“I’m optimistic.”
Arne was out like a light.Justin and I snuck down to the basement and I felt like seventeen-year-old me again.Giddy, hopeful, with a future before me.
I couldn’t regret everything in my past.Not when I had Arne.And maybe this was the right time for Justin and me too.There would be problems ahead of us, and separating myself from Mom would be painful.I didn’t have a home, but now I had options, things to look forward to.I had Arne, and I was pretty sure I had Justin.And with that, I’d be good.
Justin switched on a lamp and spread a blanket over the old couch.He pulled me close and wrapped his arms around me.
“In case I wasn’t clear, because I’m not good with the words, I love you, Mia.I think I always have.I want to be part of the future you work out for you and Arne.”
Then he kissed me.Gently, determinedly, and with me clinging to him, he moved his mouth to my cheek, my neck.And as he slowly removed my clothing, he worshipped me.Made me feel loved, wanted, and desirable.Every inch.
When I was naked, he laid me on the couch and quickly stripped off his own clothes.He started from my feet, kissing, caressing, and I was soon whimpering into the pillow as pleasure spread through my body.
Finally, he rolled the condom onto his cock and settled over me.He kissed me, and whispered, “I love you, Mia.”
I breathed “I love you too” as he slid into my body, and I was home.The place didn’t matter.
Justin did.
I wouldn’t sleep with Justin.Like, in the same bed.I didn’t want to give Arne any ideas before we figured out what we were doing.There were a lot of things to work out.My job and Arne’s school and friends were here in BC.Justin’s life was in Toronto.But unless I totally misunderstood, we were going to be together.The rest was details.Long-distance, moving—as far as I was concerned, all options were on the table.
We slept in the next morning, so didn’t get a chance to talk before I had to drop Arne off at day camp on my way to work.I saw Tonya there, since both boys were signed up for this one.She’d agreed to keep Arne after until I was finished my shift.
“You look different today.Are you…smiling?Happy?”
I was.I couldn’t stop smiling.“Both.I can’t give you details now, but the hockey player and I are going to work things out.”
She squealed.“That’s great, Mia.What about Arne’s dad?Is he okay with it?”
“He’ll have to deal,” I said with a shrug.Erik might be jealous of Justin, but I wasn’t giving up what I wanted for his ego.
Work dragged until I could leave to pick up Arne and go to Justin’s house again.He was waiting at the door, like a stereotypical fifties housewife.He didn’t kiss me, not with Arne there, and we really needed to talk out our plans ASAP because keeping my hands off him was just not a viable long-term option.
Justin had fried chicken and homemade macaroni and cheese, along with another salad, waiting for us.I noticed he skipped most of the mac and cheese, though Arne made up for the loss.
Arne noticed.“Don’t you like mac and cheese?It’s good!”
He shrugged.“I’ve got to keep in playing shape.”
Right.He was probably working out during the day, but he couldn’t eat like this and stay in condition.We might have to eat healthier, if we were all together, and that could only benefit Arne and me.Justin had made this carb-heavy food for the two of us, and damn, I needed to kiss him.
Instead of giving Arne a book to read, I let him watch a show on TV for an hour.It was a treat for him, and I desperately needed to talk to Justin.He was doing the dishes when I returned to the kitchen.
“Leave those.”He turned and I kissed him, pulling myself away before we forgot what we were doing.“Let’s talk.I want to be able to kiss you in front of Arne and everyone else.”
He closed his eyes, took a long breath, and said, “Me too.”
He pulled out a chair at the kitchen table and I sat on the other side, trying to marshal my thoughts.“You have to go back to Toronto soon.”
He nodded.
“So how are we going to make this work?”I had ideas, lots of them, but I needed to know what he was willing to do.He shot me a glance.“Just tell me.We should consider all the options and then decide what’s best for all of us.Because Arne is part of the package.”
“Absolutely.”
I’d been sure, but it was good to hear him acknowledge it.
Justin leaned back in his chair.“Okay.One possibility is that I go back to Toronto, and you stay here and we do long-distance.”