Smoke and Wishes (Best Wishes #1)(49)
“Hey guys,” she quirked an eyebrow as she sank into the seat across from me. “How’s it going?” Her voice laced with amusement.
“It’s going great,” my voice was slightly hysterical, so I cleared it, sitting up even straighter and busied myself with my drink. I didn’t want to cause issues for him with Khloe or make myself any more of a target.
“That’s good. Dante?” She shifted her focus from me to the griffin shifter who still had his arm slung over the back of my chair.
“It’s good, Sadie, Lucie and I were just talking about the Kohl game tomorrow,” humor lit up in his eyes when he looked at me, apparently finding something about our situation entertaining. She hummed a skeptical agreement before stuffing a massive bite of a pumpkin scone into her mouth. I took the momentary lapse in conversation to take a bite of my chocolate croissant and sip my very large coffee. Once I shook off the embarrassment of… of what? Nothing happened, right? Regardless, tumultuous feelings aside, it was nice to just spend time with Sadie and Dante.
“Hey, honey,” Khloe’s nasally voice sliced through my contentment, instantly making my lips fall into a frown. “We’re sitting over here.” Snark filled the end of the statement as she looked at me. “Lucie!” The false happiness that filled her voice almost made me gag, “it’s so nice to see you. Thank you for keeping my boyfriend company before our date,” heavy emphasis on the boyfriend portion. Dante’s face wasn’t holding his usual smile when he looked at his girlfriend, maybe he was finally seeing her for the snooty bitch she was? Doubt it. Standing, his smile returned.
“It was good to see you, firecracker, I’ll text you later,” Khloe’s face morphed into a fierce expression of hate when he used my nickname. To make matters worse, he leaned down and gave me a quick hug before walking to the other corner of the coffee shop where I saw the rest of the Bitch Crew and Hudson. My eyes filled with tears at the loss of his company. It was selfish of me, I knew. I just couldn't help but feel that they should be with me. Seriously, Lucie, stop it. None of those boys are yours, they can do whatever they want. Wiping at my eyes as nonchalantly as possible, I turned back towards Sadie, thankful that they were seated behind me. When I finally got up the nerve to look her in the face, she was glaring over my shoulder. She focused back on me with an eyebrow raised in a “what the hell” expression.
“So,” she drug out the word into multiple syllables, “care to explain what’s been going on in the Lucie land?”
“Well, that’s a very loaded question,” I dropped my voice not wanting anyone to hear. Slumping down in my chair, I decided to just get it all out in one go. “First, I have a major crush on six separate guys. Second, I slept with the twins. Third, Dante and Hudson are dating two of the Bitch Crew over there who absolutely despise me. Fourth, pretty sure said Bitch Crew are trying to drive a wedge between them and me, and fifth, I’m out of coffee.” I inhaled sharply, having run out of breath towards the end in my rush to explain everything in the most simple terms. Sadie seemed taken aback, blinking a few times before she responded.
“Wow, alright. Note to self, don’t get lost in paintings for two weeks or you’ll be completely out of the loop,” she chuckled. “Also, what was the second one you tried to sneak in there? You and the twins? Like, at the same time?” My face reddened as I nodded. Her eyes blew out wide as her mouth dropped open. “Holy shit, I’m so jealous!” She practically shouted. I shushed her trying to not draw attention. Unfortunately, several people around the shop looked at us including the Bitch Crew and my boys. Not yours! “Sorry,” her voice lowered, “and you like them all. As in like like?” I nodded again and covered my face with my hands to hide the tomato look I had going on. Rubbing my hands down my face with a groan I responded.
“I don’t know how it happened or when. They’re all just so sweet and thoughtful and...” I shrugged and fiddled with my empty coffee cup, not sure how to finish explaining.
“Well, I know you grew up human, so it’s probably not well known or common, but” she hesitated until I finally made eye contact. Whispering conspiratorially she continued, “it’s common to have multiple partners in the supe community. Females aren’t rare by any means, but they are lower in numbers than males. I’ve seen how they look at you, Lucie, they care as much for you as you do for them, if not more.” My heart warmed at the thought while I considered what she had said. Wait, what? Choking on my coffee, her words finally registered.
“Like, poly-whatever-it’s-called?” She nodded with a smirk, apparently finding my fish out of water look amusing. Taking a few calming breaths, I organized my jumbled thoughts. I’d heard of having multiple partners in a relationship, but it was so...taboo in the human world. “So, hypothetically,” I rolled my hand around in the air, “if they did like me and they were willing to share, I could date them all?” Disbelief filled my question, “how is that fair to them? Why would they want to...share?” The word tasted strange on my tongue. Would I even want to be in a relationship like that?
“All I’m saying is, it's not uncommon. They seem like a tight group so it wouldn’t surprise me if it were something they might consider. If those two dingles get their heads on straight and stop seeing those two bitches.” She nodded her head towards the Bitch Crew. I laughed loudly at the use of the word dingles.