Page 98
Story: Three Grumpy Groomsmen
He looks so disappointed, I actually feel bad.
“Are yousure?” Bill asks. Not for the first time.
I nod. “I am. But the four of us are…” I look at Harrison. He gives me an encouraging smile. “We’ve got something special. We just kind of fit really well together and Harrison and Iare hoping that we can convince Ivy and Liam to make this a permanent situation.”
“A polycule,” my dad says.
I give him a surprised, but pleased, look. “Yes. How do you know about polycules?”
He scoffs. “I don’t just play golf all day, you know.”
Harrison snorts.
My dad grins. “Iread,” he says. “I haven’t participated in a polycule myself, but I know what they are.”
I laugh. “Well, great. Then you can explain it to mom.”
“Your brilliant pediatrician mother?” he asks. “I think she’ll be able to keep up.”
I nod. “You’re right.”
“And we can keep hoping that you and Harrison…” Bill says, trailing off suggestively.
Harrison shakes his head and throws an arm around his dad’s shoulders. “If Ford and I are in a committed relationship with Liam and Ivy, then you’ll have everything you want out of wanting us to be together. Us living together, all the family occasions, grandkids.”
I straighten quickly. So do Bill and my dad.
“Kids?” we all say at once.
Harrison looks at us like we’re allveryslow. “Of course. Eventually. Somehow.” He gives me a questioning look. “Right?”
For fuck’s sake. This is so Harrison’s style. We have been doing ‘this thing’ with Ivy and Liam for two days.
But…
I can’t say no. That would actually be the dream situation.
Of course, we haven’t even talked to Liam and Ivy about our actual feelings. Or about them staying. Or about…anything other than fucking while they’re here.
I sigh. I am in love with her, and I do want them to stay. This is Harrison and our fathers. I’m not going to lie and say Idon’twant those things.
I shrug. “Sure. Maybe. Eventually.”
Our dads are grinning.
“Daphne is going to bethrilled,” Bill says.
My dad is nodding. “And you know they’re going to show up on this porch tonight. So,fajitas. I’ll bring a few kinds of salsa.”
“No!” I say quickly.
My dad looks mildly insulted.
Harrison, thankfully, jumps in. “Jesus, we’re trying to get Liam and Ivy to fall in love with us. And this town.”
“We are offended that you think meeting our family would be a detriment to that,” Bill says haughtily.
A beat passes, then we all start laughing.
“Are yousure?” Bill asks. Not for the first time.
I nod. “I am. But the four of us are…” I look at Harrison. He gives me an encouraging smile. “We’ve got something special. We just kind of fit really well together and Harrison and Iare hoping that we can convince Ivy and Liam to make this a permanent situation.”
“A polycule,” my dad says.
I give him a surprised, but pleased, look. “Yes. How do you know about polycules?”
He scoffs. “I don’t just play golf all day, you know.”
Harrison snorts.
My dad grins. “Iread,” he says. “I haven’t participated in a polycule myself, but I know what they are.”
I laugh. “Well, great. Then you can explain it to mom.”
“Your brilliant pediatrician mother?” he asks. “I think she’ll be able to keep up.”
I nod. “You’re right.”
“And we can keep hoping that you and Harrison…” Bill says, trailing off suggestively.
Harrison shakes his head and throws an arm around his dad’s shoulders. “If Ford and I are in a committed relationship with Liam and Ivy, then you’ll have everything you want out of wanting us to be together. Us living together, all the family occasions, grandkids.”
I straighten quickly. So do Bill and my dad.
“Kids?” we all say at once.
Harrison looks at us like we’re allveryslow. “Of course. Eventually. Somehow.” He gives me a questioning look. “Right?”
For fuck’s sake. This is so Harrison’s style. We have been doing ‘this thing’ with Ivy and Liam for two days.
But…
I can’t say no. That would actually be the dream situation.
Of course, we haven’t even talked to Liam and Ivy about our actual feelings. Or about them staying. Or about…anything other than fucking while they’re here.
I sigh. I am in love with her, and I do want them to stay. This is Harrison and our fathers. I’m not going to lie and say Idon’twant those things.
I shrug. “Sure. Maybe. Eventually.”
Our dads are grinning.
“Daphne is going to bethrilled,” Bill says.
My dad is nodding. “And you know they’re going to show up on this porch tonight. So,fajitas. I’ll bring a few kinds of salsa.”
“No!” I say quickly.
My dad looks mildly insulted.
Harrison, thankfully, jumps in. “Jesus, we’re trying to get Liam and Ivy to fall in love with us. And this town.”
“We are offended that you think meeting our family would be a detriment to that,” Bill says haughtily.
A beat passes, then we all start laughing.
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