Page 76 of The Holy Grail
Jules couldn’t help but notice David seemed to be having zero reaction to the ‘announcement’.
Added to that, his singularly focused attention to making drinks seemed out of place, as if he was trying to look innocently clueless, which led her to believe he must have already been told.
Because she’d seen him clueless many times, and this didn’t look anything like that.
“When did you tell David?” she counter-demanded of Evan.
His eyes narrowed. “What makes you think I told David? ”
“Because he’s acting like none of this is news to him.”
“Well, I didn’t tell him, because we agreed not to until the time was right, remember?”
“He obviously knows, so …” Jules trailed off as she saw Paige, with a blooming expression of guilt on her face, actually step around to the other side of David, as if to put more space between herself and Jules. “Did you tell David?” Jules asked Paige. “You did, didn’t you?”
“Ugh, I couldn’t help it.” Paige tried to look apologetic but wasn’t really hitting it. “He’s my husband.”
“What did Paige tell you?” Valerie asked David, curious.
In a hushed voice, he told his mom, “That Jules is with Malcom and Evan.”
Valerie’s eyes widened, as did Nate’s.
“Isn’t that … unexpected,” said Valerie.
“Well, shit,” Nate muttered. “I was still hoping to hook up with her.” Then, because Valerie was right there, he added, “I mean, go on a date with her.”
Before Valerie could respond in any way, David was asking Nate, “Are you serious?”
“What?” Nate shrugged. “I know she said she was with Malcom, but … I thought I might be able to change her mind. For one, I’m better looking than that guy—”
“No, you’re not.”
“Thanks.”
“And you’re not better looking than Evan, either.”
“Thanks, again.”
Across the room, her gaze locked on Paige, Jules shook her head in disappointment, because she and Paige were supposed to be closer than sisters, but apparently when you got married, your spouse got top billing. “That’s a seriously lame excuse,” Jules told Paige.
“I’m sorry.” Paige made a face. “I told you I wasn’t very good at faking things.”
“When did you tell Cat Lady?” Evan repeated his question to Jules, this time slightly louder.
With an aggravated sigh, she answered, “The morning you were eating cereal and giving Dawn Corleone milk—”
“You gave her milk?” Malcom broke in, appalled.
Evan frowned, the change in topic taking him by surprise. “Only a little bit. Why? What’s the big deal?”
“It gives her the shits, that’s why.”
“It does? ”
“Yes, it does.”
“Damn. That’s too bad, because she really loves milk.”
“I know, but it gives her the shits , so stop giving it to her, unless you want to be the one cleaning out her litter box.”
Evan’s expression said he clearly didn’t want to be doing that particular chore. “Fine. No more milk for Dawn Corleone.” Then, to Jules, he said, “You owe me fifty bucks, by the way.”
“What’s going on in here?” Kim asked, as she stepped into the now-crowded kitchen with Lauren.
Dolly moved closer to Kim before saying, “The three over there by the strawberries are in a relationship.”
“A relationship? As in … they’re all together? Romantically?”
“Yes.”
Kim sighed and frowned. “Well, shit.”
“Which one did you have your eye on, dear?” Dolly wanted to know. “Evan or Malcom?”
“Jules,” Kim replied, before heading over to the island, ostensibly to get another drink.
“Did I hear you say they were all three in a relationship?” Lauren asked Dolly.
Dolly nodded. “Yes.”
“Really?” Lauren asked. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
Lauren looked intrigued. “How interesting.”
“Whoa,” Andrea said, coming up behind Dolly and Lauren. “‘You’re going to need a bigger boat’.”
“What?” Dolly asked, confused.
“It’s a quote from the movie Jaws ,” Lauren answered.
At that explanation, Dolly gave Andrea a strange look, who was too busy noticing how everyone seemed to be watching Jules, Malcom, and Evan over at the buffet table, who appeared to be in a bit of a heated conversation, though it was now barely audible.
“What’s going on with those three?” Andrea wanted to know.
Dolly sighed, thinking she needed to find a different spot in the kitchen to occupy. “They’re in a relationship,” she explained for the second time.
Behind her black, cat eye glasses, Andrea’s eyes sharpened with interest. “You mean, like a polyamory relationship? ”
“I don’t know what you call it, but they’re all together.”
“Well, this isn’t your average dinner party, is it?”
“Not in my experience, no.”
After a pause, Andrea mused, “I wonder how that works. You know, with two men?”
“I’m wondering the same thing,” Lauren said. “Do you think it would be inappropriate to go over and ask?”
“Only one way to find out.” Andrea gave a nod in the direction of Jules, Evan, and Malcom. “I’ll go with you.”
Dolly watched the two women walk away, and briefly considered going with them, but then a voice behind her asked, “What’s going on in here?”
Figuring the voice had to belong to Marilyn, because everyone else was already in the kitchen, Dolly turned and smiled at the sweet woman, then proceeded to explain for the third time what was going on.