Page 66 of Turning Back

“What?” she asks. “How could you say that?”

“I know nothing about you. Not one thing outside our limited time together. You blew my fucking mind when you walked out. Made it explode in confusion. I had no idea you’d do something like that to me. Never in a million years did I imagine you’d hurt me that way.” I point to Bric. “Him I know. I know his body, his mouth, his fucking cock. But beyond that, I know his mind. I know the depth of his loyalty. I know his past, what he wants from the future. I know he’s got my back. I trust him.”

Rochelle draws in a deep breath and lets it out very slowly. “Well…” she says. “I’m glad you think you know him so well.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I ask.

She shrugs and gets up off the bed to join Bric in the bathroom doorway. “I’m taking a shower.”

Bric and I stare at each other for a second. “Come on,” he says. “Just let it go. You had your say, you had your revenge fucks. Two,” Bric says, holding up two fingers. “You got it twice. You paid her back and made your point. Now just settle down and let it go.” He walks towards me, puts a hand on my shoulder. “We have a good thing here, Quin,” he cautions me. “We got her back, we got each other back, and we’ve got that adorable pumpkin baby. Don’t fuck it up with hate.”

I sigh, not wanting to give in, but unable to help myself.

“Right?” Bric says. “Come on. Let’s just take a shower and go to bed.”

“I think we need rules,” I say.

“What?” Bric is annoyed now.

“More rules. The rules kept things straight, you know?”

“Quin, we broke all the rules with Rochelle. It’s too late. We’re off the rules. We can try, if you’re gonna insist. But look, we made rules last week and we’re already off the rules.”

“Well, we need guidance, then.”

Bric laughs. “OK. Thriples therapy here we come. Get real.” He bumps me as he walks towards the bathroom. “In a week you’ll be past this,” he says over his shoulder. “In a week we’ll be settled back into our regular routines. I promise. Just give it a week.”

I don’t think a week will fix what’s wrong with us.

A few moments pass. Me just standing in the middle of the bedroom. Rochelle and Bric talking in low voices in the bathroom. They are in the shower together. I can tell by the sound of the water.

I’m glad you think you know him so well.

They have a secret. That’s what she meant by that statement. She and Bric have a secret.

I let out a long breath of air and rub my hands down my face.

What could it be?

“Quin,” Bric yells from the shower. “Come on.”

It’s got something to do with her leaving. Or the baby. Or her coming back. Or all of the above.

“Quin,” Bric shouts again. “Get in here now.”

It’s true. What I said. I don’t know her very well. I didn’t think about it much before she left. She was just… Rochelle. Our player. The best player we ever had. Did I ever wonder where she came from? Did I ever wonder why it was so easy for her to slip into the life we offered her? And stay for three fucking years?

“Asshole!” Bric yells.

“I’m coming,” I say, slipping my pants down and kicking them away. I kick the doubts away too. Does it matter if they have a secret?

Not really. I know she doesn’t want Bric. She wants me. But beyond that, I know Bric doesn’t want her without me.

So does it matter if they have a secret?

I walk into the bathroom and decide it doesn’t. Not yet anyway.

I open the glass shower door and slip inside. There’s a double shower head—one on each side of the shimmering lavender glass-tiled walls. Plus a rain shower overhead. Plenty of room for three people.