IT OCCURS to me after my morning workout that we need some additional ground rules. And yes, I’m aware of how weird it is that I’m the one thinking like that.
But Michael and I left Dani with Nathan at his apartment this morning. And he’s the big boss, which means he doesn’t have to report to work at any specific time. So he can do whatever he wants.
With Dani.
And even if it isn’t sex, I’m wishing I could be there with her. With them. Doing whatever. Did they just talk? Do the crossword? Go for a walk? Get Nathan something else to eat because he’s apparently too good for lemon blueberry pancakes—which fucking rocked by the way? Whatever they did, I would have wanted to do it too. With them. Yes, even including Nathan.
And yes, all of that thinking did make my workout pretty shitty. Distractions like that are going to be a problem.
I knock on the doorframe of Michael’s office at the arena. He looks up from his desk.
“Hey, come on in.” He puts his pen down and sits back. “What’s up?”
I look behind me. There’s no one in the hallway but I close the door anyway.
Hughes’s eyebrows arch. “Everything okay?”
“I’m just thinking, how do we date Dani?” I ask, crossing my arms and leaning back against the door.
He doesn’t seem surprised that Dani is the topic of conversation rather than hockey. “Together,” is his simple answer.
“Together. We take her out to dinner together? To the movies? All four of us?”
He takes a breath. “I think, for now, while we’re figuring this all out, we need to all spend time together. And stay in. I don’t think you or Nathan really needs the publicity a poly relationship will bring so early on.”
I nod. “So nothing one on one with her?”
“I think eventually we’ll get to that. It’s unrealistic to think that we’ll all four always be around to do things together. And there’s no reason that she can’t have time with each of us alone. But we need to get comfortable with our group dynamic first.”
“What about Dani and Nathan this morning then?”
“It was his apartment. Makes sense we’d be the first to leave.”
“Then next time I need to invite you all over to my place and kick you guys out the next morning?” I ask.
Michael shakes his head. “I think we need to have a consistent place that is…ours. The place where we all spend time together.” He’s frowning now.
“What?” I ask.
“We need to be sure Nathan is okay with it being his place,” Michael says. “Obviously it could be your apartment. Mine too, for that matter, though you both have bigger places.”
I think about that. I wouldn’t mind all of us gathering at my place but… Jesus, it will sound stupid out loud but Nathan’s place just seems more obvious. It’s more grown-up. Mine is a bachelor pad. I don’t think I even have enough towels for all of us. I definitely don’t have enough forks. Unless plastic ones count.
“Nathan’s place feels right,” I say. “Which is weird because it also feels kind of cold. But…” I trail off, thinking about our time there.
“But what?” Michael prompts.
“When we’re all there, it doesn’t.” I shrug. “Last night was hot as hell, of course. But even this morning when we were all having breakfast it felt…good. And I don’t think Armstrong hated it.”
Michael nods, seemingly thinking that over. “I think you’re right. In fact, if any place becomes ours, I think it should be Nathan’s. I think he needs his apartment to become a home most.”
Damn, that hits me in the chest in an unexpected way. “Is it stupid that I think he’d agree? Deep down and not out loud of course.”
Hughes smiles. “Not stupid. I think we’re thawing him out. Dani’s sunshine for sure is melting some of his ice.”
He’s completely right. Of course, that girl and her warm smiles and big heart and passion—in the bedroom and just for all the things, and people, she loves—could melt the polar ice caps. Armstrong has no fucking chance of resisting her. I’m just not sure he knows that yet.
I pull my phone out and start typing. “Okay. We need to all get on the same page here.”
“Who are you calling?”
“No one. Group text.” I look up as Michael’s phone pings with a text notification.
#17 to Cookie & Co.: More rules: No one-on-one dates. We all get together at Nathan’s. Michael cooks. No panties allowed for girls @ home.
Hughes grins. “We’re Cookie & Co?”
“I like your nickname for her,” I say with a shrug. “Okay if I borrow it for this?” I don’t think anyone but Michael should call her that out loud. It feels like it’s his.
He actually seems pleased. “Sure. And you called Nathan’s place home,” he points out.
I did. I typed it without thinking. “You think that’s okay?”
“Guess we’ll see.” His thumbs start moving over his phone.
Doc to Cookie & Co.: Let me know of any food allergies or things you won’t eat. No panty rule seconded.
I grin.
Another text pings both our phones.
I’m shocked as hell to see it’s Nathan.
Boss to Cookie & Co.: No panties thirded.
I start laughing. He gave himself a nickname in the group. I mean, I call him boss all the time and it definitely fits, but I love that he’s leaning into this. He’s definitely thawing. “I guess we’re all on the same page,” I say to Hughes.
Michael is grinning as well. “It’s a really great page.”
I couldn’t agree more.
I turn and pull Hughes’ office door open just as another text comes in.
It says it’s from Cookie to Cookie & Co. It’s just a photo of panties piled up on a bed.
The quilt on the bed is very girly. Very Dani. As are those panties. There’s pinks and peaches and lavenders and pale blues. There’s lace and bows, flowers, and hearts.
I groan and look at Michael. He looks equally amused and turned on.
My phone dings again.
Cookie to Cookie & Co.: My packing just got a lot easier. Thanks.
“She’s…” I start.
“Adorable,” Hughes fills in.
I laugh. “Yeah.”
