Chapter 140

Wouldn't it just make his doubts about how this would all work out, if it could work out, even more apparent. I didn't want to drive him away, or stand by and watch him fade back into controlling himself all the time.

Now that I knew that the Neil I'd known all this time was little more than a mask, now that I'd peeked beneath, I wanted to rip it off.

I got home still troubled to find Arielle in the living room, along for a change.

" If you're expecting another free show, don't worry, Zeke and Dev are out tonight." Arielle looked up at me, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "But since you're here, GPA is going to want to take you shopping for the charity gala." She leaned back. "Tell your two boyfriends they'd better be there and extra polished if they want a chance to spin you around on the dance floor."

My heart pounded, a mix of excitement and anxiety. I pulled my phone out to text them.

They both replied. Neil was a keynote speaker, apparently since the gala was actually a Blackfang-sponsored event. Dominic was a invited as alpha of the territory where it was being held, of course, and his presence was expected. The thought of them both being there, in the same room, with everyone watching… it was exhilarating and terrifying all at once.

I sank onto the couch beside her. I was fully aware of the complexity of my feelings, but this was all way more complicated than just my feelings.

"Arielle, I need your advice."

"Shoot."

"How do I make sure they get along?"

"They don't hate each other."

"No, but…"

"This about Dominic maybe being a little too straight for Neil's tastes?" She cocked an eyebrow. "Or yours."

I puffed up my cheeks. "This is not the time to tease."

"I'm not. I'm serious. Your thoughts matter about this."

I fiddle with the sleeve of my shirt, mulling it over. It wasn't that I minded the idea, I just didn't know how to envision it. I didn't know how I'd feel about it, seeing it in person either, versus just in my imagination.

"You're at least curious. I can work with that." She snorted. " To be fair, you two are woefully repressed. I can see why the goddess matched the three of you together…."

"Are you gonna answer the question or keep teasing me?"

before they start getting possessive of me and fight in public?"

"Send them on a date."

I went to my room, working through my nighttime routine, mulling over Arielle's advice as I scrolled through my phone, rereading the message thread between the three of us. The gala was coming up soon enough, but not so soon that I didn't have time.

If we're all in the same room together, do you think you two can behave?

Neil responded first.

Only if Dominic promises not to growl at me in front of the press.

Dominic replied exactly thirty seconds later.

I won’t growl if you don’t purr every time she looks at you.

I wanted to bury myself in a pillow and scream. I got out of bed and went back to the living room. Arielle was exactly where I left her, sipping wine.

"Are they flirting or fighting?"

She held out her hand without a word. Didn't even look up at me. I gave her the phone and she looked at it.

"Flirting."

That's good.

“I don't know if I'm ready to be in public with the both of them yet… I should tell GPA I have the plague or… ritual poisoning.”

Arielle raised an eyebrow. “You’re just scared they’ll show up in tuxes, both looking delicious, and you’ll combust from sheer sexual tension.”

“Did you just say combust?”

She shrugged, sipping again. “Or worse, one of them combusts and they're caught fucking in the men's bathroom."

My eye bulged. "Arielle…"

"Maybe in your future, dear. Sit."

I sank onto the couch.

“I don’t know… can I really just send them on a date? What would that even look like?"

“What dates typically look like, though I would suggest making it inescapable. They just need to learn that they're not going to have to share you, exactly, so much as share in general. All of you. You're a triad not a V… You know what I did when Dev and Zeke were getting too tense about who got more time with me?”

I stared at her. “Please don’t say ‘threesome.’”

She grinned. “Threesome. But—” she held up a finger, “—after I sent them on a date. Just the two of them. Put them in a bar together, stayed a bit and then bounced while they were distracted… then I set them up on a real date. Good times. They didn't fuck in the men's bathroom, but Zeke confessed that he'd considered it.”

I blinked. “You have absolutely no shame."

"What's that?”

"I've… never planned a date." Wouldn't know where to start with them. "The arcade?"

"Dominic is not going to an arcade unless it's with you, and Neil would definitely explode half of the machines. Try again."

"A bar isn't exactly inescapable."

"A cruise is." She sighed. “And maybe you're overthinking it. You’d be shocked what happens when two men are forced to talk about the woman they’re mutually obsessed with and confront that maybe they could be obsessed with each other in time… or at least a little more than friendly.”

“I’m not trying to force anything.”

“You don't have to,” Arielle said. “You want them both? That’s fine. That’s glorious. But you’re not going to make it to that bonding ceremony with them both if you don’t let them sort out what this looks like between them. You can’t manage this like a project at the office. You’re not a spreadsheet. You’re a mate.”

I groaned and flopped backwards. "Give me some ideas."

She rattled off a surprisingly long list. And by morning I felt a little bit steadier. I felt like I could plan this, like I could do it, like it wouldn't blow up in my face. So I started making plans.

Small ones. I wasn't ready to plan a full on date that they couldn't escape from yet, but maybe letting them be alone together in public was okay. They seem to have done just fine at the at the event they'd met at before, but this would be a far more intimate setting. It felt like the right thing to do. Baby steps. I wasn't Arielle after all.

Want to match at the gala? I messaged them both separately.

Of course, they both replied.

What's your favorite color?

On you? Neil asked. Red. Do you think you'd survive a photo with me?

Dominic replied. I'd happily match whatever you want to wear.

I shook my head. They really were so different. The thought of a photo set another wave of anxiety through me.

I texted Neil back first.

Would you have coffee with Dominic? Just… the two of you?

His typing bubble appeared and disappeared twice before a reply came through.

Are you scheming, Renee?

Maybe. Are you falling into my schemes?

A moment later her replied with a little gif of a monster shuffling into a cage.

Whatever will make you feel better. Does he actually drink coffee that's not as black as night though?

I grinned and texted Dominic.

Would you meet Neil for coffee?

His answer was practically instant. Why?

Call it an intervention. For me? I’ll make you both cookies.

I thought you hated to bake.

I chuckled. I do, but I do it for you.

Dominic’s reply was one word: Fine, but I prefer brownies.

At work, things were quiet. Tense, but quiet. Dominic and Neil both left the office for lunch. They went to a café just outside Brightclaw territory, somewhere neutral where they weren't likely to be noticed or photographed. It seemed like they had some of the same concerns I did. I tried not to think about what they were saying to each other.

I was almost succeeding, until a message came in from Neil.

He ordered tea. Send help.

Then one from Dominic: Ignore whatever he just said.

Then: We’re fine. He likes chess. I’m better.

He’s not better.

I beat you twice, Neil replied.

That was pity.

I laughed out loud at my desk and got several curious looks from the team.

“Everything okay, Renee?” someone asked.

“Fine,” I said, trying to school my face. “Just… multi-tasking.”

I set my phone down, letting them go on bickering in person and in the group chat. However they pleased. Coffee was fine. And when Neil got back, he seemed happy at ease even, dropping a bag of pastries on my desk.

"For future reference, I beat him four more times and probably pissed him off. You should soothe his ego when you get a chance."

I laughed. "Sure, it wasn't that bad."