Triple the Love

String them Along

Corey

The early afternoon sun was high in the sky, which was a stark contrast to the rain the day before. It was warm, and the slight breeze was perfect. The weather made it great for our traditional Sunday BBQ and as I arrived at Naomi and Erik’s house, I could hear the twins playing in the backyard. I smiled as I got out of the car and headed up to the front door. Naomi’s house always felt like home, but today I was a little bit on edge. I didn’t knock as I entered through the front door and almost immediately, I was hit with the smell of marinated meat, salads, and freshly baked bread. Before I could take another step, Abigail and Asher came charging toward me. They must have heard the car and went inside to see who it was. They were at that age when they could walk and run without stumbling. Not only were they mobile, but they were both chatterboxes.

"Uncle Corey!" the two of them shouted in unison. I braced myself for the impact and scooped them both into a hug.

"Hey, you two! How’s my favorite set of twins doing today?" I asked as I tried to spin them both around. It wasn’t easy anymore since they had gotten bigger. And let’s face it, I don’t exactly have the muscular strength to spin around two little children. Neither of them cared as they launched into a million details about their lives. Asher was more interested in telling me about the cartoons he loved to watch and the games he enjoyed playing. Abigail was all about school – the crèche that was preparing them for primary school – and about her friends. I listened as I guided them into the kitchen where I spotted Naomi standing by the backdoor. She smiled brightly as she waved me outside. I followed as I continued to listen to the twins chat a mile a minute.

“You are early,” Naomi said as I sat down on one of the outdoor chairs. The twins were distracted by being outside and the game they had been playing before I had arrived. In the middle of their chatter, they ran off, and I couldn’t help but smile as I watched them run off.

“How the hell did they get so big so fast?” I asked.

“I mean, babies turn into toddlers and toddlers turn into children and-

“Yes, yes, I get it,” I remarked as I looked at her and smiled. Naomi was pregnant, and her belly was growing. “How are you?” I asked, but Naomi shook her head, and I frowned.

“Oh, no…I have to talk to you before anyone else arrives because, apparently, I don’t really hear from my cousin anymore,” she said, and her tone was accusing. Not that I could blame her. Naomi and I had always been close, but ever since I had moved to Chasea and met Jacob, we had grown apart. Just a little bit. Alastair was her best friend and Jacob was mine. Not that it meant we didn’t still talk, but I did feel a bit guilty. Naomi often got on my nerves because she was so nosey, but in reality, she was just a concerned cousin who wanted me to be happy.

“I’m sorry…” I muttered, but she waved off my apology.

“Don’t be sorry…tell me…you mentioned that you were ready to start dating again,” she said, and I sighed softly. Of course, she would want an update. Everyone knew that Jack and Hank were both interested in me. Naomi would want to know if I would date one of them or someone else. She was digging for information. I shrugged as I wasn’t sure how to answer her, but Naomi’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “You have two great guys practically fighting for you…Jack and Hank have always made it clear how they feel about you…so…how do you feel about them? And which one are you going to start dating?” I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. I couldn’t tell her the truth and that also made me feel uncomfortable. I didn’t like lying to Naomi.

“It’s not easy…it’s complicated and…and I’m still trying to figure things out,” I muttered. Naomi side-eyed me for a moment and I knew she was going to push it. However, the sound of approaching voices distracted her, and I was so relieved. I watched as Naomi lifted herself off the chair, but before she went inside, she shot me a look.

“This isn’t over, Corey…” she warned, just as Erik came through the back door followed by Atticus, Sophia, and not-so-little Rodney.

“Of course, it isn’t,” I whispered as I put on a big smile. It was as if everyone had decided to arrive and, within minutes, everyone had gathered outside. Erik, Atticus, Alastair, Jaden, Mark, and Damon hovered around the grill. Naomi, Sophia, Molly, Mandy, and Vanessa were inside doing who knows what. Which left me with Jacob. My best friend.

“So…care to tell me what is going on?” Jacob asked curiously. “You are a lot more twitchy than usual,” he added. I rolled my eyes, but I was secretly thankful that there was someone I could talk to about all of this.

“You are not going to like it,” I warned him. Jacob glanced at me curiously as he crossed his arms.

“Try me,” he urged. I rubbed the back of my neck as I suddenly felt the weight of what I was about to tell him.

“So…I kissed Jack…” I admitted, but before he could respond, I hurriedly added. “And then I kissed Hank,” Jacob blinked slowly as he stared at me. Jacob didn’t even have to say anything. I could see the judgment in his eyes.

“Corey…are you serious?” he questioned. “You kissed them both? So…now what? Are you seriously going to date both of them?”

“In secret,” I whispered. His eyes went wide, and I quickly looked around to make sure that no one was paying any attention to us. Thankfully, no one was interested in us.

“I mean…it just happened, and you know I cannot choose between them,” I argued. Jacob shook his head as he sighed heavily.

“You do know that this isn’t fair, right? To either of them? To yourself? You have to make a decision, Corey. You cannot string them both along like this,”

“I’m not stringing them along,” I said fiercely, but Jacob gave me a look that told me he didn’t agree. “How am I stringing them along?” I questioned as I stared at him in surprise. Surely, my best friend wasn’t suggesting something horrid. Right?!