Page 66 of C is for Comfort

Archie purses his lips and drums his fingers on the side of his glass. It looks like he’s drinking Coke. It’s less bubbly than normal, so there’s probably a shot of alcohol in there too.

“He likes films that make him think.” Archie smiles. “And cry.”

I nod, making a mental note of the information. I hadn’t planned on taking Corey to the cinema tomorrow night, but I’d like to one day in the near future. Hopefully, tomorrow’s date will be the first of many.

Look at me. I’ve gone from confirmed bachelor and king of one-night stands to planning dates and looking to the future. I’m not sure what’s caused the shift in my attitude towards my own love life. If I asked Emily, she’d tell me Corey was ‘the one’ and that’s why I feel differently about him than about any of the guys I’ve met at Hamish’s kink parties or that Emily has set me up with. I’m not sure I believe in soulmates and all that jazz, but there’s definitely something about Corey that makes me want more.

“You’ve got a good poker face,” Archie grumbles after he’s told me a few more of Corey’s likes and dislikes.

I chuckle. “Were you trying to get me to give away what I have planned for tomorrow?”

He hunches his shoulders. “Yes.”

“I’m sorry to disappoint.”

He shrugs. “Just make sure Corey enjoys himself.” That fierce protectiveness is back in Archie’s voice.

I’m going to go out on a limb and guess that he’s the oldest of the triplets. Would that make Corey the youngest? Given their names, it would make sense.

“I’ve got to ask,” Gabe says. “What’s the most annoying question you’ve ever been asked about being a triplet?”

Archie rolls his eyes. “We were once asked if we had psychic powers.” He lets out a dramatic sigh. “We’re pretty good at reading each other, so wecanhave a really simple conversation without speaking. But that’s alongway from being telepathic. The other annoying question is wanting to know how our parents tell us apart when we were babies.”

I can’t resist. “How did they tell you apart?” Whether Blake is identical to his brothers or not, babies within the same family do tend to look similar.

“Nail varnish. They painted my little finger, Blake’s ring finger, and Corey’s middle finger in baby blue polish.”

I’m pretty confident I’ve got their order of birth correct now.

“Corey will always put Lexi first,” Archie says with an abrupt change of topic.

“I know.” I wouldn’t expect him to do anything else.

“So if you’re going to keep seeing him…”

“I want to meet Lexi,” I tell him. “When Corey is ready to take that step. It’s something he needs to be the lead on.”

“Meet her again,” Archie clarifies.

“Yes.”

“Again?” Cal asks.

“Lexi broke her wrist,” Archie says.

“And I happened to be the doctor who treated her,” I say to finish the story.

“So, you and Coreydidn’thook up at Hamish’s party?” Cal asks.

“Oh, we did.” I smile at the memory of fucking him on the sex chair.

“It’s a shame you can’t make the next party,” Hamish says.

“Yes, it is. Hopefully, the stars will align for the one after, and I’ll be on my days off.” If Corey and I are still together then, I’m half-tempted to take a day off so we can go together.

There I go, thinking far too far ahead. We need to navigate our first date before it’s worth thinking any further into the future.

We carry on talking. Archie seems to be satisfied with the answers I’ve given him. He doesn’t try to pry any more information about my date plans out of me. He’s nice. Just as attractive but a little more confident than Corey. He doesn’t appear to be carrying any weight onhisshoulders like Corey does. Spending time with Archie makes me even more curious to meet Blake. Is he similar to his brothers in looks and attitude? Hopefully, I’ll get to meet him and Lexi one day soon.