Triple the Love

Sisterly Advice

Jack

Even though days had passed since Corey had dropped a bomb on what I considered my life, I just couldn’t stop thinking about it. The fact that Corey had been secretly dating both Hank and me, the fact that he cared about us both, and he couldn’t choose between us, it was a lot to process. And yet, as hurt and as confused as I felt, I just couldn’t bring myself to hate him. A part of me understood, even if I didn’t want to admit it. That was how I had found myself sitting in Tori’s office, spilling everything to her about what had happened. I needed help with this. I needed someone to help me make sense of the mess and the only person I trusted enough was Tori.

“Ok…ok…so let me get this straight,” Tori said as she curled herself up in her armchair. “Corey was dating both of you…at the same time?”

“Yeah,” I said as I rubbed the back of my neck. “He…he had no idea how to choose between us,” Tori frowned, and clearly, she was processing everything I had just told her.

“And how are you feeling about it?” she then asked. I shrugged as I thought about how to put my emotions into words.

“I mean, I was shocked at first…and sure, I was pretty angry and upset about it…but…I don’t know…I just keep thinking about it. I guess…I’m just trying to figure out what it all means,” Tori studied me closely, her eyes sharp and calculating.

“And what about Hank? How is he taking it?” she asked, and I sighed.

“From what I saw, not well. He was pretty furious, and he stormed out,”

“That sounds like him. He has always been pretty stubborn,” she said as she smirked. Tori knew Hank from way back, so her reaction didn’t surprise me. “And Corey?” Tori then questioned her expression once again serious.

“He…he was pretty upset…” I admitted. Still, that night played in my mind like a broken record. The silence stretched on for a moment, but then Tori looked way more serious than before as she hesitated. “Whatever it is, spit it out,” I encouraged.

“Jack…let me ask you something,” she started, and I nodded. “How do you feel about Hank?” I blinked at that, caught off guard. It reminded me of the question Corey had asked me before the s**t had hit the fan.

“Ah…what do you mean?” I asked carefully and Tori smiled knowingly.

“Aw, come on, Jack…be honest with me here…you have always liked him. I saw it whenever the two of you were around each other,” I immediately opened my mouth to argue with her, but then I froze. Tori was right. I had always liked Hank – more than just as a friend. But I had never allowed myself to even consider it. And then, when Corey had shown up, my feelings for him had been front and center for so long, that now, with everything out in the open, I couldn’t deny that there had always been something there with Hank.

“You aren’t wrong,” I admitted quietly. “I’ve always liked him, but I know I’m not his type, so I never thought anything would come of it,” Tori nodded as she uncurled herself and stood up.

“Well, this might sound completely wild…but what do you think about poly relationships?” she asked as she went over to the mini fridge and took out two bottles of water. I watched her as my mind suddenly went crazy.

“Poly relationships?” I repeated in surprise.

“Yes, poly relationships…more specifically, the three of you,” she said as she came over and handed over one of the bottles of water. I accepted as my mind continued to go crazy with thoughts and possibilities. She sat down and uncapped her water as she watched me. It was as if she hadn't just thrown a wrench into everything, I thought I knew about relationships. “Think about it for a moment, Jack. Corey obviously cares about both of you and both of you care about him. And to be honest, without even knowing it, Corey had already established a form of a poly relationship,”

“Ah…” I muttered, unable to answer her.

“Corey didn’t do it on purpose, you mentioned that yourself, but he couldn’t make a decision, and you don’t even know if he had come to a decision or if he just felt guilty and admitted his truth. The fact of the matter is, you like them both…maybe instead of forcing someone to make a decision, the three of you could just…you know…be together,”

“Hank will never go for it,” I whispered. There was an undeniable spark of excitement as I imagined it. The three of us together. It certainly sounded perfect in theory, but I knew Hank wouldn’t go for it. He had a type, and I definitely wasn’t his type.

“Look, in an ideal world, everything will work out, Jack. You do have feelings for both of them. Corey has feelings for both of you, and we know Hank likes the both of you as well. Now, granted, he may not be romantically interested in you, but that could change. It is something worth considering, and you never know how people will react until you talk to them about it,” Tori said, and I sighed as I set the bottle of water aside and began to rub my temples. It was a lot to consider. A lot to think about. “Jack?”

“Yeah?” I looked over at Tori, who smiled softly at me.

“Do me a favor, ok? I want you to think about it. Like, really think about it, and if you think it’s something you are willing to try…well, then I strongly suggest you talk to Corey. It sounds like the guy has been torn between the two of you since day one. Wouldn’t it be nice for him to know that he could have both…the right way?” I slowly nodded even though it sounded extremely complicated. “Do some research on the subject, do whatever you need to do, but you deserve to be happy, Jack,” I let her words sink in, and I nodded in agreement. I had to try. If I didn’t, I would always wonder what could have been. I owed it to myself. To Corey. And even to Hank.

“I’ll think about it,” I said, and Tori smiled in relief. “And then…I’ll talk to Corey and see what he thinks…I know Hank is going to be the one to kick against the idea,”

“You do not know that for sure…you have to have a little faith,” she argued, and I sighed. Once again, she was right. Now all I had to do was do some research, think things through, and then approach Corey with this idea. It was nerve-wracking, but Tori was right. I deserved to be happy.