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I take a deep, steadying breath before I nod. “You’re right. I think I’ll always regret it if I don’t at least see what happens. Maybe it’ll be awkward, and I’ll feel left out the whole week, and I can forget it ever happened. At least then I’ll know.”
“Or maybe it’ll be the best week of your life,” Tara suggests hopefully. “But according to that text, they’ll be here soon, so let’s get you packed for your sexy vacation. Unless you’re going for a completely nude vibe?”
I snort a laugh. “Oh my god, can you imagine. Actually, they’d probably love that. Maybe I don’t need clothes.”
She just laughs as she shakes her head and starts going through the shirts on my bed. I pull out my phone to finally respond.
Scotty
Yes! See you soon
“Okay, I texted back. I’m officially going on their sexy Christmas trip.”
“Did I say daily updates?” Tara jokes. “I might need hourly.”
“I’m not even there, and I already don’t know how I’ll recover from them,” I add with a laugh. I’ve always been wildly attracted to Joey and Patrick, and our one and only hookup was the best threesome I’ve ever had. I can only imagine what a week with them will do to me.
I finally finish packing, and we exit my building to wait by the curb. Tara’s cab to the airport arrives shortly before Patrick and Joey do.
No going back now.
5
“Hey, handsome,” I greet as Scotty slides into the backseat of the SUV while Patrick loads his suitcase in the trunk.
“Hello,” Scotty responds brightly. “I’m ready to be whisked away to Vermont.”
“We couldn’t be more excited.” I laugh as I turn down the Christmas music we were singing along to on our way to Scotty’s place before turning to face him in the back seat.
He buckles up and mirrors my smile as his light blue eyes meet my gaze. “It’s strange being a professional planner and having absolutely no idea where we’re staying or what we’re doing. I thought I’d hate it, but now that I’m here and quite literally along for the ride, it’s oddly freeing.”
Patrick gets back into the driver’s seat in time to hear his comment. “The cabin is stunning, and we only made a loose plan of what we might want to do. Figured we’d get there and see what sounds fun.”
“You might remember that I am very happy for you to take the lead,” Scotty teases, and I don’t think I’m imagining the suggestion in his tone. Patrick is the one who naturally takes that role in our relationship, which I have no complaints about either.
“Good to know,” Patrick acknowledges with a chuckle before exchanging a smug smirk with me.
Heat pools low in my gut as I consider both of their comments as a good sign for how I’m hoping the week will go. But we’re not about to hook up in this rental car, so I attempt to focus on more innocent thoughts and turn the music back up to resume my poor rendition of Christmas classics.
Scotty immediately joins in, sounding much better than I ever could. I stop and turn toward him again. “Okay, that’s just not fair. How am I supposed to enjoy singing along when you casually sound like you belong on Broadway?”
He bursts out laughing. “Hardly, and I thought you hated musicals. Has that changed in our years apart?”
“No, you and Patrick will still have to obsess over the latest Tonys upset without me,” I inform him with a shrug. “Still no desire to memorize all of those lyrics and attempt to follow a plot.”
“It’s okay, love, maybe Scotty will see the next show with me so you won’t have to,” Patrick suggests lightly.
I’m still facing Scotty so I don’t miss the look of surprise and maybe even concern that quickly passes over his features before he glances my way. Does he think that would bother me? Whether the three of us end up having sex all week or not, I’m hoping we can continue to hang out like we used to when we get back to the city.
“Fuck, that would be great,” I reply honestly. If they want to hang out without me, I’d be okay with that, regardless of what we end up doing at the cabin. I don’t think Patrick would mind if Scotty and I did something without him either, but I’m sure Patrick and I will end up talking about it.
“I’m always up for a show,” Scotty finally agrees. “But don’t worry, Joey, we can definitely stick to classic Christmas songs and movies this week.”
I smile and nod before turning back to the road. The drive is peaceful; there’s snow covering the ground from the past week, but the roads are clear. Conversation is easy, like it’s always been with Scotty, and we spend a good portion of the five-hour drive discussing the current pro hockey, basketball, and football seasons.
Even though Scotty spent so long away from New York, he’s stayed loyal to the teams here, and we all have a lot of opinions on how we think the seasons will end. Patrick is convinced Boston will win everything—his loyalty has never swayed either. I was never particularly fond of my own home state of New Jersey after my less-than-warm childhood there, and I think my predictions are a little more based on the statistics of how the teams are actually performing in their seasons than my loyalty to any specific team, even if I am primarily a New York fan now.
Before we know it, we’re pulling up to a jaw-dropping A-frame home with a massive wall of windows covering the entire front. My nephew Jace would love the architecture, so I take a quick photo to send to him.
