Page 20 of Raven's Dawn
“And ye don’t get jealous about it?” Amara asked, offering me a sip of her flask. “I’d kill someone.”
“Jealousy comes up from time to time, but I think that happens in two-person relationships too, doesn’t it?” I waved at Jeremy in gesture. “If a guy’s hitting on your wife, that’s gonna piss you off once in a while.”
“Yeah, true,” Jeremy said. “Polyamory is more complex. There’s more people in the mix, so there are more feelings in the mix. As long as you guys are alright with communication and everything, I don’t see why it’d be any more difficult than my relationship. No relationships are easy. It’s work every day. If you’re willing to put it in, good for you guys.”
“So long as everyone is considerate of one another, it’s a wonderful lifestyle,” Luci agreed.
“But it doesn’t piss you off that you missed out on what they were doing?” Jake asked. “I mean, shit. I’ve heard it through the walls, and it makes me uncomfortable.”
“Well, I hope so,” Jeremy said. “Since you’re her brother and everything.”
“That too, obviously. But just knowing that you’re getting left out.” With a gesture to me, Jake shrugged. “It just seems like it bothers you.”
Another bare laugh. “It really doesn’t. If I walked in there right now, they’d let me join. Rain kinda hinted at it when she asked if I was coming to bed yet. I said no because I wanted to hang out with you guys. I’m just not in the mood right now. Plus, Rain’s libido is ridiculous. I couldn’t keep up with that thing on my own.”
Jeremy laughed, and Luci joined in.
Amused, Amara smiled at me. “So ye like it then. The multiple partners thing.”
“Aye, I do. It was an adjustment at first, but I wouldn’t change it for anything now.” Taking another sip from the flask, I shrugged. “Ezra and Warren are some of my best friends. Because of our dynamic, I always have someone to talk to. If I need help with something, one of them is there. That’s why Rain likes it too. Meeting one person’s needs in a relationship is no easy task, but when you have a team working together…” Another shrug. “It works. Our system just works.”
Still, she smiled. “Then I’m happy for ye, mate.”
“So am I.” Jeremy elbowed me in the ribs. “You’re a good great great great great step grandpa.”
Laughing, I patted his head. “A jolly good grandson you are as well.”
Apparently, he wasn’t quite as amused, because he swatted my hand away and narrowed his gaze. “Don’t do that again.”
Awkwardly clearing my throat, I scooted back. “Sorry.”
“What’s the plan here?” Luci asked, and I was grateful for the subject change. “Are we all keeping watch?”
“I got an hour or two on the flight here,” Jeremy said. “I can stay up.”
The only reason I was doing alright so far was because I hadn’t slept. Until I settled in here, until I adjusted to being back, I liked being awake. “I can grab a couple of hours in the morning or tomorrow afternoon. I’m not tired yet.”
“I didn’t wake up until midday today,” Amara said. “Figured since we were heading out late, we’d need someone on watch. I can stay up too.”
“Two on watch sounds good,” Luci said. “If either of you needs a break, come get me.”
“I’ll stay up too,” Jake said. “I’m not real tired either.”
“No, I think it’s best if you go to bed.” As he stood, Jeremy gestured to Jake’s tent. “We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow. Lots of walking. You’re going to need your rest.”
“Really, I’m okay?—”
“I’m sure you are now, but you won’t be tomorrow.” His voice hardened, much like my father’s did when I was a boy. “Two people on watch is plenty. Let’s go.”
Jake’s expression was somewhere between confused and annoyed. “I can handle myself.”
“No, he’s right, man,” I said. “We’ll hang out tomorrow. Just get some rest.”
Something like a scoff escaped him. “I’m not tired. And I’m a big boy. I can make my own decisions.”
“That’s the thing.” Jeremy exhaled deeply. “You think you’re a big boy. Much like how my ten-year-old thinks he’s a big boy. You are the youngest person in this group, even if you don’t think you are. And, I mean this kindly, but you wouldn’t be here if Rain and Graham hadn’t insisted you come. We agreed you could, but that means that you’re gonna have to listen to what we say. If you don’t, we’ll open up a portal right now, and you can take your happy ass home.”
There was a part of me that wanted to defend Jake. Especially when I saw his eyes. I couldn’t say there were tears in them, but they were glassy.