“Come again,” Luke said.
“Winter and I want to try to be part of a polyamorous relationship, Luke. We’ve talked about it and well, we’d both like to see if you’d fit well with both of us,” Chris said.
Luke wasn’t sure what the hell to say to that. “And, Winter knows about this and agrees with your crazy ass idea?”
“Actually, she’s sitting here with me and has heard the whole conversation, Luke,” Chris admitted.
“You could have led with that, man,” Luke challenged. “Hi Winter,” he said. She giggled into the other end of the call and the sound reminded him of the sweet girl he used to know.
“Hi Luke,” Winter said. “Sorry.”
“Not your fault,” Luke said. “We can blame Chris for this one.” She giggled again when Chris groaned into the phone.
“Thanks for that, man,” he said. “So, how about it Luke—you game?” Luke tossed the towel that he was using to clean his hands up onto his desk and sat back in his chair. Was he willing to do what Chris and Winter were asking him to do? Could he share? What if he agreed to this crazy plan and he and Winter didn’t hit it off—would he be able to walk away from Chris again? He’d never know unless he tried and living with what if’s sucked—he knew that first hand.
“I’m in,” Luke agreed. Winter squealed and cheered making them both laugh.
“We’ll be home in two days, on the twenty-fourth. How about meeting us after we get back to town? We need to spend some time with Winter’s family but then we should be able to sneak away,” Chris said. The idea of seeing them both in just two days made him feel both excited and terrified all at once.
“Sounds good,” he said.
“Great,” Chris said, “I’ll text you when we get to town.” He ended the call and Luke tossed his phone onto his desk and tried to replay their conversation in his head. He wasn’t sure what he had just agreed to but he knew one thing—this could either end up being the best Christmas he ever had or the worst fucking holiday of his life.
Chris
Waiting for two days to pass felt more like two years. All Chris could think about were the possibilities of Winter, Luke, and him together. When it finally came time for him and Winter to load up his car and head home to the Bay Area, he felt downright giddy and that was new to him. Winter, on the other hand, seemed anxious and worried—a combination that never worked out well for him. When she got this way she usually tried to pick a fight with him but this time, he wouldn’t take the bait, so they had spent most of the ride home in silence.
“You know that everything is going to be all right,” he said, taking her hand into his.
“No Chris, I don’t know that. My magic ball is cracked and I can’t tell the future. This is all too much. I mean, in just a few minutes I have to walk into my parents with you as my boyfriend,” she said.
“Which I am now—right?” he asked. “I mean, I know this started as a ruse to get your family to stand down and leave you alone for a holiday but we’re together now, right?” He sounded like he was begging her to say that they were a couple but he didn’t care. He needed to hear the words from her. They had spent the past few nights together, either at his place or hers and if she said that they weren’t a couple, it would feel like the past few days of his life were either a giant lie or a wonderful dream.
“We’re together,” she almost whispered. “I told you that I love you, Chris, and I meant it. But, what if they have questions—like how long we’ve been together?”
“Then, we tell them that we’ve been together our whole lives,” he said. “I mean, it’s the truth. I love you too, Winter. We’ll get through this,” he promised.
“All right,” she grumbled. He could tell that she wasn’t finished though. “What happens when we add Luke to the mix?”
“Have you changed your mind about adding him?” Chris asked. He was hoping she hadn’t but he wouldn’t force her to do something she didn’t want to do.
Winter shook her head, “No,” she breathed. “I want him—want to try this with both of you. But, what will everyone else say?”
“How about we worry about the three of us working out first and then we’ll figure out what to tell people and deal with their reactions. The bottom line is that it’s our lives and if we’re happy then who cares what anyone else has to say about how we are living them?” Chris hated that she was so uneasy about what they wanted to do but he’d just make sure to take things slowly and help Winter along one step at a time. He was in love with her and hurting or losing her wasn’t an option. If Luke didn’t fit into their relationship, he’d find a way forward with Winter, he just wished that she’d believe that was true.
Chris pulled into her parent’s driveway noting that both of her sister’s minivans were already there and the house was probably full of noise and laughter—something that he had always longed for when he was a kid. Being an only child made for some pretty lonely holidays and he was hoping that this Christmas would be different.
“It’s not too late to turn around and go back to Los Angeles,” he teased.
Winter smiled at him and shook her head, “No,” she said. “We need to do this, Chris.” He pulled her hand up to his mouth and kissed her fingers.
“I have a surprise for you,” he said.
“I’m a little frightened,” she admitted. “Your surprises are usually a bit scary,” she teased. Chris chuckled because she was right. He was awful at giving gifts, never quite knowing what to get her. One year, he got her a guinea pig for her birthday and after a week of its constant squeaking, her father insisted that he take it back. He did and for five long years, he had to take care of it—a constant reminder that he was an awful gift giver.
“Well, it’s not a small rodent, if that’s what you are worried about,” he teased.
“Thank God,” she said. “My apartment is small enough as it is.” Chris wanted to remind her that he asked her to move in with him but didn’t want to seem pushy. Things were so new between them and now, with Luke possibly in the mix, he wanted to take things slowly. “So, when do I get this surprise?”
“Tonight,” he said. “I know your parent’s place is a little crowded with all your nieces and nephews. I was hoping you’d want to stay someplace else—you know for privacy,” he said. “I rented a hotel suite for you, me, and Luke for the week. I figured if we are going to give this thing a chance, mine as well jump in with both feet. The suite is in the same hotel where our party will be held. Is that okay?” He felt like he was holding his breath waiting for Winter to agree to his plan.
“Can we come back here first thing in the morning to see everyone open gifts?” she asked.
“Absolutely,” he promised. “Listen, if you don’t like the idea, I can just cancel my reservation and we can stay here.”
Winter giggled, “You do know that we would have to sleep on the sleeper sofa then, right? My parents made my room into an office for my mother and my sisters’ kids usually end up in the family room with me. So, yeah—I’m good with staying in a hotel room while we’re in town. I’ll just need a way to break the news to my mother. But, if this all works out between the three of us, I’ll have to do more explaining than why we want to stay in a hotel for the holiday.” Winter made a face and he pulled her in for a quick kiss.