Page 93 of Advanced Chemistry

“It’ll probably be intense,” Anton said. “We gotta overdeliver for Hollis while serving our existing client base. He could call at any time with a problem.”

It sank in how much work was waiting for us.

I rubbed Anton’s arm. “We got this.”

“We do,” he said back. “Seb, thank you for taking this crazy risk with me. I never would’ve gotten this far without you.” Anton reached for Chase’s hand. “And Chasey, I’m grateful that you’re along for the ride, too.”

“If you need a helper at the office, I can pitch in however needed. Although I warn you, I can’t lift heavy objects. I can barely lift chemistry textbooks.”

Chase was underestimating his arm strength. But we’d work on that with him.Get used to hitting the gym, dude.

“Don’t worry, Chasey. We’ll be busy, but we’d never forget about you,” Anton said.

I wiped my mouth with my fancy paper napkin. “I actually wanted to talk about that. I’ve been thinking about rules.”

“Sebastian? Thinking about rules? I’m shocked.” Anton laughed into his wine glass. That fucker knew me too well.

“We should have some ground rules about our relationship.” I read articles about best practices for people in polyamorous relationships when I should’ve been reading up about how to broil. Every article mentioned the importance of communication. “Like for instance, I don’t think two of us should fool around without the third person.”

“Agreed. It’s all or nothing,” Anton said. “Leaving someone out would feel like cheating.”

“I agree, too. Proposing a hypothetical situation, what if you were working late at the office, and you were inspired to have sex,” Chase said.

“Have you ever had sex on a desk? It’s not comfortable,” Anton said. “No lumbar support.”

“There was a time when that’s what I would’ve wanted, the fact is that I don’t want to do anything without you. We would never want to hurt you, and that’s enough to keep us from that fantasy,” I said.

Chase nodded. “If things change, let me know.”

“They won’t,” said Anton. “But we can talk about it if they do.”

“Next topic. Where do you stand on inviting other people into the relationship?” I asked.

“Hell no,” said Anton.

“What he said.”

“Same,” I added. “We’re in agreement.”

“Are these questions meant to be foreplay, because they’re not,” Anton said.

“They’re forming the basis of our bond,” Chase said.

I put my hand on Anton’s. “I know you’re scared of things getting boring. This is not boring. This is establishing rules so that we can be free.”

“Think of it as the scientific properties that all matter on earth is beholden to,” Chase said. “Within those rules, some very cool things are able to happen, like life and photosynthesis, and volcanoes.”

“There better be lots of cool things happening tonight.” Anton crossed his arms.

“I think we’re at a good place,” I said. I was out of rules.

“Good. Let’s cuddle on the couch,” Anton said with the same spirit our wrestling coach would tell us to hit the showers.

We retreated to the futon to watch some episodes ofSchitt’s Creek. Chase and I snuggled together while Anton got dessert. For that, we got a pint of ice cream. No cooking necessary.

“Chase, I meant what I said before. I know I came into this relationship with outsized feelings for Anton, but I would never do anything to hurt you.”

“I trust you.” He put his hand on mine, his blue eyes sparkling with certainty behind his thick-framed glasses. “I would’ve noticed warning signs well before our conversation. And likewise, I would never do anything without you. The pleasure it would bring would be outweighed by my guilt. Although, this precludes my desire to whoop your ass at darts.”

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