Lessons in Chemistry by Colette Davison

Author:Colette Davison [Davison, Colette]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-07-26T16:00:00+00:00

20

CASEY

Auggie meets me at the bus station on Saturday morning. We stand awkwardly for a moment, neither of us knowing what greeting to give the other. In the end, we give each other what Em would call a bro hug. It’s a ‘one-armed, firm pat on the back’ hug. And yet even though it’s the kind of hug two male friends would give each other, it feels nice to have Auggie’s arm around me. Almost as nice as when I woke up in the early hours of the morning with my head on his lap while Em was stroking my hair. I felt bad when Auggie decided to get a taxi home but couldn’t figure out how to ask him to stay.

“You give good hugs.” I’m still slightly bemused at how safe I feel with him. In the grand scheme of things, I barely know him, yet embracing him feels right, as if my heart knows he won’t hurt me.

“So do you. I… never mind.”

“What?”

“I was going to say I give good kisses too, but that’s crossing a line.”

I consider that. He and Em have said they’re open to forming a triad rather than a vee, but I’m still wrapping my head around how I feel about Em, romance, and sex. I’m still getting used to the idea that it’s okay to be in a poly relationship and that, even though Em is with Auggie and me, I don’t have to feel jealous.

I’m not jealous. Things have been great between Em and me since last Sunday, and I know from the sappy grin on his face that they’ve been good between him and Auggie too.

Auggie is coming to the flat this evening while I’m swimming. I wonder if he’ll stay over this time. He hasn’t yet, but it’s a step they’re going to want to take soon, and I’m surprisingly okay with that. Auggie isn’t a threat. He isn’t my competition. He’s someone else who makes Em happy.

Tuesday is our check-in day to ensure we all want to continue our vee relationship. I get tummy butterflies thinking about how that’s going to go. I doubt any of us are going to back out of it, but will any of us ask for more?

“The suspense is killing me. Why are we here?” Auggie asks.

“It’s Em’s birthday on Thursday.”

“It is? He didn’t say anything.”

“He doesn’t like people making a fuss of him. But I figured you should know and thought you might like to look for presents together. Or maybe we could look for something we can give him together.” Is that a weird suggestion to make?

Auggie grins. “I’d like that. Thanks.”

“You would?”

“Yes, I think it’s a great idea.”

I breathe out. “Great. Uh, let’s go.”

We walk side by side out of the bus station. Auggie’s fingertips graze against mine. I should pull away, but I don’t want to.

“Why doesn’t Emory like people making a fuss of him on his birthday?”

“He never has done. He’s always preferred the day to be low-key. It’s who he is.

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