Page 89 of Love Limits

Basically, Ash concluded, flirting sounds like fun. Let’s make Dustin go crazy.

Do you think Zhong would mind?

Ash made a face. Dammit. You almost made me forget why I came over today. Would Zhong mind? Probably not. Especially if it’s you. But this other guy? The one I was telling you about? He’s all hung up on monogamy. I barely mentioned Zhong to him as a friend, and he was already flipping out.

So I guess if things work out with the new guy, the flirting is a no. And if I keep moping around hoping that Zhong will notice me then… I don’t even know.

Ash felt the couch shift and then Landon was rubbing their legs soothingly, just below the knee. It was only comforting this time, nothing implied.

Landon cuddled them for a few minutes, then pulled back to sign. Alright, want my advice?

Yes! Please! Tell me what to do! They were only half joking.

OK, go to pup night with this new guy. See if he totally wows you. See if you could really imagine a future with him.

OK…

A future where you’re happy, Landon said sternly. You’ve been poly before, so don’t get sucked into monogamy if it doesn’t work for you.

I think I’m poly-flexible. Like, good with it, good without it.

Even so, don’t let the new dude make you give up Zhong. I think Dustin’s pretty monogamous, actually, but he still put his foot down about Zhong with me.

OK, OK, got it. Ash had given Landon almost this same speech not too long ago. Now what about Zhong? That’s where they were really worried.

You know what I’m going to say.

Payback was a bitch. It’s not fair using my own words against me.

Talk to him.

What if I lay it all out for him and he’s not interested? What if he doesn’t even realize what we’re doing?

Talk to him.

If this goes wrong, you’re going to be the one feeding me ice cream while I cry on your lap. Ash pointed the spoon at them, the last soupy drips clinging to the end. They were going to have a bellyache later.

Any time. I figure I owe you one. Maybe we can hit up the science museum with my niblings.

Yeah. If he turns me down, you owe me a museum trip. Ash was serious about that. They should have asked before, actually.

Done. Now go talk to him. And I want serious updates. I can’t believe you’ve been keeping all this from me.

I told you, I didn’t think it was serious until last week!

No more secrets. Constant updates. Every hour. Landon circled his raised index finger upright by his palm, expression imperious.

I’ll talk to him after pup night. I want to see how it goes with Josh.

Is that his name?

Yeah.

I’m going to forget that. He needs a sign name.

Ash shrugged. We’ll see how it goes. Sign names took time. You had to know somebody first, and they needed to at least make an effort to participate in the Deaf community.

Ash put the empty carton and spoon down on the floor beside the couch. Now that they had a plan—and a belly full of ice cream—they were feeling a bit less overwhelmed. Still a bit terrified and confused, but now with a plan and a friend.