Chapter 5: Choices
928 Words
Sunday morning found me sitting on my front porch swing, wrapped in a blanket and nursing a cup of tea, trying to sort through my feelings. The kiss with Connor had changed things, made everything more real and immediate. I couldn’t keep pretending that this was just friendly flirtation anymore.
“You’re up early.”
I looked up to see Ethan approaching from his house, carrying two cups of coffee from the local café. He was dressed in jeans and a flannel shirt, his hair still damp from the shower.
“Couldn’t sleep,” I admitted, accepting the coffee gratefully. “Thank you.”
“Mind if I sit?” At my nod, he settled beside me on the swing, careful to maintain a respectful distance. “Penny for your thoughts?”
I studied his profile—the strong jaw, the kind eyes, the way his hair fell across his forehead. “Ethan, what do you want from me?”
He was quiet for a long moment, staring out at the street. “Honestly? Everything. I want to know what makes you laugh, what makes you cry, what you dream about when you’re asleep. I want to be the person you turn to when you’re happy or sad or just need someone to listen.”
“And if I can’t give you everything?”
“Then I’ll take whatever you can give me,” he said simply. “I’d rather have part of you than none of you at all.”
My heart clenched at his honesty. “Ethan…”
“I know I’m not the only one,” he continued. “Jax has been circling you like a shark since the day you arrived. Connor’s been different since you started working for him—happier, more alive. And Kira… well, Kira’s got her own agenda.”
“What do you mean?”
Ethan smiled ruefully. “Kira’s bisexual, Maya. She’s been attracted to women as often as men, and she’s not shy about going after what she wants. The question is, what do you want?”
Before I could answer, the rumble of a motorcycle announced Jax’s arrival. He pulled up to the curb and shut off the engine, pulling off his helmet and running his hand through his hair.
“Morning,” he said, his eyes moving between Ethan and me. “Am I interrupting something?”
“Just having coffee,” Ethan said mildly.
“Right.” Jax’s gaze lingered on me. “Maya, I was wondering if you’d like to go for a ride today. I know some back roads that are beautiful this time of year.”
“She might have other plans,” Ethan said, a slight edge to his voice.
“She can speak for herself,” Jax replied, his own voice cooling.
“Stop it,” I said firmly, standing up. “Both of you. I’m not a prize to be won or a bone to be fought over. I’m a person trying to figure out her life.”
Both men had the grace to look ashamed.
“You’re right,” Ethan said. “I’m sorry.”
“So am I,” Jax agreed. “I just… I care about you, Maya. More than I expected to.”
The raw honesty in his voice caught me off guard. Jax, who seemed so confident and carefree, was vulnerable underneath it all.
“I care about both of you too,” I said softly. “That’s the problem.”
“Does it have to be a problem?” Jax asked. “I mean, what if we tried something different?”
“Different how?”
“What if we shared you?” The words came out in a rush, as if he’d been thinking about them for a while. “What if instead of competing with each other, we worked together to make you happy?”
I stared at him in shock. “You’re not serious.”
“I am, actually.” Jax looked at Ethan. “What do you think?”
Ethan was quiet for a long moment, considering. “I think,” he said slowly, “that Maya’s happiness is more important than my ego. If she wants both of us, and we can make it work…”
“This is insane,” I said, but my heart was racing. “People don’t do things like that.”
“Some people do,” Jax said gently. “People who care more about love than convention.”
“And what about Connor?” I asked. “And Kira?”
“What about them?” Ethan asked.
“Connor kissed me yesterday,” I admitted. “And I think Kira might be interested in me too.”
Both men absorbed this information with surprising calm.
“Do you have feelings for them?” Jax asked.
“Yes,” I whispered. “I think I do.”
“Then maybe,” Ethan said thoughtfully, “we need to have a different conversation. With all four of us.”
“Five,” I corrected. “If we’re doing this, I need to be part of the decision-making process.”
“Of course,” Jax said. “This only works if everyone’s on board. Complete honesty, open communication, and mutual respect for everyone involved.”
I thought about Dorothy’s words, about life being too short for shoulds and shouldn’ts. About the possibility of having everything I wanted instead of settling for pieces of it.
“Okay,” I said finally. “Let’s talk to them.”
- Writer
