Wild Chance (Wild Irish Universe)(20)

Aedan inhaled deeply, held the breath and exhaled. He used a finger to ease the shot glasses out of his reach and rested both arms on the counter. “Tell me.”

Killian dragged his palm over his head. “It’s about Lilly and I—and Justin.”

“Lilly—Lilly—why does that name sound familiar?”

“We went to school with her and she…”

“Oooh! Nerdy Lilly!” Aedan laughed. “Go on.”

“Her and I are together.” Killian cleared his throat.

“Um—okay? I don’t see anything weird about that.” Aedan sat back.

“Right. That part is fairly straightforward.” Killian poured himself a shot and knocked it back. “We’re together with Justin.”

Aedan tilted his head to the side. “I don’t get it.”

“You know?” Killian made a circle with his thumb and index finger of his right hand before pushing his index finger through it. “Together?”

Aedan squinted, his mind still not connecting Killian’s action with his words. “You’re having sex with Lilly. Got it. And—you’re with Justin….

“Together.” Killian brought his palms together.

“Together with—oh. Oh!” He leaned across, grabbed the tequila shots and swallowed both, one after the other. “One more.”

Once he’d down that as well, he turned the glasses upside down on the bar-top. “So, the three of you are in a relationship? How does that work, exactly?”

“It works for us. I mean, I’m under no delusion it’s for everyone.”

“That’s for sure. I couldn’t imagine sharing my woman with another person.”

“Don’t judge me.”

“I’m not judging you.” Aedan exhaled and licked his lips. “I’m really not. If I was, I would have told you that to your face. I just want to get things straight in my head. I mean, I only met Mona a short time now but thinking of another man touching her makes me angry. So, sexually—how is that?”

“Cal, why don’t you ask me the question you really want to ask.”

“Okay.” Aedan met Killian’s hard stare. “Are you gay, bisexual?”

Killian shrugged. “We don’t want to label it.”

“Fair enough. And the others? What do they?”

“I thought they would be upset. Forbid it. But, they are okay with it. I guess, as long as I’m happy and things are working out, then, they’re good.”

“And this makes you happy? Being with Justin and Lilly like this, I mean.”

“No doubt about it. I’m happy.”

“I’m not going to pretend I understand this.” Aedan admitted. “I’m the kind of man who believes that if I have a woman, I’m the only one she’s to give her body to. Her body belongs to me and never anyone else. I’m territorial like that. And the same goes for me—my body belongs to her.”

“So am I—territorial, that is. Just—if Lilly was to give herself to someone other than me or Justin then I’d become you. We keep ourselves just to us. Listen, I know this is going to take some getting used to. It was for the family, even for me. But I care about these two like you wouldn’t believe.”

“Okay. If you’re happy, I’m happy.”

“It can’t be that simple.”

“Of course, it can be. Killian, I know what it’s like to have a complicated world. After you’ve driven over a roadside bomb and had to sit in a hospital, alone for a year while you heal and then rehab, most things that other people take offense to aren’t really that important. All these little things, sexuality, freaking out about the colour of someone’s skin—let them go. They’re not that important in the grand scheme of things. Life is very short, Kil. Right now, I want to focus on getting my life together, so I can deserve this woman. I’m trying to bring her into my world. In order to do that, I must deserve her for her to be happy.”

“What are you saying? Just so I’m sure.”

Aedan laughed. “No judgments here. Okay?”

Killian nodded. “This means a lot to me. I know, I was a bit of a dick when you showed up. I was surprised.”

“I get it.” Aedan gave him a grin. “Already forgotten.”

“So—Mona, huh?”

“Yesterday she tried helping me put my leg on.” Aedan chuckled.

“Oh yeah? How’d that go?”

“Ended in hilarity. I never thought I could ever laugh at anything to do with my leg. As we sat there, I realized if she kept trying to help me, we’d only wind up making love the entire day. We wouldn’t get anything done.”

“That’s not a bad thing.”

“No. But the family still doesn’t know about my leg and I think it’s time I tell them. Could you get everyone together?”

“A little hard right now. It’s like we’ve doubled in size. A few are off on vacation right now. I should be able to get everyone together at some point—maybe a month or so?”

“That’s too far away. I don’t want to keep this a secret for much longer.”

“I’m sorry, Cal. You could send an email.”