Page 23 of The Rule of 3

“No one can take your place, Eli,” Tanner moaned in a broken voice. “Maybe I should just be happy being mayor of Mayberry and forget my lofty aspirations.” His attempt at humor brought a sad smile to Eli’s face.

Zoë stood abruptly and announced, “I’m going to go make us all some coffee. Let’s not make any rash decisions just yet. I… uh... I need to… think.”

They both stared at her retreating back, not knowing what to say.

Chapter 22

Zoë had needed to get away from them to clear her head. She could tell that Tanner and Eli were dying inside knowing they’d have to give each other up, and the obvious depth of their sadness broke her heart. She filled the coffee maker and stared at it unseeing as the machine did its job. Instead, she saw in her mind’s eye the longing on their faces and knew Tanner had been faithful to her since Eli had come to town. The episode she’d witnessed had been innocent—just the two of them comforting each other.

Several minutes later, she returned with a tray of coffee and bagels that she set on the coffee table. They all reached for a cup, but the food sat untouched.

No one said a word. They all gripped their warm mugs like lifelines. The only promising part of the scenario was that Zoë voluntarily sat between them again instead of across the room in the armchair.

Finally, she broke the silence in a small, tentative voice. “Okay, you guys. Since it’s time for brutal honesty all around, I guess it’s my turn.” Once she understood Tanner hadn’t been using her as his beard, she’d considered the choices they had.

They both stared at her like they had no idea what would pop out of her mouth next. Tanner’s eyes were full of worry, and Eli looked hopeful, as though he’d grab onto anything at this point.

First, she turned to Tanner and took a sip of coffee and then a deep breath. “I love you.”

Tanner let out a long, relieved breath and gave her a warm smile. “That’s so good to hear,” he whispered as he reached to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear.

“But,” she went on and his face fell momentarily, “I’m frankly not all that surprised about you and Eli. I know you so well, Tanner, and as much as I think you’ve been trying to hide your feelings for him, I’ve seen them. I just didn’t understand.” Eli let out a shocked gasp, and she turned his way. “In a glance at Eli, in your tone of voice when you speak about him and to him. It’s all been there all along.” She turned back to her husband. “You just have to be able to read the signs.”

“I’m sorry, Zoë,” Tanner began, but she put up a hand to gently silence him.

“No apologies. The heart wants what the heart wants. You love him, and you’re lucky enough that Eli loves you back.”

Tanner’s mouth dropped open, and his eyes bugged a little. “You’re not going to leave me now are you, Zoë?”

Softly, Zoë continued. “Hang on a sec, Tanner.” She turned and said, “Eli, I’m flattered to pieces that you’re so attracted to me, knowing the depth of your love for Tanner. He’s easy to love, isn’t he?” Eli smiled at her and nodded. “So, I have to confess to both of you, that I’m as attracted to Eli as he is to me.”

With that, Eli jumped to his feet, exclaiming, “Iknewit! Ow!” Then he blushed and sat back down quickly, grabbed a napkin and wiped away the coffee he’d sloshed on his bare chest. “Sorry. That was uncalled for. I don’t mean to be a smug egotist.”

For the first time that morning, Tanner and Zoë both laughed. Then she dropped one more bomb. “I came down the hall twice in the middle of the night, and the first time I saw you, you know what my reaction was?”

“Your husband is a rotten cheater?” asked Tanner with a grimace.

“Not even close.” They both gaped at her as she explained, “I was shocked, but I thought to myself, ‘they’re so beautiful together.’ I don’t know, guys, but the sight of you kissing Eli, Tanner, and you two holding each other was incredibly moving and… um… it… well, it turned me on. It was only after I thought about it later that I got mad. I thought I’d been taken for a fool. I decided I must just be your beard. But now I can see that really isn’t the case since you’rebothwilling to give up your ambitions.” She waited for a beat for that to sink in. “Yes, you should have told me sooner, and that does piss me off, but… well…” They waited nervously for her to finish her thought. “If two of us stay together as a couple—no matter which two—one of us will be shattered. So perhaps we can be like a tripod. They’re built with three legs to be as strong and stable as possible. Maybe we can work with this. As a… oh, God, I can’t even believe I’m thinking this… as athreesome. There. I said it. I’msoembarrassed now, you have no idea!”

The silence was deafening.

Eli looked at Tanner over Zoë’s bent head. “Tan, do you think you could actually share Zoë? That’s what she’s asking.”

Zoë answered before Tanner could reply. “Eli, can you sayyou’dshare Tanner with me?” She turned to Tanner. “And Tanner, can you share Eli with me? I don’t want to diminish anything the two of you have. You’ve obviously loved each other deeply for years. I can’t be the reason you have to be torn apart.”

“For once in my life,” Tanner began, “I’m speechless.” He looked into the brown eyes and then hazel eyes he loved so dearly and realized there was only one solution. Backing away from either of them would mean pain he’d have to deal with forever, and he already had a good idea of what that would feel like. On the other hand, trying to do something few people could accomplish successfully—and manage it secretly while living in the public eye—would be an enormous challenge. He looked into their expectant, hopeful faces and answered finally, “I think Zoë’s right. We owe it to ourselves to try. I know for myself I’d always regret it if I tried to give up on either of you. I’m so happy with you, Zoë, but I can’t deny something important is missing without Eli.” He gave them both a smile. “What do you think, Eli? I’m sure Zoë means for you to be an equal partner in this scenario and not some side fun for us.”

Zoë looked serious and confirmed, “That’s exactly what I mean. I recognize that I don’t know you as well, Eli, and it’s going to take us some time to catch up to what we both have with Tanner, but I’m willing to make the effort to see if we can get there.”

“How would this work?” asked Eli. “You know if this is to happen, we’d have to be even more careful now. This would rile up tons of people if they thought their governor-to-be was in a polyamorous relationship. We’re not exactly on the liberal west coast here, you know?”

“We can be careful; we’ve had years of practice,” Tanner stated. “Not everyone is as tuned into us as Zoë is. People will be oblivious as usual.”

Eli was quiet as he looked at them and then reached for Zoë. “I think what you’re proposing is a beautiful gift. I’m floored by you, Zoë.” She relaxed into his embrace as Eli looked questioningly once more at Tanner. When Tanner smiled at him, Eli first kissed Zoë’s forehead, then her cheek. He felt her body lean into him, so he kissed her sweetly on the lips. When she opened her mouth for him, he increased his pressure and explored her with his tongue.

“You’re beautiful together too,” Tanner declared softly. “Now I see just what Zoë saw when she found us together, Eli. It may be wrong to some people, but to me, it’s so perfect. And,” he gained volume with a smile, “If I’m blunt about it, you two together turn me on!”

Breaking the kiss and leaning back into Tanner’s arms, Zoë laughed, “This has been one crazy wedding night, but how many women can say theirs ended up with two grooms instead of one? Lucky me?”

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