“Hawk?” There’s a knock on my door and I ignore it. “Can we please talk?”

What I really want to do is open that door and tell Michaela I’ve missed her. Pull her into my arms and never let her go.

“Okay, well I’ll talk, and you listen again.”

“Are you coming to tell me you’ve figured out what you want?”

There’s silence from the other side of the door and I shake my head.

“Then we don’t have anything to say to each other.”

I expect her to say something else. I want her to say something else. Anything.

Instead, there’s just silence again.

I’ve got everything packed back up when there’s another knock at my door.

“I haven’t changed my mind.” I grit out, but the door opens anyway.

“Rachel seems to think you’re upset about something.” I hear Tara’s voice and I turn to see her walking towards the bed. She sits on the edge and pushes my suitcase away, patting the space next to her. “Sit. Share.”

I open my mouth to tell her everything’s fine, but she gives my suitcase a pointed glance. “Obviously something’s up if you’re bold enough to think Wesley and I are going to let you leave.”

“How’d I know I’d find my girl with you.” Wesley comes in, mock-disapproval on his face.

“You know you’re supposed to knock when I’m with my boy toys.” Wesley only rolls his eyes and sits next to her.

“Did you meet my buddy, Liam? He just got here with his girl. I think you two would get along.”

I don’t even have words. Part of me wants to laugh because this stuff probably doesn’t happen to many people.

“You remember the girl I said it’s complicated with?”

“Yeah.” They both say, and I cross my arms, dropping into the armchair across from them.

“She’s standing in that foyer.”

They look at each other and start laughing. “Yeah, okay man. Whatever you say.” While they try to control their mirth, I unlock my phone and pull up a picture Jasmine took and sent me.

I was saying something to Michaela’s dad, who I found out was her stepfather, and she was looking at me and smiling. I looked down and smiled at her and that’s when Jasmine happened to take the picture.

I pass the phone silently to Tara, who’s still giggling, and slowly her laughter fades away. Wes leans over her. “Oh shit.”

“I can’t make this stuff up.” I sigh, at a loss. “I love you two, but I can’t watch them for a week.”

“What the hell happened? And I’ve never seen Liam date anyone the entire time I’ve known him so maybe it’s just a fling.” Wes winces.

“Yeah, because that would make it better.” Tara shakes her head. “Liam’s a cool guy, but…you two are kind of different.”

“Yeah, I think that’s the problem. She told me she likes both of us, in different ways.”

“Okay, well the fact of the matter is - both of you are in my wedding so I need you two to hash it out because unlike your girl, I’m not choosing between you two.”

“You are such an ass.” Tara punches him in the thigh and he throws his hands up.

“Well, what’s your solution know-it-all?”

You know, she doesn’t have to choose.

I hear Liam’s words in my mind and I grit my teeth, rubbing my hands over my eyes. When I look up, Tara’s looking at me thoughtfully.

“You said she likes both of you the same way?”

“That’s what she said. Said she feels the same pull to both of us, it’s why she couldn’t just commit only to me.”

Tara cocks her head to the side, pulling her lip between her teeth then she looks at Wes, dipping her head again.

“Tara.” He sighs.

“Don’t tell me you weren’t thinking it.”

“Thinking what?” I’m left out of their telepathic loop.

“Did you know that one of the reasons Wes and I finally got together was because we realized we shared some of the same…kinks.”

“Half the reason I moved into my own place junior year was because you two were terrible at not being loud.” I cross my arms, leaning back into the chair. “What does that have to do with anything?”

“Well, one thing that we both agreed on was that we wouldn’t mind having…guests with us sometimes.”

“Guests?” I echo, wondering if I’ve stepped into some twilight zone.

“Threesomes man, Tara’s a freak,” Wes says, shrugging when Tara gives him a look. “It’s part of why I love her crazy ass.”

“Is everyone just more adventurous than I am?” I’m bewildered. “What is with this sharing stuff? How are you…you love Tara. How are you okay with anyone else touching her?”

“Well, it was just sexual for us. Just some spice and we both like watching. At the end of everything, I was still the constant. They were only there because we allowed them to be. It was a choice that benefitted both of us.”

“We actually considered asking you to join us once, but thought it’d be too weird since we were so close.” Tara throws out, and I’m floored.

“Who are you?”

“Okay look, the only reason I even said anything is because…maybe it can work for you too.”

“Liam is pretty laid-back. We’ve talked about some shit over the years, and if anyone would be able to, it’d be him.”

“Do you know what my family would say?” I lean on my knees. “My mom would have a heart attack, and that’s after she cursed me up and down for living in sin.”

“Didn’t they share in the Bible?” Wes asks and Tara shrugs.

“I dunno baby, I skipped Sunday school a bunch. And what does it matter what your family thinks? You don’t live with them anymore, you can choose what you share.”

She has a point.

Wait, what? This is batshit.

“This is crazy. Real people don’t have relationships like that. And you said yourself it was only casual for you.”

“Yeah, for us. But there are people who are in long-term relationships. Look, I’m not going to pretend it won’t be an adjustment. But…if you have the option to give her up for good or share her, what would you choose?”

“I’d choose to give her up because anything else is a hoop dream.” I get up, shaking my head. “I know you mean well, but I don’t think it’s going to happen. I’m going to catch the next flight out but I promise I’ll be at everything else.”

“I really wish you wouldn’t leave, man.” Wes stands.

“It’s fine. I’ll be fine. Have fun for me.” We hug and then Tara hugs me.

“Do me one favor before you go though.” She says, peering up at me.

“What?”

“We got some special bottles made for everyone, so just drop by the cellar and get yours. It has your name on it. Go down the back stairs, to the right, and the brown wooden door opens down to it.”

“I will.” I kiss her on the cheek.

“Go now before you forget. I’ll call a car for you.”

“She’s getting pushier the closer it gets to the wedding.” I tease, then I head to the cellar.

Leave it to them to do something so extra like personal bottles.