I pause, letting that information sink into their brains.
“Why doesn’t the law allow you to marry more than one person?” Alyssa asks. “If you love them, you should be able to marry them.”
Out of the mouths of babes. “Right now, the world isn’t a completely accepting place. A lot of people living in our country don’t have the same rights as everyone else. Hopefully one day we will.”
Avery chews his bottom lip. “If you dated both of them, would that mean that Chance and Stephen...would be together, as well? Like boyfriends?”
I bite back a smile as my keen boy connects the dots. “Chance and Stephen are what you call bisexual. They date men as well as women.”
“Do you want to date them, Aunt Presley?” Alyssa asks. “Do you like them?”
I click on my blinker, and turn left into the movie theatre parking lot. “Can I tell you guys a secret that not a lot of people know?”
Once I pull into a spot, the kids unclip their seatbelts and Alyssa moves to sit on the center console. Nerves eat at my stomach, but I know this is an important conversation to have with them. My sister would want her children to be open-minded and accepting of everyone’s sexuality and orientation. She had the biggest heart, and I want her kids to follow in her footsteps.
“When I was in college, I dated both Stephen and Chance. That’s how we know each other, from school.”
Alyssa’s mouth hangs open. “You were in a polygon with them?”
Avery barks out a laugh. “Polyamorous, not polygon, you twit.”
I point at him, trying not to laugh myself. “No name-calling. Be nice.”
Alyssa frowns. “You know what I meant.”
I clasp her hand and give it a squeeze. “I was in a polyamorous relationship with them. But that was a long time ago, and things are different now.”
“How so?” Avery asks.
“Like I said before, I’m busy and don’t have time to date. I love having Stephen and Chance around as friends, but I don’t think we’d be able to manage a relationship like that again.”
Both of the kids look down at their laps.
“Why?” I ask, venturing into the subject further. “Is that something you’d want for me—for us?”
Alyssa nods. “I like when they’re around. They’re fun, and they help you so you’re not so stressed.”
Guilt tugs at my heart. “I’ve been pretty stressed, huh?”
“It’s understandable,” Avery says quickly. “We should step up and help more.”
I shake my head. “No, no. You and your sister are doing exactly the perfect amount of help. You go to school, get good grades, and you do your chores. I’m the adult—I deal with everything else.” I cup his face. “Don’t you go worrying that amazing brain of yours about it, you hear me?”
He nods.
“And you.” I turn to Alyssa. “There’s more to life than finding a husband. We’re strong, independent women who don’t need no man!”
She giggles. “Okay, fine. But for the record, I really like having Stephen and Chance around.”
I smile.I do too, kid.
I do too.
“LetThe Very Manly Book Clubcommence.”
Trenton glares at me. “We never agreed to calling it that.”
I grin. “We never disputed it either.”