Summer laughed. “Gage is wearing off on me, I guess.”
For the first time since Christmas Eve, Tory felt a smile curving her lips. An honest-to-God smile. Even as kids, Summer could always make her smile when Tory thought all she was capable of was crying.
Tory went to work on the dust. An hour later, her house looked livable again and no longer smelled of old garbage. Summer poked a finger in the direction of the round kitchen table. Tory took the hint and sat, while Summer served the tea.
Feeling like she should say something, Tory blurted out the first thing that came to mind. “I’m sorry for being such a Grumpy Gus. I’m lucky to have a friend like you. I really mean that, Summer.”
“We’re lucky to have each other,” Summer said as she sat in the chair across from her. “But that’s not the issue right now. Tell me what’s wrong. What happened on your date with Devon?”
Tory stiffened. “What makes you think this has anything to do with Devon?”
Summer frowned as she spooned way too much sugar into her tiny cup of tea. “You’ve been in a funk ever since that night. So, give it up.”
“It’s not just about Devon. It involves Con too.”
“What involves Con? I’m confused. I thought this was like a lover’s quarrel or something.”
No way could Summer know about the sex. It wasn’t possible. “Devon and I are friends, not lovers,” Tory hedged.
“Maybe that’s what you’ve always told yourself, but I’ve seen the way you look at him when he’s not aware. And I’ve seen the way he looks at you.” She stopped, then added, “What happened at the party, Tory?”
Tory wrapped her hands around the steaming mug. This was one of those moments. Sort of like ripping off a bandage, she needed to get it over with fast and with as little pain as possible. “I made love to Devon and Con. At the same time. In Con’s bed. And it was fan-freaking-tastic. Okay? Are you happy now?”
Summer’s eyes widened. “Whoa! Both of them? Like, at once?”
Tory slumped, feeling guilty all over again. “Yeah, both of them like at once. I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“And you wish it had never happened?” she asked gently.
“Actually, no.” Tory felt heat filling her cheeks. “I mean, yeah, I feel guilty, but I…I think I’m in love with them. Both.”
“Wow,” Summer whispered, then fell silent as she sipped her tea.
After several seconds, Tory couldn’t stand the silence any longer. “Do you think I’m horrible?”
Summer put her cup down, reached across the table and covered Tory’s hand with her own. “Don’t be ridiculous. I would never think that, Tory. I do have one question, though.”
Tory snorted. When a woman spills her deepest darkest secret, it made everything else seem like a piece of cake. “I’m an open book. Shoot.”
“Do you have any chocolate around here? I think we need it to think this through properly.”
Tory laughed, feeling better already. Apparently, confession really was good for the soul. Pointing toward the freezer, she said, “There’s a bar on the door.”
“Ah yes. I nearly forgot, you always keep a few one-pounders in there for emergencies.” Summer stood and went to the fridge.
“I don’t know what to do, Summer. It was supposed to be one night. Something wild and fun. But now, I think I’m in love with them. How crazy, right?”
Summer broke off a cold piece of the sweet bit of heaven and handed it to her. She sat back down at the table and stared at her as she ate. It was only after they finished off every last crumb of the chocolate bar that she spoke again. “How do Devon and Con feel? Were they just out for a good time?”
“No. They both talked about wanting a relationship with me.”
“They care. That’s a good thing, Tory.”
“I know, but both of them? That’s not norm
al.”
“Ah, so that’s what’s bothering you. It’s unconventional.”