Page 33 of Honey, I'm Home

“He was only here because his mother confronted him. I might have sent her some texts Ben sent me when we were breaking up. Thought she deserved to hear the way her son treats women. Also wanted her to know why I wouldn’t be at her anniversary party next weekend.”

Dev and Arbor also stoop down to kiss me before sitting down at the little table I took over. When does this stop feeling like it’s happening to somebody else?

“How do men like that end up with women like you? It does not make any sense to me,” Arbor says as he grabs my hand across the table. “Sorry he’s stirring up unpleasant emotions and shattering your peace.”

The door gets shoved open, and I just know without even having to look who it is. Ben thinks he's been wronged now, so he's going to keep trying to combat the problem until it's solved in his favor.

I don't hide my connection to the three men I'm sitting with whatsoever. Ben knows exactly who they are, because he's seen pictures of me growing up with them and in things my brother has sent.

His face flushes with anger as he walks to our table, planting his gross, sweaty palms on it. “Seriously, Aster? This is why you won't take me back? Because you have some sort of puppy crush on your brother's friends? That's pathetic even for you. Haven’t all those years of them ignoring you been enough of an answer? I'm willing to look past your behavior if you'll come get in the car with me. Then you’re helping me pick out apology flowers for my mom for stressing her out so much. It’s the least you can do.”

His voice softens and he leans closer, oblivious to the fact that I’m trying to lean away from him. This tone is the one he’d always use when he was trying to get me to do what he wanted, and I’ve been conditioned to give up my fight and fold because it’s typically easier than continuing to argue.

His tricks don’t work on me anymore, but let’s give him one last try for old time’s sake, shall we? It will give us something fun to laugh about later.

“We can pick up dinner from your favorite Thai place on our way there. The apartment is exactly as you left it, exactly how you like it. She’s gone. I know I don’t have to tell you that, but she is. She broke things off because you got somebody to plaster the break room with a picture of me bending her over my desk. HR said she'd lose her job if she continued to have the affair on company time, and she decided I wasn't worth the risk. So,congratulations. Chased off a more suitable woman, and now I'm stuck with you. Again.”

And…opportunity squandered.

I don't even bother responding, because as he's proved, anything I say goes in one ear and out the other. Also, I absolutely did not tell someone to print those pictures off and put them all over the breakroom, but that’s amazing.

I have no problem standing up for myself, but guys like him only respect other guys. Also, I'm just really sick of talking to him. I bat my eyes at Dev, who's the biggest, bulkiest, and most intimidating of them all.

He stands slowly, and I watch Ben’s eyes widen as he realizes how much bigger than him Dev is. “I believe our fiancée has asked you to leave several times now. You're harassing her, and this isn't the sort of town where that's tolerated. She made it abundantly clear to you and everybody else that saw your row outside that your guys' relationship is over. You're clearly delusional, thinking she's going to come crawling back to you when you're the one that fumbled the most incredible woman that's ever walked this planet. I don't care if you have nowhere else to go, you don't come near her again. Do I make myself clear? Oh, and just a tip for the future, pal, if you somehow ever find yourself in a situation where there’s a woman considering being with you, it’s best if you don’t insult her before asking her to go somewhere with you.”

Ben eyes the other guys at the table, and I know he's getting ready to make a remark about them all comforting me equally and touching me and putting their arms around me.

Can we be done with him already? “Yes, I'm with all three of them, so I think you can see how coming back to you would be a huge downgrade. I'm sure this is just an ego thing for you,wanting to get me back, but it's seriously not going to happen. I would prefer not to, but I will get law enforcement involved if you continue to bother me and my fiancés. And by the way, it was you who was fucking multiple women, without their full knowledge. So you do not get to comment on the fact that I’m in a committed poly relationship.

“You do not get to remark on who I'm with now period, because you have no say in my life anymore whatsoever. Thank you for dumping me, for opening up a pathway for me to come back here and be who I was always meant to be. I think you'll find if you return to Trash Haven for any reason, you'll be met with a hell of a lot more resistance. There's nothing for you here, and I'm sick of looking at your face. Enjoy fucking your own hand tonight.”

His jaw ticks as he straightens his jacket, tries to smile at the other patrons, and then walks out the door.

In his haste to get back to wherever he parked, a kid purposely sticks out their foot and trips him, then turns to where we’re sitting by the window to give me a thumbs up. I seriously love this place.

It's too quiet at the table now. The guys are all staring at me, and I'm just sitting here trying to enjoy my beverage. “What?”

A slow smile overtakes Arbor’s face, and then he abruptly stands and jumps on top of his chair. “Can I have everybody's attention please? I would like to formally announce my hive’s engagement with the very lovely Aster Pepperling. We couldn't have done it without all of you; it’s a long time coming. If you want an invitation to the wedding, send us an e-mail or drop us a note. It will be two weeks from now, at City Park.”

The coffee shop erupts into applause, and I just sigh, because I know this is out of my control.

We might be officially mated as per my heritage customs, but I know that the guys wanted a big, traditional wedding as well. I know my parents expect it too, and my brother hinted that mom has a dress picked out for me and everything. It's probably best just to let things stay on their course and accept that this is the life I’m embracing by moving here. Mated to bee shifters.

???

We somehow end up at my parents’ place; because of course we do. I'm not even surprised to find all of our closest family and friends gathered when we arrive, and that Dad has the grill going out back like they’ve been planning this all week.

Anderson sits on the porch as we approach, stupid grin on his face. It's a complete reflex when I walk up the stairs and punch him in the stomach. He throws an arm around my neck and tries to rub my head with his knuckles, so I elbow him in the kidney to get out of it. He congratulates the guys, hamming it up and hugging them, genuinely happy for them.

He could have decided to be an asshole about this whole situation, could have acted grossed out by the fact that he knows I'm sleeping with his best friends, but he, despite his insane shortcomings, is actually a very good person, and a good brother.

It sort of feels like the calm before the storm as I accept a cocktail from my mom and get roped into conversation with a bunch of neighbors, because life for me is rarely this peaceful. It feels fake that I could be rid of Ben forever, it feels too simple that we got rid of The Bee Court after only one altercation, and despite the smiles I keep finding on my face, I know in the pit of my stomach that the warning signals telling me all is not well are notto be ignored. But I'll give myself this afternoon, and I’ll breathe in the nice air, and I'll enjoy the company of these good people, because in this moment, everything is perfect.

I’ve got these three wonderful men finally in my life, who are genuinely excited to marry me, are borderline obsessive even, but I much prefer that to the cold way I lived with my ex. It's nice to know where I stand with Arbor, Hawthorne, and Dev, that I never have to wonder how they feel.

Maybe Dev is a bit intense in how he deals with me, and maybe Arbor is a bit creepy in how he constantly seems to know where I am and what I'm doing, and maybe Hawthorne is always a bit inappropriate and does the wrong thing at the wrong time, but they're perfect for me.

Somebody cranks up the music on the outdoor speakers, and Anderson pulls out some shitty party lights he apparently ordered. I let myself get pulled up to the makeshift dance floor in the middle of our backyard, and I throw my head back and laugh as the guys grind on me and dip me and spin me out and do the same thing to each other.