven’t even put a label on what we are. I’m sure athletes do all kinds of crazy, wild stuff. Why is this catching everyone’s eye? Why is it such a big story? Maybe because they have never been seen with a woman before and my dad owns the team they play for. Still, I want to know how everyone knows already.

“I’ll see you soon, Dad.”

I hang up before he can try and stop me. I can’t help myself. I have to look at some of the articles. I click back to the links on my phone and start reading. The fight. All off it was recorded and went viral. I cringe as I watch the video over again. If I’d never gone on that stupid date this wouldn’t be happening. I shake my head at myself. I don’t even feel sorry for that guy. He was a freaking slimeball and needed a good hit. I am, however, mad at myself and feel terrible I caused this mess for two men who have become my world in such a short time.

I click on another link. An interview with the hostess from the night before fills my screen. Apparently she overheard everything that was said—telling them that Wes and Dean wanted to run a train on me and the other guy wanted to join but they didn’t seem into sharing me. I can see the jealousy in the girl’s eyes. I close it out, feeling sad and humiliated.

There’s article after article about what happened. Most of it’s made-up crap, but some of it’s true. There’s a lot of speculation and I hate that people are shaming what Wes, Dean and I shared. People want answers to questions I don’t even have answers to. I only just meet these men and people are talking about weddings and babies. Others are talking about sex clubs and swinging.

My heart flutters at the thought of babies and marriage, but my stomach knots at the mention of swinging and sex clubs. I don’t see Dean and Wes being into that, but what do I know? I lost my virginity to two men who were into sharing one woman. Who knows what else comes with that? They might be okay sharing me between them, but I’d never be okay with sharing them. Ever. The thought makes anger wash over me. I welcome it compared to the tears.

The taxi pulls through the gates and goes right up to the back of the stadium. I toss my money to the driver as I get out of the car, then head for the back door. Before I reach it my dad is coming out.