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“Yeah? I like surprises like that.” A gentle flirting tone entered her voice.

Heidi envied the ease Lila had in life thanks to proper therapy and recovery. It wasn’t for the first time. “Then I should surprise you more often.”

“Oh, I’d like that.” Lila giggled lightly. “What are you up to this weekend?”

“Not much at all. Eating dinner and watching television, nothing fancy.”

“Do you have to work?”

“Not unless I get called in.” Heidi shifted the plate onto the coffee table and curled her feet under her body so she could sit more comfortably. “Are you busy this weekend?”

“I am, unfortunately. Otherwise, I’d love to hang out with you again.”

“I would too,” Heidi’s voice was gentle.

What she was about to say would change the trajectory of their relationship. She was going to put the ball in Lila’s court and see if more than mere friendship was possible for them. If not, she hoped they could go back to the way it was, because surely Lila was someone who would be good for her to have around. Heidi wasn’t entirely sure what Lila got out of the friendship, but perhaps it wasn’t so different from what Heidi would receive. They were both survivors, and that was a connection they couldn’t deny.

“My partner and I have an open relationship, you know. I didn’t mention that to you before.”

Heidi wished she could see Lila instead of just listening to her voice. It would give her far more insight into what Lila was thinking and feeling, but she’d have to make do with what she had. “Is that so?”

It could have been a teasing tone or it could have simply been a curious tone. Heidi didn’t know Lila well enough to be able to determine one way or the other. And she was almost too scared to ask for clarification.

“It is.” Heidi relaxed into the arm of the couch. “You had mentioned something about being in poly relationships.”

“Yes. It’s the only type of relationship I will be in.” Lila went from flirtatious to serious.

“No one gets jealous?” Heidi genuinely wanted to know. She couldn’t imagine not being in a long-term partnership with anyone other than Ann.

“No, not if everyone is on the same page. These types of relationships take a lot of communication.”

“They do, even when it’s just an open relationship.”

“Is your partner with someone?”

“She has someone she sees occasionally, but no other long-term relationship. Only me. That’s what we decided we wanted. No other long-term relationships, just the two of us with partners.”

“And it’s working well so far?” Lila’s question seemed genuine, not as though she was trying to pry and find holes but as though she really wanted to know.

“It is, I think. I haven’t found anyone else, but she has, and it seems to have added a balance we were missing before.” The connection between them grew. Heidi couldn’t deny it, but she was being so honest where normally she held back. Something about Lila pulled her to share. She missed that with Ann. They’d had that once, but over the years, Heidi had done everything she could to protect Ann from her own trauma, and that had caused them to pull apart from each other. It wasn’t a good combination.

“I’m glad it’s working, then. Do you have to share with your partner who you’re with?”

“No, only if she wants to know, but no.”

“Ah. What other boundaries do you have in place?”

Heidi’s tongue dashed across her lips as she settled into the conversation. “Never here. Mostly because the logistics of figuring out when someone isn’t going to be home is a bit much.”

“I can understand that. You don’t have as much freedom of space as I do.”

“I don’t.” Even though she was home by herself the entire weekend and Ann would never know, that had been a boundary they’d set in place and one Heidi was determined to keep. Heidi was slower to form bonds with people than Ann anyway. Heidi was not built for quick one-night stands. She’d never had them and never planned on it. Ann, however, could and would do so. Not frequently, but she could have sex without an emotional bond or a need for a sense of safety.

“I have a question for you, Heidi.”

“Yes?” Heidi refocused her attention back on the conversation at hand.

“Are you telling me this because you’re interested in something more with me or are you telling me this because you’re interested in how being poly works in my life?”