How To Train Your Girlfriend 08

Chapter 08: Vicky

~~~

Five Months Ago

~~~

“So, you like this guy, huh?” Vicky asked, sitting on Mary’s sofa, but twisting to peer over the back of it as Mary finished cleaning her ‘apartment.’ Renting the second floor of the house from an old church lady was a sweet deal, but Vicky wouldn’t qualify. First, she’d have to go to church. Second, she’d have to abide by little old lady rules, which she doubted even they abided by when they were young and horny. 

She’d been a bad influence for as long as she could remember. She was the girl her friends’ moms warned their daughters about, and she refused to apologize for it any longer. Church ladies clutched their pearls when their sons brought her home. Her chokers, piercings, tattoos, and leopard-print bra straps imperiled their precious offspring’s moral fiber. Less so, though, as she’d gotten older.

Mary, for instance, was immune. The cherubic beauty was as pure as they came. Not that she tried to corrupt Mary. She appreciated the woman’s adorable innocence, even though she sometimes worried for her. 

Not that Vicky’s aesthetic or attitude had changed much since she was a teen. She’d taken her Converse sneakers off at the door, leaving her in her ankle socks, jeans, and ‘I paused my anime to be here’ T-shirt. Mary, by sharp contrast, dressed for church. She wore a long-sleeved, calf-length green dress that looked great on her, even if it reminded Vicky of her great-aunt’s funeral. Not something Vicky would ever wear on a date, but it suited Mary’s figure and sensibilities. 

“I really, really like him,” Mary said, nodding. “He’s great. You’ll love him.” 

“Yeah?” Vicky asked. “How many dates have you been on with him now?” 

“This will be the fifth,” Mary said. 

“Did he pressure you on the third date?” Vicky asked. 

“No,” Mary said, shaking her head. “We didn’t hold hands until the fourth date, and I initiated it. He’s the perfect gentleman.” 

“Is he autistic?” Vicky asked. “Does he not like to be touched?” 

Mary considered the question, then frowned. “I don’t think he is. He’s respectful. Not everyone is neurodivergent.” 

“Yes, they are, but that’s a different conversation,” Vicky said. “I’m happy for you. Henry sounds like a great guy.” 

“Thanks!” Mary said. “I think he might be something special.” 

“See, that continues to make me think he’s autistic,” Vicky said. “Not that his being autistic is a negative. Every time I meet a quirky, sweet guy who stands out from the crowd, he’s autistic.” 

“You just don’t meet great guys,” Mary said. “But you hang out at that retro arcade and bar, so your dating pool is bound to have a few obsessive types.” 

“That is—” Vicky considered it and laughed. “That’s an excellent point. So, what are your plans for tonight? Gonna let him kiss your hand instead of holding it?” 

Mary rolled her eyes. “We’re going to see a play that Olivia’s in.” 

“A play?” Vicky asked. “Who goes to see plays anymore?” 

“Plenty of people,” Mary said, laughing. “It’s a valid date night activity!” 

Vicky laughed. “Sure, okay. Sorry, I wasn’t trying to make fun of your date. It just surprised me. Barry’s idea for date night this week was the backseat of his car in a parking lot, so maybe I’m just jealous. What’s the play?” 

“Barefoot in the Park,” Mary said. “By Neil Simon.” 

“Never heard of it,” Vicky said, shrugging. Neil Simon sounded familiar, but it wasn’t as if she knew one playwright from another. “Is Henry big on theater?” 

“No,” Mary said. “I don’t think so, but he supports his sister.” 

“Well, that’s sweet of him,” Vicky said. “Another point in his favor.” 

“I know, right?” Mary asked, excited. “Olivia thinks he’s great. She teases him, but he looks out for her, and their relationship is solid. He gets along with his mom, but he’s not a mama’s boy, and he and his dad have a good relationship, too.” 

“Wow,” Vicky said, genuinely surprised. “What’s it like dating the perfect man with the perfect childhood and the perfect life?” 

“I’m sure he’s not perfect,” Mary said. “But he might be perfect for me.” 

“Oh,” Vicky said, still teasing her. “Got your wedding dress picked out?” 

Mary blushed and turned away without answering. Her humming as she straightened the knick-knacks on her shelf for the third time made Vicky realize she’d hit close to the mark. Her girl was smitten; wedding bells smitten. 

Vicky’s eyebrows rose. “Okay, show me the Pinterest board.” 

“Later,” Mary said, swatting Vicky’s grabby hands away as she opened and closed them, begging for Mary’s phone. “He’ll be here any second! I don’t want to scare him away!” 

“He’s just going to honk, right?” Vicky asked. “You said he was picking you up.” 

“Yes, but he never honks. He parks and comes to the door. There’s no texting to tell me to run out to the car, either,” Mary said, wiggling her shoulders. 

“Oh, look at you,” Vicky said, chuckling. “You got yourself a top-shelf boyfriend. It sounds like he puts my man to shame. Where did you find him again?” 

“Volunteering with the animal rescue,” Mary said. 

“That’s karma for you,” Vicky sighed. “Maybe I should start working at a charity to earn me some future-boyfriend points.” 

“It’s not karma,” Mary said. “It’s God. I think Henry might be my soulmate. The one God made for me.” 

“Sure,” Vicky said, not touching Mary’s religious trauma with a ten-foot pole. “At least he’s not Barry.” 

“I thought you liked Barry?” Mary asked. 

“I do, but he’s no Henry. At least, not the way you make him sound.” Vicky shrugged and stood up from the sofa as someone knocked at the door. 

“That’s him!” Mary said. She trotted to the center of the room and brushed herself off. “Do I look okay?” 

“You look great, Honey,” Vicky said, taking Mary by the shoulders and checking her dress. “Go on, answer the door.” She turned Mary toward the door and pushed her. 

Mary bounced forward, stopping at the door and opening it before Henry knocked again. “Hi!” 

“Hey!” Henry said, matching her energy. 

“Come in!” Mary said, opening the door and stepping aside. “Welcome to my humble abode.” 

Henry stepped tentatively inside, observing everything for the first time. The crisp lack of clutter; the aged carpet with fresh vacuum lines; the flowery Febreze to cover the burnt-motor smell from the vacuum. It was old hat to Vicky, but he’d never been here before; that much was clear. The church lady Mary rented from had decreed that no boys were allowed without a chaperone. If Mary wanted to have Henry over, it became a group hang. Enter Vicky, here because the heater in her crappy apartment was busted. But she was happy to be a third wheel so that Mary and Henry could hang out before their date. 

She found the archaic sensibilities adorable. Vicky had offered to wear something historical to complete the cosplay scenario, but Mary hadn’t understood her joke. She’d said modern clothes were fine. 

Like Mary, Henry dressed more formally than Vicky would have for a date. His khaki pants, collared shirt, and winter jacket made him appear as if he were taking her to church. 

“You must be Vicky,” Henry said, stepping forward and offering his hand for a handshake. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” 

“That has yet to be determined,” Vicky said, trying to sound ominous. She shook Henry’s offered hand. His grip was unyielding, but he didn’t squeeze or try to crush her hand. He was careful and gentle, without being condescending. 

“That’s… a great point,” Henry said after considering Vicky’s words. “I guess we’ll know if it’s a pleasure by the time we part ways, and not the minute we meet.” 

Vicky glanced at Mary, who stood behind Henry and looked as if she were watching two cats meeting for the first time. Was she waiting for Vicky to arch her back and hiss at him? Vicky didn’t plan on doing that. Not while Mary was still within arm’s reach of the plant spritzer on the windowsill. If anything, it was a pity that Mary had met him first. He was cute. But that didn’t mean she’d go easy on him.  

“So, let’s get the grilling out of the way,” Vicky said, cracking her knuckles. “Where are you from, Henry?” 

“Uh, here,” Henry said, gesturing to the city outside. “My family is local.” 

“Did you get good grades in school?” Vicky asked. “Or were you a troublemaker?”  

“I didn’t win any science fairs or anything, but I passed my classes,” Henry said, shrugging. “I was a joy to have in class, or so my report cards said.” 

“Where did you go to college?” Vicky asked. 

“State,” Henry answered. 

“Mary says you served in the military?” Vicky asked. She didn’t have a ton of experience with military guys, but the ones she’d met had been assholes. 

“Yes, ma’am,” Henry said, polite, direct, and not an asshole so far. 

“What branch?” Vicky asked. She wasn’t sure if the Air Force counted, not out of any specific malice, but because their uniforms were the least attractive. 

“Army,” Henry said. He kept his answers short but braced himself for a barrage of them, expecting rapid-fire interrogation. Vicky gave him exactly that, firing her questions off as soon as he answered. 

“Are you still in the army?” Vicky asked. 

“Reserves, ma’am,” Henry said. 

“What do you do for work?” Vicky asked. 

“I’m a welder, ma’am,” Henry said. “I work at a local manufacturer welding gas tanks, brackets, containment skids, and other sheet metal weldments.” 

“Uh-huh,” Vicky said, pretending to know what he was referring to. “And on top of that, you volunteer at a soup kitchen?” 

“Yes, ma’am,” Henry said. “Once a week, as long as it’s not a reserve weekend.” 

“Right,” Vicky said. “It sounds like you’re a busy guy. What do you do in your free time?” 

“Chores take up the rest of my time,” Henry said. “Laundry, dishes, cooking, cleaning, and general adulting.”

“Your mom doesn’t do that for you?” Vicky asked. 

“I live with a roommate closer to where I work than where my parents live,” Henry explained. “It gives me more independence and a shorter commute.”  

“So you do your own chores and housework?” Vicky asked. “Aren’t there any you skip?” 

“I do my own housework, yes,” Henry said. “Mike and I are supposed to split them, but he’s not great at remembering.”

“Mary, I might have to steal this one from you,” Vicky teased. 

Mary looked worried. 

“Oh, Honey, I’m kidding. Don’t worry. I’d never,” Vicky said, soothing the girl’s anxieties. 

Henry appeared uncertain how he should react, but he’d taken it as a joke until she drew attention to Mary’s reaction. 

“What do you do for fun?” Vicky asked. “It can’t be work-work-work all day every day, right?” 

“Oh, I watch movies, read, play video games, or sleep, ma’am,” Henry said. 

Video games piqued Vicky’s interest, but there was something else that bothered her. “Do I look ancient to you?” 

“No,” Henry said, shaking his head. 

“One might say that I’m young, hot, and beautiful, right?” Vicky asked. 

“I’m confident you can find someone who’d say that, yes,” Henry said, keeping a straight face. 

Vicky laughed, genuine amusement at his wit making her stern expression crack into a smile. “So quit calling me ma’am.” 

“It’s a term of respect and a habit from the military, not a comment on your age,” Henry said, doing his best to reassure her. “I promise you don’t look a day over…” 

Vicky raised an eyebrow, crossed her arms, and waited for him to doom himself. 

“Twenty-one,” Henry said. “I’m sure you get carded at every restaurant.” 

“Smooth,” Vicky said, turning to look at Mary, who waited to hear Vicky’s verdict with bated breath. “Okay, I like him. He’s polite, witty, has a cute face, a good work ethic, and from what you’ve told me, he treats you right.” 

Mary bounced with joy and clapped her hands. “I knew you’d like him!” 

Henry grinned as Mary hugged him. He hugged her back. 

“Did I pass the test?” Henry asked. 

“Sure, but don’t get cocky,” Vicky said, wagging her finger at him. “I reserve the right to change my mind, and if you hurt my girl, military experience or no, I will find and end you.” 

“Understood.” Henry nodded in acceptance. “Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?” 

Vicky looked impressed because she was. “Okay, go ahead.” 

“Mary says you two have known each other since college,” Henry said. “What’s her greatest food weakness?” 

“No! You can’t ask questions like that!” Mary protested. 

“Deviled eggs.” Vicky didn’t even have to think about it. “If you turn your back on her with a plate of deviled eggs, it will be empty when you turn back around.” 

“That happened one time!” Mary protested. 

“What’s the funniest memory you two share? Doesn’t have to be embarrassing to either of you,” Henry said, clarifying his question. 

“Oh, but those are the best ones,” Vicky said, grinning. 

“Oh, look at the time!” Mary said, throwing her coat on and grabbing Henry by his arm. “We’re going to be late if we don’t leave now! Bye Vicky! I’ll be back late, but help yourself to the fridge! You know where everything is!” 

Vicky chuckled. “Sure thing. Thanks for letting me crash here tonight. My heating’s busted,” she explained to Henry on his way out. 

“It was nice to meet you!” he called. 

“Nice to meet you too!” Vicky said as Mary pushed him through the door. 

Vicky laughed as it closed behind them. “He’ll be good for her,” Vicky said to the empty apartment. “Yeah, they’ll be great together.” 

~~~

Now

~~~

The restaurant’s facade didn’t look like much, but the parking lot was full. That was the sign of a great restaurant, in Vicky’s opinion. It meant that they focused on what mattered. She couldn’t give two shits how the outside looked, whether it was a cheesy roadside diner motif or a crumbling brick facade. If they spent their money in the kitchen, they had her money at the table. 

When she thought this was just a hangout with friends, she’d planned to dress for the summer heat. Instead, she’d discovered that it was a date. Not only that, but it was a complicated double-date where they’d discuss everything between the four of them: Vicky, Lisa, Mary, and Henry. 

What a foursome that would be. 

Vicky shook the image from her head, trying not to picture it, even as her heart raced. Joining Henry and Mary’s relationship would be complicated, but after cramming everything she could into her brain regarding polyamory in one afternoon, she thought it was possible. It wasn’t enough time to do the research she had to do, but it was a much better foundation than what she’d had this time yesterday. 

Making the arrangements was more complicated than she thought. Her first idea had been to host everyone at her place. Alas, her apartment was too small, and her cooking skills were pathetic. The notion of having this conversation in public still intimidated her, but according to the reviews, the seating was intimate. They’d have their privacy. If not, the conversation had to wait, even if she didn’t know if she could last that long. She wanted to discuss everything now and lay her cards on the table. 

Vicky found a parking spot toward the back and stepped out of her car, brushing off her lap out of habit. She’d worn her hair down, which she regretted in the heat but hoped the air-conditioning in the restaurant was strong. Her off-the-shoulder top hugged her hourglass figure; its pink-and-purple floral print was fun and colorful. The black skirt she wore with it left a gap between the top’s hem and the skirt, revealing a strip of skin below her belly button. The bell-shaped skirt flared out like a flower bud, completing the theme and ending high on her thighs. Strappy black heels, a small black clutch, and a tight black choker completed the ensemble.

Should she have altered her first-date wardrobe for this get-together? Part of her wanted to see how Henry reacted to it, especially since he’d seen her in less just this morning. It’d also test whether Mary might get jealous, because no matter what Mary wore, she knew it wasn’t half as eye-catching as Vicky’s outfit. There was also the hope that Lisa liked her outfit, because this was, after all, their first date. 

Dating someone she’d been friends with first was still unfamiliar territory for her. Lisa was brainier compared to her usual dates, but Vicky knew, respected, and cared about her. That made things complicated. As much as she cared about the people she dated, she went into every romantic relationship expecting her life would stay unaffected by their breakup. The return to the status quo would go smoothly; she wouldn’t lose any friends, and life would continue as it always had. 

Perhaps that was why none of her relationships had ever worked out? No, it might have contributed to her ease in letting go, but it was still a good practice. Circumstances were different with Lisa, though. If they broke up, Vicky lost more than a romantic or sexual partner. She lost a friend—more than one, depending on how awful the breakup was. 

The same was true for Mary, to a much greater degree. She’d lose a piece of herself if she ever lost her friendship with Mary. That couldn’t happen. She’d fight for Mary, but Mary would fight for her, too. They wouldn’t lose each other.

“Just say what you want, and be willing to compromise. Remember the difference between rules and boundaries. Let them talk. Encourage honesty and remove shame.” Vicky had formed her notes into a concise mantra that she repeated to herself several times on the drive between her apartment and the restaurant. She recited it once more as she turned the corner to the front of the building. 

Stepping inside, she felt the air conditioner’s immediate relief from the heat, washing over her and making her skirt flutter. She smoothed it down and looked around, finding the waiting section populated with people.

“Vicky, over here!” Lisa’s voice caught her attention, and she turned to see Lisa and Mary sitting on a nearby bench. They hopped up from the bench as she walked over to them. “It’s a twenty-minute wait, but we’ve been here for ten minutes.” 

Lisa had pulled her reddish-brown hair up into a braid that fell behind her; her natural wisps and dancing stray hairs were bound and under control for once. She’d also abandoned her loose clothing for something tighter, a dark brown tube dress that hugged her torso and slender curves. The material was thick, but started low across her chest and ended mid-thigh, a proper first-date teaser dress. It was classier and more formal than Vicky expected, but Lisa had played to Vicky’s tastes. If what Mary said was true–that Lisa had been trying to date her for years–it made sense she’d wear something tailored to attract Vicky. 

“Henry and I were the first ones here,” Mary said. “He’s in the bathroom.” 

Vicky nodded. “Okay, quick, anything we want to say about Henry before he comes back?” Vicky asked as a joke, looking from side to side as if he might overhear them. 

Mary smiled, but Lisa appeared more nervous than before. 

“Is this crazy?” Lisa asked. “Should we just call off the whole thing?” 

“Don’t panic,” Vicky said, trying to cheer her up. “We look too good to go home. You, especially.” 

Pink crept over the upper part of Lisa’s cheeks as she blushed. “Thanks. You look fantastic yourself. You too, Mary; you’re adorable.”

It was Mary’s turn to blush. Compliments had passed between them in the past, but never with the tension and the undertones they carried now. Mary’s dress was light and summery, a sundress with a modest square neckline and short sleeves on either arm. She’d braided her hair into low twin braids, giving her a cowgirl motif if she’d worn boots. The flip-flops she had on made her appear ready for the beach instead. Just imagining her in her tight one-piece swimsuit and short jean shorts proved enough to fluster Vicky. 

Complimenting her friends on their outfits and appearances was a familiar practice. Doing it with women she was dating was far more intimidating. It made her nervous to meet their eyes, and she wasn’t sure she liked it. These women weren’t strangers. They were Lisa and Mary. She knew and loved them as her friends, which helped and didn’t. It put far more weight on their romantic interest in her. 

She was so used to her romantic entanglements being low or no-pressure, but there was pressure to get things right this time around. Not only that, but with two, the pressure was coming from every side. 

“Are you okay?” Mary asked, clocking Vicky’s unease, because of course she did. Mary wasn’t blind, and Vicky was twisting her fingers in front of her as if trying to wring them dry. 

“Yeah,” Vicky said. “I just got nervous, realizing I’m on a date with both of you at the same time.” 

Lisa nodded, understanding, agreeing, and sympathizing in one gesture. Her toe-tapping suggested she had plenty of nervous energy herself, but that was normal for her. She always seemed nervous around Vicky. In retrospect, that should have been a clue. 

“And Henry,” Mary added. “But just do what I do: hide behind him.” 

Lisa raised an eyebrow, and Vicky laughed. 

“Like, literally?” Vicky asked, confused. 

“No, but he’s always calm and steady,” Mary said. “I mean, the man is a rock. My rock. Or maybe our rock? I guess? He’s cool as a cucumber, and if I’m ever nervous, I just let him take on all the nervousness, you know? I follow his lead, and it makes it so I don’t have to worry about anything.” 

Vicky nodded, understanding what she meant, but not seeing how it might apply in this situation. If they all hid behind Henry and followed his lead, wouldn’t he just be talking to himself on their behalf? 

“What did I miss?” Henry asked, appearing behind Vicky. 

She nearly jumped in surprise, but restrained the impulse as she shuffled and made room for him in their quartet. He stood beside Mary, and she held his hand as soon as it was within reach. Vicky watched Mary’s shoulders relax, and a sense of calm settled over her. She wondered if she’d experience the same if she held Henry’s hand, or if it would be weird. 

“Not much,” Mary said. “We were just complimenting each other’s outfits.” 

“And you finished already? I’d think that would take longer, given how good you three look,” Henry said, surveying each of them. His gaze and interest remained polite, but his eyes lingered on Vicky’s neck where her choker rested. So he liked chokers? Noted. Still, his comment deserved a gentle ribbing. 

Vicky laughed. “Holy shit, that was corny and smooth as fuck.” 

Henry chuckled. “Just trying to make a good first impression.” 

Lisa eyed Henry a tad warily, glancing between him and Vicky. 

“Well, that explains why you’re so dressed up and looking so nice yourself,” Vicky said. 

Henry had cleaned himself up after what she’d seen last night and this morning. He’d combed his hair so that it hung in a natural, wavy part over his forehead. Vicky admired his thick, natural hair. His body was military-built, and his clothes were crisp and even ironed. He’d tucked his gray dress shirt tightly into a pair of black suit pants. A black leather belt and shiny dress shoes made him appear as if he’d stepped off Wall Street to join them, despite his being blue-collar to his bones. 

The hand Mary held looked firm. It was no surprise Mary felt safe when she held onto him. Vicky hadn’t experienced that before with her past boyfriends. She trusted them, but none of them had been her fortress. She was always in control and didn’t need someone to protect her. Or so she’d thought. How nice would it be to relax and let Henry be her rock, too? 

“Thanks,” Henry said, checking his fit. “I had to dig these shoes out of my closet; I wasn’t sure if I’d find them in time.” 

Vicky gave a polite chuckle, and the conversation fell silent. It was as if each sensed they should discuss why they were here, but no one wanted to start. Glances flitted between them, but silence reigned until Henry broke it.

“So, Lisa, you’re the one I know the least well between Mary and Vicky’s friends,” Henry confessed. “Mary told me you’re a librarian?”

Lisa nodded. “Yeah, and you work at a factory?” 

“I’m a welder, yeah,” Henry said. “If you can narrow it down, what’s your favorite genre of fiction?” 

Lisa blinked at Henry and tilted her head at his question. 

Vicky smiled; it was a good question. Lisa read a ton and had opinions on what made great literature and what was junk. Between her work at the library and her bookish friends, she fielded plenty of questions about her favorite books. Asking her for her favorite genre offered a broader opportunity and revealed more of her interests than any single book might. 

“I prefer mysteries,” Lisa said. “And sapphic romances.” 

Henry nodded. “I’ll admit I have more experience reading mysteries than I do sapphic romances.” 

Lisa chuckled. “Why doesn’t that surprise me?” 

“Well, I've got nothing against romance. I appreciate a good rom-com or a well-told romance story. But I’m not the target audience for that specific subgenre,” Henry said. 

“Which is weird,” Vicky said, musing on the subject. “They make most lesbian porn for men, not lesbians, right? You’d think they’d market lesbian books to dudes, too.” 

Lisa chuckled. “Well, despite your reading habits, there’s a difference between literature and porn, Vicky. Besides, not many men read. Not as avidly as women. So if you’re writing romance for men, you have a much smaller chance of success.” 

Henry shrugged. “That’s even more reason to cheer on the exceptions to the rule, I suspect. If you can recommend your favorites, I’ll give them a read or a listen.” 

“Do you enjoy reading?” Lisa asked, arching an eyebrow. “You’re not just trying to impress me?” 

“Can’t it be both?” Henry asked. 

Lisa scoffed. 

“For what it’s worth, Henry does plenty of reading,” Mary said. “We discuss books all the time. He’s even read the ones I’ve recommended for book club and a few that the others have recommended.” 

Lisa seemed to take Mary’s interjection more seriously than she did Henry’s request. “Okay, I’ll send you a list.” 

“Thanks,” Henry said. “Though I guess you must tire of recommending books to everyone. What do you do outside of books?” 

Lisa raised an eyebrow. “Well, I, uh, I garden, and I, um,” Lisa stammered, clearly trying to think of what else she enjoyed outside great literature. 

“She has a weakness for B horror movies,” Vicky said. “Like, terrible ones with cheesy special effects and hot scream queens.” 

Lisa sighed. “That’s true; I enjoy a good horror movie.” 

“I hate horror movies,” Mary said. “They give me nightmares.” 

“They can be a lot of fun,” Henry said, squeezing Mary’s hand. “But I get why you don’t enjoy them.” 

“Why do I feel like you and I are on a date instead of Vicky and me?” Lisa asked, her tone accusatory as she crossed her arms. 

Henry shrugged. “I wanted to get to know you, to make things more comfortable as we eat dinner and figure things out.” 

“Wilson, party of four!” the hostess cried into the crowd. 

Henry raised his free hand and led the group toward the hostess stand. She had nothing in her hands, but she led them to a private booth along the wall. The divider between their booth and the ones next to them ran to the ceiling, while a conveyor belt of food rolled past their table on the wall. 

“Wow,” Henry said, impressed. 

“A waiter will be by to take your drink orders,” the hostess explained. “Have you been here before?” 

“No,” Mary said before the others could answer. Sliding into the booth, she sat beside Henry, who was against the wall and the conveyor belt. Lisa sat across from him, leaving the seat across from Mary open for Vicky.  

“Okay, the etiquette is simple. Use the tablet's touchscreen to order your dishes. Don’t touch orders that aren’t yours. Don’t put used plates on the conveyor, and enjoy your meal!” the hostess said. She bowed and walked away.

“So,” Henry said, looking at the tablet. “Would you like to order first?” He offered the tablet to Lisa, and she reviewed the menu. 

“This is weird, right?” Vicky asked. “It feels like a double date, but we’re avoiding why we’re here.” 

Mary blushed, looking down at the table and not meeting Vicky’s eyes when she turned to her. 

Henry nodded. “You’re right. Should we discuss the elephant in the room?” 

Vicky looked at Lisa, who fidgeted with the tablet in her hand. She made two quick selections from its screen and passed the tablet to Vicky. Vicky took it, letting her fingers brush Lisa’s as she did. Lisa blushed. 

“I don’t know what to say,” Lisa said. “Vicky’s the one who did the reading. Care to start us off?” 

“I crammed as much as I could into an afternoon,” Vicky said. The menu distracted her. She picked her go-to sushi options and passed the tablet to Mary. “I’m not an expert, though.” 

“I did some research, too. There are a lot of resources online,” Henry said. “Which were helpful, or at least intended to be.” 

“What do you mean by ‘intended to be’?” Lisa asked. 

“Well, many are personal anecdotes of what worked for the author writing the blog or the article,” Henry said. “Stuff like that isn’t universal. So it’s helpful, but what worked for them might not work for us. We’ll see if any of it applies to our situation.” 

“And what is our situation?” Lisa asked. “Mary wants to date you, and Vicky, and I want to date Vicky? Where do you fit in?” 

“Well,” Mary said, interrupting as she passed the tablet to Henry. “The first thing we should mention is that Henry and I are the couple that Vicky met last night. She didn’t clarify that with you because she was protecting me, well, us, and didn’t want to tell tales out of school.” 

Lisa raised her eyebrows, looking at Vicky for confirmation. 

Vicky nodded. “Yeah,” she said. “I didn’t specify that it was Mary and Henry because I didn’t think they’d want me spreading it around after what we did last night.” 

“So the three of you have already…” Lisa gestured between them, leaving her sentence hanging in the air for everyone to finish. 

“Yes and no,” Henry said, shaking his head as he set the tablet back on its stand after finishing his order. “Mary still wants to wait for sex. So, we didn’t do that last night,” he said. “But we did some activities.” 

“Foreplay,” Vicky said. “Handjobs and fingering, that kind of thing.” 

Lisa blanched in surprise, not at the act but at the crude language, as far as Vicky could tell. 

“Vicky is helping me expand my horizons. She’s helping the two of us navigate our intimacy,” Mary said. 

“Okay, well, that makes things fit together easier,” Lisa said. “At least we don’t have to worry about another couple wanting Vicky for themselves. I just have to vie with you two for her attention, right?” 

“It’s the four of us,” Vicky said. “It’s not you-versus-them for my affection. That’s not a healthy way to look at things.” 

Lisa took the correction with a blush, but accepted it. “Right, of course.” 

“So, we’re here to discuss forming a polycule, right? Figuring out if that’s what we want, and seeing if it’ll work out for us to share?” Vicky asked, looking around the table for confirmation. 

Mary nodded. Lisa appeared apprehensive, shooting a furtive glance at Henry, then nodding in agreement. Vicky’s and Henry’s gazes met, and they reached an understanding. Between the four of them, Henry was used to taking the lead. So was Vicky. So they’d talk the most as they figured things out, but Vicky didn’t want to speak for anyone but herself. She’d need to make sure Mary and Lisa had their chance to speak. 

“Okay, so let’s go around the table and say what we want out of this,” Vicky said. “I’ll go first. I want to date each of you and see if that’s something that can work between us.” 

“Even me?” Henry asked, not confused or surprised, but verifying. 

“Yes, Henry, even you. I think it’s best if we go into this on equal footing. At least, as equal as we can get since you and Mary have been dating for six months. Mary and I have been friends since college, and we’ve both been friends with Lisa for years.” 

“So it’s not equal,” Lisa said. 

“But we can’t undo time,” Mary said. “Right?” 

“Right,” Henry agreed. “We have to figure out our baseline and go from there. We can try to be equal about time spent together, but it’s not something we’ll want to micromanage.” 

“And you’re okay to date Vicky, right?” Mary asked Henry. “We talked about it.” 

“Yes,” Henry said. He shot an appraising look at Vicky. “If that’s something you’re okay with doing.” 

“What about me?” Lisa asked.

“Do you want to date me?” Henry asked. 

“Well, if we’re striving for equality, shouldn’t I date you, Mary, and Vicky?” Lisa asked. 

Henry and Mary looked at each other. “Are you only dating me to date Mary?” Henry asked. 

“And I thought you were gay?” Vicky asked. 

“I’ve dated guys before,” Lisa said. “Before I came out, but I’m familiar enough with them, and I’ve made exceptions. But I don’t know that I’d want to be intimate with Henry. At least not right away. We’d have to date first and find out if we’re interested in each other that way.” 

“And if we’re not?” Henry asked. 

“Then you and I don’t continue dating within the polycule, I guess,” Lisa said. “Not that we have to, if you don’t want to.” 

Mary frowned. “I’m okay with it,” she said to Henry. “If you are.” 

Henry looked at Lisa, not her body, but her face, examining her. “Is this a test to see if I’m a horndog?” 

Lisa chuckled. “No, I’m saying if we’re serious about things being equal, they should be equal.”

Henry checked with Mary first, then Vicky. “I’m okay with that if you two are.” 

“I am,” Mary said. 

“Me too,” Vicky said.  

“Would you want to date Mary?” Henry asked, looking at Mary beside him. 

“Would you be comfortable with that? With Lisa dating Mary and me, and you?” Vicky asked. 

Henry seemed to consider it. “It’s up to Mary. I’d like to be friends and get to know you, Lisa. I won’t push for anything romantic or intimate with you, and I trust you won’t push Mary for anything that she’s not comfortable with, either.” 

“Afraid I’ll steal your girlfriend and turn her into a lesbian?” Lisa asked. Vicky could tell she was teasing, but it was the wrong question to ask given the context. 

“It had crossed my mind that you’d try,” Henry said, with all the bluntness of a brick. 

“Sexuality doesn’t work that way,” Lisa said. “If she’s gay, it would be wrong of you to hang onto her and force her to be with you.” 

“Of course,” Vicky said. She cut in before Henry could say anything defensive. God, mediating this would be painful. “But if she’s bi, it’d be wrong to convince her to give up guys, right? Especially Henry, whom she and I are attracted to.” 

“That’s not even an option,” Mary said.

Henry threw a questioning glance at Vicky, but she didn’t mind giving him the confirmation and sent him a sly wink across the table. Yes, he was attractive. No, she didn’t want to make a big deal of it. If anything, she was more worried about how Mary might react to her flirting with her boyfriend, but Mary was too busy frowning at Lisa to notice. 

“Sorry,” Lisa said, throwing up her hands. “I didn’t mean to get so defensive. The whole idea of dating a guy to date Vicky is weird.” 

“We don’t have to date each other,” Henry said. “This is a conversation about what we want, right?” 

“Well, I want Vicky,” Lisa said. “I know that much.” 

“But you’re not into Henry?” Vicky asked. 

Lisa hesitated, then shrugged. “No, not really. I’m willing to get to know him. Maybe we can be friends? But… I’m not interested in getting into his pants. Not as things stand.” 

Henry took a deep breath. “Okay, so you’re not into guys. That’s okay. Are you comfortable going on group dates, even if you’re not into me? I mean, you and I are both here to date Vicky and Mary, right?” 

Lisa scrunched her brow, considering that. She looked at Mary, who smiled at her, winning her over with silent charm. Lisa looked at Vicky next, but Vicky waited for her to answer. She couldn’t answer for her. 

“I guess so,” Lisa said. “Is that what you want? To date both of them?” 

“Yeah,” Henry said. “Mary and I discussed it, and so long as it’s okay with everyone involved, I’d like to date both her and Vicky.” 

Lisa chuckled. “People are going to think you have a harem if you’re always walking around with three lovely ladies.” 

Vicky laughed with her. “Nothing wrong with that.” 

“Okay, so we’ve set the baseline, right?” Mary asked, cutting in with excitement in her tone. “Lisa is dating Vicky and getting to know Henry. Vicky is dating the three of us. I’m dating Vicky and Henry; Henry is dating me, Vicky, and getting to know Lisa, too.” 

“And what’s the endgame?” Lisa asked. 

“What do you mean?” Vicky asked. 

“What if I want to get married one day?” Lisa asked. “Is that something you want?” She looked at Vicky expectantly. 

Vicky blinked. “Uh, it’s early to talk marriage, isn’t it?” She cringed as she asked it. That was her usual deflection when the subject arose. The truth was, she was opposed to marriage on several levels. It was archaic and unnecessary, and facing poly, especially constrictive. 

“Maybe,” Lisa admitted. “But I need to know what to expect.” 

“Well, I expect to try to see what works,” Vicky said. “But, to be honest, I’ve never been big on the idea of marriage. Partners are good, but marriage has never been something I’ve wanted out of dating.” 

“Oh,” Lisa said, taken aback. “I mean, I wasn’t asking you to marry me, to be clear, but I guess I expected it to be in the cards one day.” 

“Does that mean you don’t want to date me?” Vicky asked. 

Lisa shook her head. “What? No, it just means I have to adjust my expectations. I’m… marriage might be a holdover from how I was raised. An expectation that carried over, you know? I’ll have to consider it.” 

“Henry and I want to get married one day,” Mary said. “But he can’t marry Vicky and me, right?” 

“No, I can’t,” Henry said. “But that’s down the road. It’s not something that we need to figure out today. What we have to figure out is what everyone’s boundaries are and what we want the rules for our polycule to be.” 

“Your harem, you mean?” Mary chuckled, nudging him with her arm as their waitress arrived.

“Uh, hi. My name is Michelle. Can I get you anything to drink?” the waitress asked, looking at her notepad rather than anyone at the table. 

“A glass of white wine,” Lisa said. 

“An Irish mule,” Vicky said. 

“Water for me,” Mary said. “Please.” 

“Sex on the beach, please,” Henry said. 

The waitress and everyone at the table turned to stare at Henry. 

“What? They’re delicious,” Henry said, confused why everyone was looking at him. 

Vicky laughed first, cutting through the moment with clear, ringing laughter. 

The waitress relaxed. “Right, the uh, cocktail,” she said, jotting it down. 

Lisa and Mary giggled. The waitress disappeared as the laughter continued to break the gravity of their conversation, letting it fall off their shoulders. 

“Okay, well, now that we know Henry enjoys sex on the beach,” Vicky said, grinning at the accidental innuendo. “What boundaries and rules are we thinking of for our polycule? Do we want to go around and say what our personal boundaries are?” 

“When you say rules and boundaries,” Lisa said. “What’s the difference?” 

“A boundary is a personal limit. It’s something you don’t want to do, or that makes you uncomfortable, but is something for you to observe. It’s something for others to be aware of, not observe it themselves,” Vicky said. “Wait, I made that more confusing than it needs to be.” She took a deep breath. “Like, I don’t deep-throat guys. That’s a personal boundary of mine, but that means I don’t do that thing, not that Mary can’t.” 

“Oh,” Lisa said. “So, if I were to say that it made me uncomfortable for you to fuck Henry…” 

“That’d be a rule,” Vicky said. “And not one I’d agree to.” 

Lisa looked surprised. So did Mary. 

“Don’t get me wrong,” Vicky said, holding a hand out to Mary. “I’m fine to respect your limits and wait until you’re ready to have intimacy together. I’ll respect your, Lisa’s, and Henry’s consent. But if I’m with someone, I don’t want to not be intimate with them because a third person says so. That’s controlling and unreasonable.” 

“I don’t think it’s that unreasonable,” Lisa said. “It’s a relationship, right? You shouldn’t go around sleeping with people outside of it.”

“It’s unreasonable because he’s not outside of our relationship,” Vicky said. “He’s part of the polycule.” 

Lisa frowned, but didn’t argue. “Can we say no dating or fucking people outside of the four of us? Can we be poly and still exclusive?” 

“Yes,” Vicky said. “If that’s what everyone wants and agrees to. That can be a rule, and it’s a reasonable one, for sexual health if nothing else.” 

“I don’t want anyone else,” Mary said, nodding. “Just Vicky, Henry, and you, Lisa.” She said the last part in a hushed voice. Vicky couldn’t tell whether it was her making a concession or Mary genuinely having an interest in Lisa too. Perhaps she wanted to see if her bisexuality extended beyond Vicky. 

“I’m okay to keep it between us,” Henry said. “Juggling two girlfriends is enough for me. And whatever Lisa and I are to each other, if we’re not dating.”

“You’d be each other’s metamour,” Vicky said. “That’s the term for a partner’s partner in polyamory. If you two click and discover that you can be more than friends, well, she’d be your girlfriend, same as Mary and me.” 

“Okay,” Henry said. “Is keeping it between us okay with you, Lisa?”

Lisa frowned, but considered it. “I’m sorry, I’m still trying to get used to the idea of sharing Vicky with a guy. It’s weird. It’s supposed to be one or the other. Not both.” 

“Lisa, that’s bi-erasure,” Vicky said. “Don’t do that. I’m bisexual, and while there are bi people who can be monogamous, I’m not one of them. I’d get bored. At least I have with my past relationships. Poly appeals to me.” 

Lisa flinched. “Sorry, I guess you’re right. It’s just this isn’t what I expected. At all. This is nowhere near what our first date should be.” 

“I’m sorry,” Mary said. “I’m the one who messed it up.” 

“No, Honey, it’s not your fault,” Vicky said, reaching across the table and holding Mary’s other hand. “This is a new situation for all of us.” 

“Vicky, are you sure you want this?” Lisa asked. “You want to date the three of us? Even Henry?” 

Vicky nodded. “I like you, Lisa, I do, but I love Mary, too, and I like Henry. I want to see if there’s something there, and if things can work out between us.” 

Lisa took a deep breath. 

“Are you open to seeing if things will work?” Henry asked Lisa. “Because if you’re closed off to the idea from the start, it won’t.” 

Lisa frowned, but she didn’t respond right away. Their food arrived, and they took turns plucking it off the conveyor and passing it to each other. 

“You’ll like Henry,” Mary said. “I’m sure you two would get along great. And I don’t want to date someone who isn’t dating Henry. Not that I’m trying to pressure you. I’m just being honest. I want us to date Vicky together, not on my own. I’m willing to extend that to you, too.” 

“Okay, that’s a good example of a boundary,” Vicky said, gesturing to Mary with her chopsticks. 

“Give me your honest opinion, Vicky,” Lisa said. “Henry and Mary, plug your ears.” They did so. “Do you really like him? You’re not just agreeing to date him to be with Mary?” 

Vicky considered the question, but she knew the answer. “Yeah, I like him. Heck, if you got to know him, you’d like him too, even as friends. He’s a great guy. And definitely boyfriend material; he’s cute, handsome, a good catch, and he’s got decent equipment, even if it’s not plastic or silicone.”

Lisa didn’t respond to that. She sat in silence, staring at the table until their drinks arrived. She took a swig of her wine. Henry and Mary unplugged their ears. 

“Can you tell me how this started between you three?” Lisa asked. “I want to know the whole story, the true story. Because now that I know it was Henry and Mary, I don’t think you three met in a bar last night.” 

“That’s fair,” Henry said, looking at Mary. “Are you okay to tell her?” 

Mary nodded. “It started after book club,” she said, beginning her story. 

Vicky, Henry, and Lisa listened while Mary retold the events of the night before from her perspective. They listened, and when their food arrived on the belt, they plucked it off and ate. Mary hid nothing, though she kept her voice low for the details. No one overheard them as far as Vicky could tell, but she didn’t care. For her, this was basic stuff, even if it was explosive new territory for Mary. 

“And that’s when I called you,” Mary said, reaching the point in the story where she’d called Lisa in the afternoon. 

“I see,” Lisa said. “So this is new for everyone.” 

Mary, Vicky, and Henry nodded. 

Lisa appeared contemplative. “Okay, my boundary is that if we hang out together, especially if we’re doing anything intimate.” She pointed at Henry with her chopsticks. “My boundary is that I don’t do anything to Henry. Not unless I start it.” 

“That’s fair,” Vicky said. “Consent is king, after all.” 

“My boundary is that I won’t do more than Mary is comfortable with,” Henry said. “I’m willing to take the lead, but I’m letting her set the pace as far as intimacy goes, though I’m willing to be intimate with the three of you.” 

Lisa scoffed. “Big surprise.” 

“It’s a bigger deal than it sounds,” Vicky said. “There’s vulnerability involved, you know?” 

Lisa pressed her lips together, but nodded. “Sure, but it’s not like I’d expect any guy to turn down three women willing to jack him off, or do more, if Mary works up the courage.” 

Vicky chuckled at that. “That’s fair.” 

Even Henry chuckled and sipped his drink. “Yeah, even I can’t say it’s the bravest thing I’ve ever done, but I’m proud of Mary for her courage. This is way past anything I thought she’d ever be comfortable doing.” 

Mary blushed, leaning into Henry as she squeezed his hand under the table. At least Vicky assumed she was squeezing his hand. She couldn’t see where their hands were between them. 

Lisa was quiet, eating her sushi as the others did. 

Vicky kept reviewing what they’d discussed so far: the boundaries everyone had laid out, and the rule they’d agreed to. As far as relationships went, this was probably the healthiest relationship she’d had thus far. Her experiences came with unspoken expectations, but hashing them out early in a non-confrontational manner, or at least as non-confrontational as possible, made everything easier. Everything was on the table; all they had to do was pick what they wanted. 

She dipped her bluefin chotoro in the wasabi and took a bite, savoring the flavors as they danced over her tongue. Vicky supposed the appeal of multiple lovers was much the same as different flavors. Just because they were different didn’t mean they couldn’t work well together or separately. It boiled down to individual tastes and preferences. Eating as a group made her realize that everyone around the table had different tastes and different expectations. 

Mary and Henry expected to get married one day, which left Vicky as their girlfriend. That worked well for her. She’d be happy for them, of course, but she wouldn’t envy Mary’s ceremony or dress. Of course, if they became open about their relationship, Mary’s family wouldn’t be at the wedding. But that was a future problem. 

Lisa’s expectation for marriage had surprised her, but she supposed it wasn’t that unusual. Plenty of people wanted to get married. They craved the security of knowing they didn’t need to keep working on themselves or keep their partner interested. Okay, that was harsh, but Vicky had seen complacency ruin people time and time again. Marriage wasn’t for her. She hoped Lisa was okay with that, and not just saying that she was to appease Vicky. 

“So, are we still okay to go to that book signing after this?” Vicky asked, looking at Lisa. 

Lisa glanced at Mary and Henry, uncertain of how to approach that. “The four of us?” she asked. “Or just the two of us?” 

“We can give you privacy if that’s what you want,” Mary said. “I feel guilty for crashing your date.” 

“Don’t feel guilty,” Vicky said. “I invited you because we needed to sort this out. Heck, I didn’t even know this was a date until you told me.” 

“You didn’t?” Lisa asked, surprised. 

“No,” Vicky said. “I thought we were hanging out as friends, and I’d be your wing woman at the book signing. I didn’t realize you meant it as a date for us until Mary pointed it out.” 

Lisa looked from Vicky to Mary with a surprised expression that faded into a gentle smile. “I suppose I could have been more explicit, but I thought I was clear about my intentions.” 

“You were, in retrospect. I’m dumb that way,” Vicky said. “You’re too hot, so I didn’t think you’d be interested in me.” 

Lisa blushed. “Vicky, I’ve been interested in you since we met, but the timing was never right. I only worked up the courage to ask you out because I saw my chances slipping away if you joined a throuple. But I didn’t expect the counter-offer to be to join you and them. I also didn’t know you two were the couple.” She looked apologetically at Mary and Henry. 

Mary smiled softly. “Is that okay?” she asked. “Are you interested in joining us? Or were you still hoping to have Vicky to yourself?” 

“It’s just a surprise,” Lisa said. “I’m still figuring it out because it’s so different from what I expected. I’ve never considered poly before or dating another guy again, and well, it’s a lot to process. This isn’t what I expected for our first date. I’m glad you said yes, and that you asked me to be a part of this, but I’m not sure.” 

“Well, take your time,” Mary said. “You don’t have to decide right now. It’s not now or never. We’re figuring things out.” 

“You don’t need to decide today,” Vicky said. “But if you want to date me, Mary and Henry are part of the arrangement. If you’re not interested in that and would prefer to find a partner who is interested in monogamy and marriage, I understand. I hope we can still be friends.” 

Lisa looked hurt by that, but she didn’t protest it. She frowned, finishing her sashimi and letting her thoughts swirl behind her stormy gray eyes. 

Vicky hoped she’d join them. She liked Lisa and found her attractive beyond her physical attributes. Still, she wasn’t willing to drop Mary or Henry for her. It wasn’t fair of Lisa to demand monogamy or try to control her relationship with either of them if they formed a polycule. It’d be a change for all of them, Vicky included. She didn’t expect them to get everything right or be perfect at polyamory as soon as they started it. However, if Lisa was unwilling to put in the work to make it work, it wouldn’t work. 

“I’ll think about it,” Lisa said. “Can I let you know in a few days?” 

“Of course,” Henry and Mary said together. 

“Yeah,” Vicky said, reaching for Lisa’s hand. 

Lisa took Vicky’s hand and gave it a small squeeze. 

“No pressure,” Vicky said. “I want you to say yes, obviously. But if it’s not for you, it’s not for you. I’ll be sad, but I won’t hold it against you. I’ll still be your friend and your book club buddy.” 

“Thanks,” Lisa said, her disappointment still clear on her face. “I think I need time to adjust and figure things out.” 

Vicky nodded, and Mary joined her. Even Henry appeared to understand. And none of them proved eager to pressure her into anything.

The rest of dinner went silently after that, and Vicky had to wonder what the future held.