Chapter 2 - Nagging Doubts
I awoke the next morning to my alarm blaring at me. 6:30. I rolled over and smacked the snooze button, but I was awake. I rubbed my face and stretched my arms over my head. I was tired from my traveling yesterday, but at least I was coming from a time zone an hour earlier, so 6:30 really felt like 7:30 to me.
I went downstairs to start a pot of coffee, and discovered that Sara had already done it. Somehow this girl was chipper at all hours of the day.
"Good morning," she called out from her seat at the table.
There was a steaming cup of coffee in her hands, and I grabbed a mug of my own and joined her.
"Hey," I grunted back.
Sara just grinned at my obvious lack of enthusiasm.
"I didn't expect to see you this morning. I thought for sure after you got back you'd head right over to the guys."
I shrugged. "I guess I was looking forward to a good night of sleep?"
"Oh I would let those two knock me out ANY night, girl," she laughed.
I blushed and tried to scowl at her, but she wasn't buying it. I knew that Sara was supportive, even if she would sometimes tease me about my relationship. She had met Caleb and Jonah many times now, and had heard quite a few stories from me.
"Well, I was tired. But I'm sure I'll be spending tonight over there, since it's Friday and all."
"Oh, that reminds me. I'm meeting some friends at a club later, you want to grab your guys and join us?"
I raised an eyebrow at her. "Sure, then I can meet all those friends of yours and say 'Hi, I'm Lyla, this is boyfriend #1 and this is boyfriend #2, nice to meet you!' "
She put down her coffee mug and looked at me.
"Lyla, stop doing that."
"Doing what?"
"You know what. Assuming that everyone is going to judge you because of this. It'll be fine."
"Oh yeah? You're sure? Because last I checked, I don't know anyone else in a three-way relationship. So of course people are going to judge us."
She reached across the table and took my hand.
"Lyla, are you happy with them?"
"You know I am."
"Then stop worrying about what other people will think about you. This is Portland, not some super-conservative place. If anyone says anything bad, I'll kick them in the shin for you, ok?"
I laughed. "I'm not sure I'll need you to resort to shin-kicking, but thanks for the offer. And really, I don't think I'm in the mood for a club anyways. I'm more feeling like this is a movie-watching and popcorn-eating sort of night."
"And then...?" She grinned at me.
"And then... my boys will welcome me home properly, I'm sure."
"Damn right they will. If I didn't like you so much, I would be so jealous."
"Oh, come on," I chided her. "I know you're hooking up with hot guys all the time. Somehow they just fall all over you every time we go anywhere."
"Maybe, but they aren't like your guys, I can tell you that. I don't know if you've noticed, but there are a lot of first dates, and not a lot of second dates these days."
I looked at Sara in surprise. I hadn't really noticed, but probably because I had been wrapped up in my own sex life too much to even pay attention to hers. I knew she went out a lot, but none of these guys were ever around for breakfast when I came down the next morning, so I didn't really know what was happening with them.
"I didn't realize you were looking for a second date kind of guy."
She sighed. "Let's just say, if I found a guy worth seeing twice, I wouldn't complain about it. And you somehow managed to find two of them. I'll settle for just one, really."
"Trust me, sometimes one might be easier."
"Easier, maybe, but would it be as fun? And which one are you giving up?" she teased.
"Ha, nope. And neither!"
I pushed back from the table, rinsed my mug in the sink, and headed upstairs to get ready for my day. When I reached my nightstand, I saw a new text chat going on.
Caleb: Good morning love, will we see you tonight?
Jonah: Of course she's coming over tonight, aren't you Lyla?
Caleb: Doesn't mean we shouldn't still ask her.
Jonah: Last night she told me she would, that's all I'm saying.
I jumped in.
Me: Are you guys seriously sitting in the same room texting each other?
Caleb: Of course not.
Jonah: He's in the kitchen, I'm still in bed :)
Me: You guys are ridiculous. And yes, I'll see you tonight.
I grinned to myself. They were such dorks sometimes, and I loved it.
