Page 46 of Her Patron
“So what if you do?”
“First of all, I think that’s called bigamy.”
“Ménage relationships happen all the time. It’s the simplest form of polyamory to ever exist. Really, June, it’s perfect for you.”
“Perfect would be letting me…”
Monique cut her off. “Every relationship expects compromise. You can’t expect these women, no matter how in love they are with you, to let you do whatever you want. They are going above and beyond by offering you money and their exclusivity. June, these women would probably marry you if they could!”
She was quiet for a while. She’s right. Sette was more the marrying type, no matter what she proclaimed, but Miquela? She had already started to introduce June as her girlfriend. The thought of them getting along for the sake of their love for her gave her chills. I don’t have to choose. Shouldn’t that be the most liberating thing? That her love triangle would end with everyone happy? Including her?
“It’s asking me to make a huge change with little warning,” June finally said. “I don’t think I’m being unreasonable by saying it’s a shock.”
“To be fair, I’m shocked as well. I’ve never heard of something like this before. If it works, then you could end up a happy woman. Besides, I’ve been wanting you to cut back your on-site work hours so you can start taking over more around here. I don’t know how demanding this baby is going to be. Trust me, June, there will be plenty of work for you to do. To have two women who deeply love you and support your career goals? What the hell are you waiting for? A third woman to add herself to the mix?”
June didn’t want to admit that she had a point.
They called Miquela and Sette back in to discuss more. How would they split up June’s time? Were they willing to commit to at least a year of this arrangement? (Both assured that they wanted this to last as long as possible. Wasn’t that how most relationships were supposed to work?) Was June okay with the more serious aspects of these relationships? She stuttered to say “I love you” in front of Monique – let alone the others – but when pressed, June couldn’tnotsay it, either. I hate what you two have done to me. She thought that with as much affection as possible.
Miquela said she had to go to Europe for about two weeks starting that Monday, which was perfect for postponing the signing of any contracts. This would give Monique time to rewrite them and to give June time to ease into the transition of letting some of her other clients go. Many of them hadn’t come to call in a long time, anyway.
She was metaphorically holding a little black book of names and numbers over a flame. Gone soon would be the days of seducing every guest who came her way in the name of making a living. She would still be one of the slyest women around, but in a different fashion.
The more she thought about it, the more she realized…
This was exactly what she needed, even if she wasn’t coming around to wanting it yet. Major life changes tended to work that way, though.
Before she left, Sette kissed her and whispered into her ear, “I want to be happy with you, June. I hope you can be happy with me.”
Something watered in the corner of her eye. When Miquela put an arm around her and suggested they start tonight’s date with dinner on the balcony, June hid her tears of swelling happiness in her chest.
Monique pretended not to notice.
Chapter 14
Sette
“You’re seriously telling me that nobody’s told you about this before?”
June swatted Sette’s hand away, leaping out of bed so she could investigate the allegation for herself. She picked up a hand mirror, lifted up her skirt, and inspected the reflection in her vanity mirror. “What the hell? When did I get this thing?”
“I’m no dermatologist, but I do have a medical degree.”
June tossed her mirror down and sent her a sour glare. “And?”
“Probably half your life. Probably also benign.”
It amused Sette that June had never known about the mole on her ass. She could already see June making a doctor’s appointment and insisting that it must be removed. Immediately.
June pulled her skirt back down, much to Sette’s chagrin. She had arrived to find June dressed in a slinky plaid mini-skirt – no underwear, ahem – and a sheer white blouse. After an arousinggame of “Did You Know?” in a lazy attempt to jumpstart the sex, Sette made the mistake of asking,“Did you know you have a mole right here on your ass?”
So much for sexy games.
“Did you know that you have a huge bump on your neck?”
“Uh-huh. Let me guess.” Sette flung her arm across the bed so June could go back to snuggling in her embrace. June loved to pick at the top button of Sette’s flannel shirt. “My head.”
“You’re the doctor.”
