Page 94 of Taking Turns

“I am,” I say. “But… you made the invitation, right? To Smith?”

“Yes.” She pauses. “Why? Does that change things?”

“It’s just courteous to include him from now on.”

“So wait,” she says. I think she sits up in bed for this little revelation. “Once I invite him in, then he has more power? And I lose my time with you?”

“Does that upset you, Miss Walcott?”

“Kinda. I mean… I like you, Bric. I don’t want this to change what we have.”

I smile into the phone. “That’s very sweet, Chella. But the whole reason we’re doing all this is to get you ready for all three of us at once. So it doesn’t matter what kind of relationship we have as a couple because we’re not going to be a couple. We’re going to be a quad.”

She’s silent.

“Chella?”

“I get that,” she says. “And it sounds super fun. But shouldn’t we be allowed to have a personal relationship without the other two?”

“How does that help us as a quad? Give me one example where a stronger relationship with Quin would help the four of us together.”

“Well, I don’t know. I’ve never done this before.”

“We have. We know the pitfalls, Chella. That’s why we have rules. It takes a lot of time to trust each other. Develop friendships. Not couple bonds, but just friendships. So now we’re invested in you. And we need to take every precaution to ensure this lasts for as long as it was meant to.”

“I get it. I’m just looking forward to more time with you.”

“We still get to go out. We have two parties this week. That’s why I called tonight. No time for dinner tomorrow, so you can order room service or take the car somewhere. I have a few things to take care of during the day. But I’ll pick you up at seven.”

“Is Smith coming on our date?”

“Nope,” I say, feeling kinda smug that I hear the dread in her voice. “Just us. So that’s our alone time. Will it be enough for you?”

“No sex with Smith unless I’m with you—”

“No,” I say. “No sex with Smith at all until you’re with all four of us. And I’ll warn you now, it takes him a while.”

“It… does?”

“Smith likes to watch, Chella. He’ll participate in the quad, but he’s slow to join in. So be prepared for that.”

“Hmmmmm,” she says, dragging the sound out as she thinks this over. “OK… No sex with Smith at all. No sex with you, unless Smith is watching. But all the sex I want with Quin. I guess we know who’s getting lucky on his two days.”

I laugh.

“It’s really not funny,” she says.

“It’s fair,” I say. “You’ll see that soon. So… tomorrow at seven. Be ready. A dress and some accessories will be delivered sometime in the afternoon. I hope you like it.”

She sighs into the phone. “See you tomorrow night.”

We hang up and I sit in the Black Room, Smith staring at me from across the table. “She took it well?”

“I think so,” I say, lifting my glass of Scotch to my lips and taking a swallow. “She seemed a little disappointed that you won’t be fucking her tomorrow night.”

He raises an eyebrow at me. “Maybe we should give her what she wants?”

“I was thinking the same thing.”