Page 33 of The Best Number

“So, what are you looking for?” Jack asks, leaning forward, tilting his body towards her.

“I want to have a casual relationship with both of you.”

“More than just the odd threesome?” I ask her to clarify.

“Ideally, yes. I’d love to spend time with each of you separately if everyone is okay with that and I’m more than happy for you two to continue your relationship. But I want us all to be together, too.”

“Do you want us to be exclusive?” In my periphery, Jack’s head whips round to look at me.

“I don’t know. I think I’d feel safer if we were, but I don’t want to put limitations on it if that means you guys don’t want to be involved.”

I look across at Jack, who’s still staring at me.

“Do you want to be exclusive?” he asks me directly. There’s a tone of curiosity in his question.

“The two of you are more than enough for me to handle. I’d be happy being exclusive for the time being, and until one of us doesn’t want that. But I want us all to be open and honest about it. If we want someone else, we need to let everyone know,” I tell him.

Jack sits back, and it’s clear he’s trying to take it all in.

“Jack, I haven’t been with anyone else since we got together… other than Cassidy and Jen at the start. I got the impression it was the same for you, but am I wrong?”

He seems lost in his thoughts and I wonder if the exclusivity talk is going to scare him away. He eventually looks up at me.“Same for me. I just hadn’t really realised that it had happened.” Confusion clouds his face like he’s not sure how we got here.

“I’m not proposing marriage and I’m pretty sure Cassidy isn’t either,” I tell him, looking across to Cassidy to see her encouraging smile. “But we could all make an agreement that, for now, it’s just the three of us. It’s not a problem if you want someone else.” Although as I say it, I can’t help the grimace on my face. “But you let me and Cassidy know if that’s the case, so we know it’s not exclusive.”

“I think I can do that,” he whispers softly, as if he can’t believe he’s saying it.

I wasn’t even aware I was on edge, but a rush of air expels from my lungs in relief. Sometimes Jack feels… flighty… and I didn’t know if he would be ready for this. In fact, it seems a little odd that he’s agreed so readily. He’s a closed book about his past, but I know he was engaged and something happened that scared him off of committed relationships.

“So, how would it work? Do we need to let the other one know if two of us are hooking up? Or is it all loosey-goosey?” Cassidy asks.

Jack mutters, “Loosey-fucking-goosey?” He scowls at Cassidy. “Please never use that phrase when you’re referring to me, my sex life or my dick, Cass.”

“S-sorry, Jack,” she splutters.

“Would you want to know if Jack and I are hooking up and you’re not there?” I ask her.

“I’m not sure. It would be exciting to know it’s going on, but I guess not. I wouldn’t want you guys to think you need to stop for my permission before you get it on.”

“We’ve got the group chat. We can use that for plans between the three of us and to make sure no one feels excluded.” I look across to Jack and chuckle as I go on. “I think Cassidy called itright last night, when she said you’d be salty, if her and I hooked up today without you.”

“Damn straight! If anyone gets first dibs, it should surely be me. It was me that brought this all about, after all.” I stare at him, amazed at his cockiness. “I got us all moving when I kissed Cass yesterday,” he says with a smug grin.

Cassidy rolls her eyes. “Yeah, Jack. You keep believing this is all down to you.” And then goes on, with a faint blush on her cheeks. “I was hoping we could all get together again first if you guys are keen?”

“Let’s go,” Jack cries as he gets up and makes to undo his shirt. I lay a hand over his where he’s trying to undo his buttons.

“Behave,” I growl. He looks down at me with the sluttiest look on his face that I’ve ever seen.

“You gonna make me?” he asks, raising an eyebrow.

Fucking brat.

Cassidy chuckles, but I’m too busy staring Jack dead in the eye to turn around and look.

“I have some time. How about you, Cassidy?”

“What now?” she squeaks. “Er, yeah, I’m down.”