Sofie
I look up from my crouching position in my seat at the counter. I unfurl my arms and throw them to either side. I’m feeling restless from waiting.
“Is it ready yet?” I ask Chloe impatiently. “I’m so hungry. And, I’m so fucking tired.” My agonous whines are testing her patience.
I turn myself towards the kitchen so I can face Chloe. She’s taking so much time, moving so slowly. I will her to cook faster.
“No, it’s not ready. I could serve this to you already, but I’m pretty sure you don’t want salmonella,” Chloe returns, matter-of-factly. Her passive-aggressiveness annoys me, but I realize I’m exhausted and hangry and I probably started it.
I’ve eaten hardly anything today, and I’m just ready for the day to be over. And I’m sure my body language and my expressions are clearly communicating that to Chloe. If I could go to bed with an empty stomach, I wouldn’t have to bother her this much. Still, it isn’t her fault I’m feeling like this.
“Sorry,” I say. “I’m just not used to all of this attention and all these spontaneous trips across the country. It’s so goddamn draining. It’s finally a night to relax and I just want to eat and go to sleep.”
I push out my bottom lip, forcing my face into a pout. My body forces me to raise my arms high to stretch and I let out a big yawn. I stretch my torso while my arms are up, and I blink hard a few times and shake my head.
“Oh boo, Sofie!” Chloe yells. I’m taken aback by her tone. “I wish I had the kind of problems you’re having. Oh no! Three GORGEOUS billionaires are whisking me away from my study time to take me on vacations and spend time with them. Whatever will I do?”
I resist the urge to call Chloe a bitch. Again, I remind myself I’m just fucking hangry and tired and I just try to be logical and reason with her.
“Well, you have to admit it’s not some normal level of activity, Chloe. It’s not like I’ve asked for any of it or expected it from them. It was a date for a charity auction, for Christ’s sake,” I explain. I need her to see where I’m coming from.
“I know that, silly,” she replies. “I was just giving you shit. What kind of friend would I be without giving you a reality check? You’re golden right now, and I’d kill to have one of them chasing me around trying to impress me, is all.”
She has a point. I just wish I had more energy to keep up with all of them. Between the trips, the sex, and the emotions I’m developing for them, I’m left with no time to think for myself.
“You have to admit it’s crazy that these guys are still so adamant about you after such an innocent first encounter,” she interjects. “Not that you’re not hot as fuck, it’s just like...a one in a billion occurrence.”
“Yeah, I know what you mean. I’m a little jarred by the whole thing still,” I admit. “Everything’s happening so fast and it’s hard to know if my feet are even on the ground.”
The smell of cumin and garlic powder are driving me mad with hunger. I hate that chicken should be cooked on such low heat. It takes too long, but I guess it’s better than it being dry...or at least that’s what I’m telling my belly demon.
As the sizzles from the pan hypnotize me, I start thinking about the hot passion I have for the BioKin execs. The thought of touching their muscles, feeling them through their beautiful, soft skin is so tantalizing.
The sensation of their lips pressing against mine and their breath hot on my neck. Fuck. I can’t be horny and hungry at the same time. It’s too confusing. But maybe I also feel hunger for them. I mean, think about the way I’m wanting them…it’s similar to my longing for tasty food.
I honestly don’t know what I’m supposed to do from here. I enjoy them all so much. I couldn’t bare breaking any of their hearts, or my own for that matter.
“So which one do you like the best? I’ll go after the others and then we can both have billionaire boyfriends!” Chloe’s words stab through me. “I’m thinking I might have my eye on Lucas, but if you want him, Oliver and Elijah are just as beautiful.”
Seriously, the thought of one of them not being with me is wrecking me. I don’t know how I became so attached to them, but I can’t help myself.
“Chloe!” I snap. “This isn’t the conversation to have.” I’m snarling at this point. I didn’t expect to be so defensive, but damn, this is my happiness she’s laying into right now.
“What?” she replies, legitimately unaware of her lack of empathy for my plight.
“I like all of them. All three. I can’t pick just one! It’s like...they all bring different things to the table. I love how safe I feel, how listened to I am, and how appreciative they are of me. I don’t want to give up any of it from any of them,” I explain.
And it’s true. I can’t help but want them all. They’re like the many moving parts of a machine. It just doesn’t work the same without everything in its place.
“So you want to date everyone? That’s just so unusual, Sofie. Do you think that would even work?” she asks.
“I feel like it can. I mean, I’ve never tried something like that in any capacity, but why couldn’t it work?” I ask optimistically.
“I don’t want to see you get hurt, you know?” she offers.
Her concern is honest and valid. To tell the truth, I really don’t want to know if it’ll work or not. I just want to let it all keep happening and sort itself out later. Maybe there could be a better way out of this. Or if I’m being honest, I don’t want it to end, so I’m delaying the inevitable while I can.
My stomach growls loud and turns in on itself. I grab my abdomen and squeeze my eyes tight.
“Ugh, Chloe. Is dinner ready yet?” I ask again. “My stomach is about to eat itself.”
“Nope. But it’s getting closer. A couple more minutes, okay?” she assures me. Chloe walks over to the refrigerator and grabs some lettuce and tomatoes and starts chopping away.
“You know, I can help you,” Chloe says. My curiosity is piqued. “And don’t get mad at me again, okay? I can’t handle you being so on-edge.”
“Well, go on,” I say. “What should I do? How can you help?” As I await her response I grab a tomato slice and start biting into it.
“Hey! Those are for the tacos! Have some patience, won’t you?” she says, playfully. She winks at me.
“I’m just starving because someone takes an hour to cook chicken,” I respond, trying to be catty back at her.
“Well anyway, let me get to know them better,” she continues her proposal, wiggling her eyebrows. “That way I can tell you who’s best for who.” She shimmies her shoulders and sticks her tongue out at me, smiling.
“Jesus, Chloe,” I say, rolling my eyes. I shake my head and sigh at her, grinning. “Can you please get the rest of this together so we can eat? We have a long day at BioKin tomorrow. I want to go to bed soon.”
“Yeah, yeah. Don’t get your panties in a twist,” Chloe mutters.