Page 49

“He’s been my best friend since I was five.”

Monti smiled at that. Kevin would be the perfect person to marry then. She assumed they were engaged before the event as Athena has called it, which would make sense. Sipping her tea again, Monti relaxed into the chair. If Athena wanted to talk today, then that’s what they would do. Monti wasn’t there to force her into anything or to make her do what Monti wanted. She was there to allow Athena the space for whatever it was she needed.

And if what she needed was to talk, then Monti would listen.

“Kevin left this morning.”

“For Simon’s birthday?”

“No.” Athena slid Monti a look, but it was sharp. It was imploring, as if she expected Monti to be able to figure out what was going on by reading between the lines. Except Athena had once again failed to give her the lines to read between.

It wasn’t the first time, and Monti doubted it would be the last. She kept quiet, hoping that Athena would continue on her own. Monti crossed her ankles and stretched them out in front of her. Athena had become quite comfortable since they had started working together, and until she was told otherwise, Monti was going to see that as a success.

“Kevin left to be with his long-term boyfriend, Clayton.”

“Oh.” Monti halted the cup as she moved it to her lips and stared directly at Athena. “How long have they been together?”

“Eight years, I think.” Athena stared into her cup, as though the tea leaves held all the answers to the questions she wasn’t willing to ask. “He stays there most of the year.”

“And when he’s here?”

“It’s for appearances.”

“Ah.” Monti’s heart sank, the understanding settling into her chest. “So did this begin as a marriage of convenience or become that?”

Why had she asked that? It wasn’t any of her business, not really. Athena and Kevin could live their lives exactly as they wanted. Then again, she was pretty sure that she wasn’t asking because of judgment. She was genuinely curious. Just what was their arrangement?

“It’s always been that.” Athena frowned, as if Monti should have understood that from something she’d said before. “He’s my best friend.”

“Right,” Monti stated, finally clicking with what she’d missed. “So if he has a partner, do you?”

Athena chuckled. “Can you imagine me with a partner? That’s amusing.”

Ah, the disparaging conversation that Monti had with herself so often. Except Athena’s belief of her own brokenness seemed to go even deeper than Monti’s. Monti wasn’t broken. She just didn’t want to break anyone else in the process of living.

“Have you wanted that with someone?”

Athena’s breath hitched. She settled her cup onto her thigh, but she didn’t raise her gaze to meet Monti’s. In fact, she didn’t even turn to look at Monti. She held still aside from rubbing her lips together, a clear sign that she was thinking through something.

Finally, Athena whispered, “No.”

Monti nodded her understanding. Athena had completely closed herself off from everything. “Does your marriage work for you? Or do you want something different?”

“It’s worked for decades.” Athena finally took a sip of her tea, her throat moving as she swallowed. But she immediately relaxed again. “We agreed to this before we got married.”

“That doesn’t mean it isn’t hard to watch him find love.”

Athena narrowed her gaze, her fingers tightening on the mug. “I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

What if this really was working for them? At least as they needed it to for now. Casual relationships were a thing, and they both got something out of the marriage even if it wasn’t sex or romantic love. Monti had worked with polycules before and had always been fascinated by their ability and desire for open communication when it came to wants and needs. She’d just never quite felt the pull toward that beyond the communication.

Well, that and the fact that she wouldn’t be permanently attached to any one person in particular.

Monti ran her finger along the edge of the mug, listening to Athena’s regular breathing. Kevin and Athena must have found their own little way toward happiness. Even if Athena wasn’t truly happy or experiencing joy, it wasn’t because her marriage was on the rocks.

“We did it for Simon, you know.”

“Did what?”