Chapter 14 – Theo
After that unexpected romp, the four of us got cleaned up. Miles and Franklin dug into their lunch. While Belinda was in the shower, I ordered myself some stuff from room service. I was a bit famished myself after all that.
Franklin decided to watch some basketball and Miles had to take a phone call. While Belinda was eating lunch, I came up with an idea.
“Belinda,” I said. “You’ve spent some time with the other guys, how about you and I go down to the hot tub and relax a bit. We could sip some champagne and just talk.”
“That sounds delightful,” she agreed. “Let’s do that.”
I made the arrangements. The hotel had some hot tubs that overlooked a nice part of the city. They weren’t completely private, but they did have glass dividers so at least you could talk privately. And the waiters would come and refill your glasses or bring you food. Very classy, for hot tubs.
We stopped in the lobby to get someone to let us in and start the hot tub. Arianna, my sister, was there to meet a friend. We made eye contact and she ran over.
“Theo!” she beamed. “Is this the amazing new girl you had me running all over town for?”
“Belinda, this is my sister, Arianna,” I introduced.
“Great to meet you,” said Belinda. “Hope I wasn’t too much trouble.”
“Oh, no, I’m just kidding,” Arianna laughed. “Theo tends to go overboard. He really likes to impress.”
“Well, he does,” assured Belinda.
“Belinda is more than worth the trouble,” Theo added.
“Aw, you guys are so cute,” said Arianna. “Well, I have to go. I’m meeting someone. Have fun.”
“You really think I’m worth the trouble?” asked Belinda.
“Of course,” I said. “I adore you. We all do.”
The attendant arrived with the key to the hot tub room.
“This way, sir. Madame,” he instructed.
The attendant unlocked the room and brought us inside. The hot tub had already been turned on for us and a bottle of champagne was chilling in a bucket near two glasses. The attendant gave a brief overview of the controls and how to summon help if we needed it. I tipped him and he bowed out of the room. Belinda and I got naked and slipped into the tub. The bubbles were nice.
“Oh, this is great!” she said. “So relaxing.”
I popped the cork on the champagne. It bounced around the inside of the glass walls and landed in the water. Belinda picked it up and threw it aside. I poured us each a glass.
“What do we toast to?” she asked.
“To you and your beauty,” I said. “Your smile makes my day and your beauty has stolen my heart.”
We clinked glasses. Belinda blushed a little.
“Jeez,” she said a little embarrassed. “You’re really pouring on the charm.”
“Isn’t that what you want? Romance in your life?”
“I do.”
“Well, if you stick with us, you’ll have the best of three worlds. Miles’, Franklin’s and mine. Miles will take on you adventures, Franklin, well--- He’ll probably take you to a football game or something. As for me, I shall woo with all the charm I can muster,” I assured her.
“So you enjoy this?” she asked.
“What’s not to enjoy? Warm bubbles, a great hotel, moderately acceptable champagne…”
She laughed at the last bit, although really I wasn’t joking. The champagne was a bit dull for my tastes. Acceptable, but dull.
“But how do you see this working,” she asked. “The day to day stuff, the routine.”
“Oh, I don’t like the routine,” I confessed. “Too dull, too boring. No, I don’t want to sit around in sweatpants watching Netflix and eating Ben and Jerry’s. I like a proper night out dressed in nice clothes with good food. Life’s too short to lounge around the house watching sitcoms.”
“Well, I think that’s something we can both agree on,” she said, clinking our glasses again. “I wonder which one of you I can drag to go shopping.”
“Oh, that would definitely be me,” I admitted.
“Really? You like to shop?”
“Oh, I love it. Nothing better than getting that perfect pair of slacks and matching shirt on a day when the store is doubling its coupons,” I said. “Amazon and online shopping has turned the art of going to a mall to get a great deal on a suit into savagery.”
Belinda laughed effortlessly. Oh, how I loved her laugh. Her smile lit up a room, but her laugh--- It filled the room with air and sunshine. How did I not meet this woman sooner?
Normally, I would be quite anxious. The worry about keeping a woman like this would weigh down on me. But with Miles and Franklin in my corner, the weight seemed to be lifted. I had back up! The pressure wasn’t all on me anymore and I could finally relax and be myself.
Belinda and I spent a relaxing hour or so in the hot tub. I massaged her feet underneath the bubbles and we drank just a little too much champagne.
“Theo, I’ve come to a decision,” she said suddenly. “I don’t care what anyone thinks. This relationship is perfect. I want it to continue. It’s moving a little fast, but I think people in love generally do that, right?”
“You love me?” asked Theo. “And Miles and Franklin.”
“Yes, I do,” she said. “I never loved anyone as much as I love the three of you.”