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“I think we need to talk to her,” I say finally, “Get this all out in the open.”
“What do you think is going to happen?” he asks.
“I have no idea, but obviously this isn’t working the way we’re doing it. And I don’t think it can really get much worse.”
Corey nods, but before he can say anything else, we’re interrupted by his phone going off. He glances down and his eyebrows shoot up. “Speak of the devil.”
I glance over and see Marlene’s name on his screen. “Hello?” he answers.
I can’t hear what she says on the other end, but Corey nods. “Yeah, we do. No. No, we’re here at the house. Yeah, come on over. Okay. Okay, bye.”
I lift a questioning brow. “Looks like we’re not the only ones with something to get off our chests,” he says, “She said she’s coming over to talk.”
My heart races, and I wonder what she might have in mind. I’m not entirely sure I’m ready to have this conversation, but I know that the longer I put it off, the worse things will get. It’s time to stop being a coward and face the music.
It doesn’t take long for Marlene to get here; she only lives about ten minutes away. When the knock sounds on our front door, Corey springs up to get it like his ass is on fire. And I’m right on his heels.
When he swings the door open, I’m surprised to see that Marlene isn’t standing alone on our doorstep. There’s another guy with her, one I don’t recognize. “Hey, guys,” she says, “this is Todd.”
The man reaches out a hand for Corey to shake, then me. “Nice to meet you,” he says.
“Todd, this is Corey and this is Andrei,” Marlene introduces both of us respectively, and I’m massively confused.
I thought she was coming over to talk, who’s this guy?
“Can we come in?” Marlene asks.
“Of course, yeah,” Corey and I step aside to let them in.
“Come on in and grab a seat,” I offer, leading them into the living room.
We all get settled. “So, I think the three of us have some stuff we need to talk about,” Marlene says, “Or, rather, the four of us.”
I glance from her to Todd, then back again, trying to think of a polite way to ask exactly who the hell he is and why he needs to be involved, when she slips her hand into his. Suddenly, the pieces click, and I realize why he’s here. This is the new guy she’s seeing.
Chapter Thirteen
Marlene
Maybe it wasn’t the greatest idea to bring Todd alone, but I rationalized it because if I’m really going to take a shot at this “polyamory” thing he’s told me about, he’s a part of it, and deserves to be involved.
Okay, I’m a chicken and wanted the extra support.
Todd squeezes my hand, encouraging me, but the truth is, I’m not quite sure where to begin.
“Mars?” Corey looks at me, confused by my prolonged silence.
Don’t ask me why my brain decided this was the first point to discuss, because I don’t think I’ll ever know. But before I can stop myself, I blurt out: “I’m pregnant.”
Andrei and Corey exchange a look, then turn to me with bittersweet smiles. “Congratulations,” Corey tells me, then glances at Todd, as if wondering if the congratulations need to be passed around.
“It’s yours, one of yours, and he knows,” I inform them.
The smiles melt away, and I let out a sigh. “Todd and I are in a relationship, but that’s not why I’m here, or at least it isn’t the only reason.”
Andrei nods slowly. “Okay. So, what else do you want to tell us?”
I look at Todd, who nods encouragingly, then take a deep breath and turn back to my friends. “I messed up,” I blurt out, “Our whole arrangement to get me pregnant, I messed up. I know I told you guys it was just a temporary thing, but my heart is telling me otherwise. I’m in love with you, both of you.”
