"No, Amy. I don't want to tonight. I am busy being on a date."

I pulled Jennifer off to the table, leaving the other two with their jaws hanging open. I could tell that Jennifer had no clue on what was happening and that I would have to fill her in once out of earshot. We found a table far from everyone where we could have some privacy. There were really only three tables as the rest was dance floor and bar stool tables.

"We could have stayed. I don't mind."

"I don't want to share you just yet when I don't have to. Mind?"

She shook her head no and smiled.

"Besides, they would just ask a million questions of you and give me a hard time. They also would be looking for every way possible to embarra.s.s me. Please don't think that I am ashamed or anything, but I want a clear picture in my head before we hang out with them. I want to be prepared."

She kissed me and said, "No worries, love." I pulled back toward her, and she knew it. She called me love. Why? What did this mean? My mind raced, and panic was starting to set in. I decided not to push it. We played a few rounds and danced a couple of dances. It was fun with her, and I found myself really able to let go of everything and enjoy our time.

The car ride home was pleasantly quiet. Her head rested on my shoulder as I drove. I did not want this serenity to leave, as this night I learned I had missed this for too long. I only remembered one other woman I felt this with--my mother. Maybe this woman had special powers over me? I did not care anymore and was glad to just be with her.

"Jennifer, home or my place?" This startled her, as she was starting to fall asleep.

"Yours. It is you that I want to be with tonight."

I drove us to my place. We did not go into the lovemaking ceremony I had expected and wanted. Instead, we fell asleep in each other's arms. I was soon rewarded for my disappointment. She woke me up in a gentle kissing ma.s.sage in the morning. This time, things were gentle and slow. It was a perfect wake-up to the day.

When we were finally ready to begin the day, she took a shower, and I made us breakfast. We sat in the living room and watched the news as we ate. We took turns looking at each other and smiling. I found myself being selfish and not wanting this to end, but I knew she had to get back to the house soon. Her kids--no, her family--needed her, and I was keeping her from them.

She must have heard my thoughts. "Come spend the day with us!"

"And what are you doing?"

"Well, taking the kids to the movies, doing some shopping, and maybe if Trey takes the kids again out, you."

"Okay, I will. Just let me shower."

"Deal!"

I ran off after I finished my breakfast and showered. Then we walked over to her house and began the day of play. I actually liked being a part of something and hoped that this did not have t

o end. I knew, in time, I would love each of them in some way. I also knew that one day, this would feel natural and not so foreign. I just had to hang in there.

Chapter Fourteen.

When Trey left the restaurant, he found the local pub and decided to have a few and let out some steam. He kept his cool through the whole dinner, but really he wanted to throw a fit and force Lexi to leave his wife alone. He knew that it would cost him his relationship with Jennifer if he did this, and this is what kept him from saying all that he wished to say. Even above his own feelings, he wanted Jennifer to be happy.

Trey went ahead and texted Jill to join him if she was free. Jill was a cute tech at the local hospital, and he hoped she could at least be a friend with benefits if nothing else. She seemed just as into him as he was her when they first met. And she had a way about making him feel like he was the only person in the room with her, even when there was a crowd all around. Now he just had to wait for a text back or maybe for her to show.

He was not kept long waiting when a text came, saying she would be there soon. All of a sudden, his day was looking up. He would get to enjoy a night with a beautiful lady, even though his heart really wished it was his wife with him and they were out on a date together--not out separately on their own dates. Trey wondered if, one day, he could confront her and tell her to stop. Until then, he would settle on being with others.

Jill came in looking amazing, and Trey quickly waved at her. Trey was so glad that he had not been stood up. They hugged, and Trey got Jill a drink. At first, they just sat there and smiled. Trey was not sure what to say and was so glad when Jill went first.

"Where is Jennifer?"

"She went out tonight with a friend."

"Aw, so you wanted to go out too?"

"Yes, and I am so glad that you showed. I have something to talk to you about and hope you will listen all the way before saying anything."

"Sure. You can tell me anything."

"Jill, we are poly. That means we have multiple partners. It is not just about multiple s.e.x partners, but more than that. And Jen is out on a date with a woman right now."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Well, I was wondering if maybe one day instead of just meeting me here for a drink or two, you would like to go out on a date."

"Well, what is one to say to that?"

"Say yes, please."

"We can keep meeting like this and see what happens. This is something different for me--to be the mistress or on-call girlfriend when she i fight="0s not with you. So, I take it no strings attached, and I am able to say no when I have plans and see other people too, right?"

"Well, you won't be my primary relationship. Definitely not my on-call girlfriend or mistress. You will be my girlfriend if you allow, and yes, the rest stays true unless something changes on your side."

"Well, we can see how things go."

"Wonderful. Then it is settled. We can date and see what happens."

"Yes, we can. So, do I have you all night?"

"If you wish you do, but I do have one question for you. Please don't hit me or think unkind of me for asking. Can I a.s.sume you are clean? If I am to sleep with you, I need to know."

"And who said you are going to sleep with me?"

"You will, by night's end. I will make sure of that."

"Oh, really?"

With that, Trey kissed Jill. He had forgotten what it was like to be the leader, and it felt so good to be chasing again and not the one following someone else's lead. Trey, with thoughts of leaving one relationship, remembered how having one like this saved the other many times. It made Jennifer chase him. And that was always good.

Chapter Fifteen.

For the next several months, I would go over to the Scoops's house, or Jennifer would come over here. There were some nights that we didn't, but there were not many like that. I got to really know the kids and found that there was something about being around the whole unit that was filling a yearning of a home inside me. The two youngest always wanted to play games or ask questions. The oldest, though, kept her distance. I a.s.sumed it was because she was at that age that she did not want a family different from all the rest that she knew.

Work went smoothly, and the new staff fit in well with th nv> I should have guessed that this would not have lasted. My parents decided to come make a visit, and though they knew I was a lesbian, they did not know that my new partner was married with kids. I was not sure yet how I was going to introduce them to Jennifer, or even if I wanted to. To me, that was what you did when things were serious and you expected to be together for years. Then again, we were serious, and there had started to be some talk of me moving into the bas.e.m.e.nt when the tenant moved out as they had converted it into a one bedroom, one bath apartment. Part of me really liked this idea, but another part of me was scared out of my mind to do so. I had fears of being so close to the family--of being hurt--and still could not reconcile in my mind if this was the right thing or not.

With my parents coming and these thoughts, I turned to my normal reaction to stress. I turned to avoidance. I did not make any effort to entertain the thought of moving in. I did not push for a date. I did not even tell Jennifer that they were coming down for a few days. And, as if she had always known this about me, she came looking for me and see if I was okay and if we were okay.

"Lexi, what is on your mind? Where are you as of late? Are we okay?"

"Yes, we are okay. I just don't know if I can move in yet, and my parents are coming to visit."

It came out before I could even stop myself, as if this woman had special powers over me to make me blurt out my feelings and fears without even having the will to stop it. I had to admit to myself that this was one reason I knew I loved her and yet had a fear of us.

"Oh, baby. I love you, and it will be ok! You don't have to move today, and I will do whatever you ask in regards to your parents coming. I will follow your lead on this."

"Thank you, and I love you too!"

We both paused right there. We had said those three little words for the first time to each other. We'd said we thought we loved each other, but this was the first time that we had come out and actually admitted it. This was big. This was huge, and right then I knew I wanted to move and be closer to her.

That night we didn't go out. We stayed in and were supposed to be watching a movie. Instead, it was as if the admittance of our love for each other ignited a fire that neither of us could control. Our pa.s.sion flowed through us to the bedroom, and from there we pleased each other until there was no more strength in us. Then I said something that I never thought I would say--especially to someone married.

"Jennifer, marry me!"

"What?"

"Marry me."

"Ask me again."

"Marry me, Jennifer. If you will have me as your wife, then say yes."

"Yes! Lexi, I will marry you!"

After a long kiss, we rolled over laughing. Neither one of us knew what to say to each other. This was new territory for the both of us. She already had a husband, and now I was asking her to take me as her wife. I could not stop smiling.

"I did not expect you to ask me right away again to marry you, I thought you would wait at least a few days, thank you for not waiting."

"I did not know at the beginning of the day I was going to ask you tonight."

"Why did you ask?"

"I love you and cannot imagine a day without you in my life. Why did you say yes?"

"The same. I love you and want you to always be with me."

"You get to tell Trey, and I will tell others only after he knows. Also, please come to dinner one night with my parents, as I want them to know the woman I love. Just don't expect them to understand any of this."

"Honey, I live this and don't understand half of it. I just know I am lucky to have you in my life and lucky to have Trey. You both are what I need and make me ever so happy!"

"So, now what?"

"What do you mean?"

"Ceremony with friends and family, no ceremony, what do you wish?"

"Can we decide later? I am turning into a pumpkin quickly."

"Yes, love, and thank you!"

"You are more than welcome. Thank you for asking."

"Yes, Jennifer."

With that, we drifted off to sleep in each other's arms. How peaceful and serene it was to be at this point and know that she loved me. I could not have asked for more. And I knew that things were going to be okay-at least until after she went home and I had to deal with my parents alone, but this night I gloated in the knowledge that she said yes and we told each other that we loved each other.

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Chapter Sixteen.

Jennifer waited until the kids left with Lexi for the movies and then asked Trey to sit on the porch with her. This was going to be one of those talks that needed to be done outside. She did not know how Trey was going to take the news and hoped that all would turn out well. Even though this was a big thing in her life and something she always wanted, she did not know how he would react to it.

"How are things with you and Jill?"

"They are good. She is fun to go out with, and the talks are stimulating."

"Good."

"Now you know that is not why you asked me to sit out here. What is on your mind? You only ever want to talk outside when there is something on your mind that is difficult to say."

"You know me too well! And yes there is something on my mind, and I don't know how you are going to react or what you are going to say."

"Okay, best just say it. And, Jen. Remember I love you!"