Page 41 of Five
While I’m debating my own sanity, Oz is quietly navigating through traffic. We pass through the heart of the island, where many tourist-centered businesses are.
I’m this close to the people walking along the sidewalk and further in, through the windows, having a meal or milling about as they shop for tee shirts and printed socks and wind catchers… if I really wanted to, really felt it was necessary… this would be my last, best chance to get help.
But I can’t help but notice the way that the afternoon light slants across the dashboard and occasionally illuminates Oz’s face. It’s a stern face, dark, but with this unexpected sweetness to the curve of his cheek and mouth. It appeals to me.
His eyes dart around our environment, missing nothing. At a red light, a windshield washer shows up out of nowhere, slapping his cloth against the glass and trying to make a quick buck. It startles me, and after a quick glance, Oz flips the dash light.
The man scuttles away, and I relax back into my seat. Flicking on his turn signal, Oscar turns the car toward the public docks.
“You’re nervous,” he comments.
“Maybe a little,” I reply. “I might be beginning to think this is all very Little Red Riding Hood-ish, and I’m making a terrible mistake.”
He doesn’t laugh at my weak attempt at humor, but reaches over instead, and rests his hand on top of mine. “You have nothing to fear from me or any of the guys, I assure you.”
“About that.” Suddenly shy, I pull my hand from beneath his and twist my fingers together in my lap. “Are you… I think you might be…”
Dang it. How does one ask if someone happens to be the brother of a potential polyamorous fling who may also be interested in that same relationship?
“Neve?” My gaze flicks to his. “Just ask. Whatever it is. We’ll deal with it.”
His tone is soothing and demanding, all at the same time, and I find my body responding to it, relaxing back into the seat. “I’ve been talking to this man on a dating app. Oliver.” I draw in a deep breath. “Some of the things you’ve said make me wonder if you’re the brother he told me about.”
There’s quiet for a minute as we reach the public docks, and Oz navigates a parking space. He parks the car and turns to face me across the arm rest. His brown eyes are warm and filled with humor, alongside something deeper and more intense. Something that makes me shiver a little in my own seat.
Attraction.
“I’m pretty confident I’m that brother,” he says.
I nod. “So, you and Oliver… you live with Remi, and Jesse, and Cope?”
“That’s right.”
“And all of you are interested in…” My mind goes blank. I can’t remember the word, even though I was just thinking about it. “Sharing?” I conclude.
Oz’s lips kick up at the corners, just a tiny amount, enough to let me know he finds me amusing. His tongue comes out to lick the corner of his upper lip, drawing my attention to it and causing even more of a short circuit. “Are we interested in sharing the right woman? Yes.”
He waits patiently while I wrap my brain around something I thought I had already processed. “I have so many questions,” I finally reply.
“Fire away,” Oz drawls. “I have nothing to hide.”
“Okay.” I roll my bottom lip between my teeth, considering. “I guess my biggest question is how awkward is this going to be? I’m not the kind of girl who just dives into things without giving them a lot of thought. So, I don’t want my stay with you to be construed as something that it’s not.”
“That’s not something you need to worry about,” he says firmly. “You’re coming to the island as a security measure, and I’ll make sure the guys understand it’s no more, no less. If you happen to fall madly in love with someone while you’re there—” he fake leers, prompting a snort from me. “–well, from what I know of you already, I don’t think any of us would complain. But you don’t need to worry that any of us will push you for anything you’re not ready for.”
I nod. “Good. Because I’m not signing up to be some plaything for all of you. I had a friend who is now married to the loves of her life—all three of them—and I have to admit that the possibility of that kind of relationship is intriguing and appealing to me. I’ve never really thought one person could be capable of fulfilling everything I want and need in a partner.” I pause, tipping my head. “Which really makes me curious how it would be possible for me—one person—to satisfy multiple people. I don’t fully understand it.”
“First—we would never look at a woman as a plaything. That goes for all of us, including Cope, who’s always been a bit of a manwhore. And next—everyone’s different, and everyone is satisfied by different things. I think the idea of polyamory and sharing our lives with one woman appeals to us because, one— we’ve created such an insular life for ourselves, and two— because we’ve shared so much to start with. Has Oliver told you anything about his past?”
“Not really. He’s a little reserved.” The thought occurs to me that I had actually just stood Oliver up, even though I texted him. I wince. “I stood him up last night. I didn’t mean to—”
Oz waves a hand. “I already texted him and told him what was going on. It’s fine. Oliver experienced significant trauma as a child. Long story short, it shaped all of us… made him who he is as an adult, influenced our military stints, the friendships that developed there, and how we choose to live our lives now. I’ll let him tell you about that, but that experience, and how we emerged from it as adults, is pretty much the root of why we choose to live as we do.”
“After my own experience, I get that.” After another moment, I give him a bright smile and open my door. “I think I’m ready now if you are.”
“Absolutely. Let’s roll.”
Oscar’s boat, McQueen, is a small, sturdy Twin Vee, a kind of fishing boat I’m familiar with from my time on the island. He carries my bags aboard while I stand holding the cat and his briefcase on the dock. After settling the carrier carefully down in the footwell, he hands me in, and I sit on the cushion in front of the controls, Jamie Fraser between my feet to help keep him steady.