The next morning, Bryan met with Kristen, her mom and aunt for brunch. Everyone was in a good mood and just happy to all be together again. They spent the day visiting points of interest in the city -- an outdoor market, an art museum, and a botanical garden. Bryan would have been bored out of his mind if Kristen had not been there. His hand itched to hold hers and walk together as one.
After dinner, it was time to head home, so Bryan and Kristen took their leave. The drive was pleasurable. They did hold hands in companionable silence, constantly glancing and smiling at each other. He didn't want to say anything and break the spell.
As they got close to home, she sighed heavily. "I hate for this weekend to end."
"Did you have a good time with your mom?"
"Yes, but you know that's not what I'm talking about."
"When does the boy get back."
"He should be home by now."
"Shit."
"Yes. Exactly what I was thinking."
"Do you want to go to my house tonight instead?"
"I can't do that, Bryan. This is all very complicated and fucked up. I have to try and explain last night to Tommy and that might not go well."
"You can always come to me. I love you, and as I said, I don't mind sharing you with the boy."
"I know. I love you, too. Unfortunately, love doesn't conquer all. This isn't about sharing just with Tommy, and you know it. It feels doomed to me."
Well, that was not what he wanted to here.
"What are you going to do, baby?"
She looked at him sideways. "I don't know. I don't think I was meant to be monogamous."
"I didn't think I was until I met you."
"Shit. Don't make me feel bad for becoming such a slut."
"I'm not judging you. I understand your confusion, but before you have to go, I just want to say one thing again. Coach is not good for you. Even if he meant well, it won't turn out that way."
"Yes, Tommy hates you, you hate Coach and a coach is just a smug asshole. I know that you're right. I get it."
"Do you? Really?"
"Yes, Bryan. I know what each of you are, but that doesn't make it any easier. It's complicated. Apparently, I'm a complicated slut."
"I'm the one who truly loves you," he said as he pulled up to her house.
"Yes, I know, baby," she said, looking at him with sorrowful eyes. "But you don't come baggage-free, do you?"
From an upstairs window, Tommy watched Kristen exit the car, take her bag, kiss Bryan on the lips like lovers parting and walk toward the house. Fucking hell, he thought. She did exactly what I asked her not to do.
As she entered their home, he came slowly down the stairs, hoping that his glare was burning a hole in her. She gave him an exasperated look and tried to walk past him up the stairs. He blocked her path.
"Tommy. Stop."
"You spent the weekend with him?" It was an accusation, not a question.
"I spent the weekend with mom. He was at a hotel."
"So you didn't bounce on his cock all weekend."
"Well ... part of it. Yes."
"Kristen, don't you care about what I want at all," he barked.
She looked right in his eyes without a hint of remorse. "I know exactly what you want. You want to watch me fuck other men. But here's the deal -- I pick who I sleep with. Not you."
"Well, yeah. I didn't mean ..."
"I know what you meant, Tommy. You just know that when I'm with Bryan I get carried away and forget to record it. So, you feel out in the cold."
That caught him off guard. Much of that was true. Maybe all of it. He didn't like Bryan. That was true, too. But he didn't like Kristen around Bryan, either.
"Well, yes. But you know I don't like him for very good reasons that go back years. He messed with a confused young woman. He took advantage of you," he responded defensively.
"Don't you think he cares more about me than your Coach ever did? Don't you think he loves me and worries about my welfare?"
"I don't know what he thinks except that he wants to take you away from me."
"He said he was willing to share me with you."
"I doubt that."
"Doubt all you like," she snapped and walked past him into their bedroom.
"Coach wants to see you," he shouted up after her.
"Why, so he can ignore me in person? Or maybe he wants to take a big stinking dump on my head in front of his friends."
"Baby, don't be like that." He could hear himself whining. "At least Coach plays by our rules."
"You're fooling yourself. He never has and he never will."
"OK, so he's not perfect, but you like how he makes you feel. You like what he can do to you."
"What are you doing, Tommy? Why are you pimping for Coach?"
"I thought you liked him. I thought you wanted him. You've been moping around the house for weeks cause he wouldn't pay attention to you. So, I set something up."
"YOU WHAT?" she screamed. "Did you BEG him to fuck me for you?"
"Not exactly," he said defensively. "It's his birthday today. He said he doesn't really celebrate it much, but I said he deserved a good present."
"So you offered me up on a platter?"
"Well, not like that. I just said you'd be happy to give him ... you know ... a present, and he said he'd like that."
"So what's your plan now?" she asked, voice register coming down as she looked at her phone. "I just show up at 10 p.m. for a booty call?"