Page 93 of Rules, Roses, and Rivals
Every single thing they’d done the night before had just underscored the truth Rachel had shared with me. Well, except for Archie. He was different. I couldn’t put my finger on exactly what. It was almost like he counterbalanced Jake’s increasingly frustrating temper with a kind of sardonic playfulness.
“They are jealous,” Mathieu said without an ounce of teasing or jest. “All four of them.”
“But if theylikedme, why date other girls?” Being told that I was oblivious was not really an answer to me. Not when I knew damn good and well not a single one of them had been chaste. That they’d enjoyed discovering sex. They’dtalkedto me about it. Trusted me, at least with their choices. Apparently, I wasn’t to be trusted with mine.
Mathieu sighed. “Chérie, I will not sayallmen, but many of us are not terribly bright where women are concerned. At least not at first. Most of us have to learn, to listen, and to love.”
The last word sent a shiver up my spine. We’d never said that particular word.
“Whether you care for the thought or not, you do love them.” He sounded so matter-of-fact about it. “They clearly love you, though—I disagree with how they show it. There is a saying about a boy pulling a girl’s pigtails when they are younger, it means the boy likes her.”
I made a face. “Yes, though, I find it weird that we encourage the concept of boys being ‘mean’ to prove they like someone.”Jake and Coop never pulled my pigtails, or in my case, my ponytail. Probably because I would have punched them and they knew it.
“It is not so much about encouraging a boy to be ‘mean’ as you say but because we are possessive. We want to be the object of your attention. We like to be pursued.”
That made melaugh. “Seriously?”
“Oh,oui,” Mathieu said with an easy smile. He pressed a hand to his heart. “We like to be chased, to be adored, to be wanted. That does not mean we don’t like chasing as well.”
“So, it’s okay for you to have other girls?”
“Only if we are both open to such.” He shrugged. “Commitments come in different shapes and sizes. Hmm…” He tapped a finger to his lips. “I am saying this poorly. So let me say it directly, it might be easier for both of us.”
My stomach dropped and my heart pounded. “Okay.”
“Do not react to what youthinkI am saying, listen to exactly what I say, please?” He brushed a hand against my thigh and I nodded. We were still a good fifteen minutes away from the cafe he’d found.
“I’ll do my best.”
“Merci.” He took a breath, then said, “We are friends, you and I. We have many things in common and we enjoy talking, learning about each other, and sharing new experiences.Oui?”
“Oui.” That was not hard to agree with at all. “You’re a lot of fun.”
He answered me with a grin. “As are you. I have truly enjoyed getting to know you these past few months. Enjoyed that you let me touch you.”
That sent a scalding hot blush racing over my whole body. “No complaints here.” It had been awkward, there was no getting around that.
Another smile. “We have never discussed exclusivity, merely that we continue to enjoy each other.”
There went that sinking feeling again.
“I am not saying we need to discuss it now, however, I will flirt with other women—some men too—it is just how I am.” The directness in the statement wasn’t lost on me. “I will not, however, pursue another sexual relationship without discussing it with you first.”
Oh.
“As I would expect if you wished something similar, you will also discuss it with me.”
“I—”
“This is not judgment, Frankie.” For a moment, it was like he chastised me, no matter how gently. “You told Jake about us because you were in a position where that might have been necessary.”
Grimacing, I nodded. I couldn’t really deny that. “It was—a little out of control.”
“Accepted.” Just like that, no temper at all. “I am only asking if you wish to pursue anything further with any of them, that you let me know first so we may talk. They are not as open as I am. I want you to only have positive experiences.”
Direct. To the point. A shiver raced over my skin. “I really don’t know what I want at the moment.”
“That is fair.” He quieted as I followed the directions to leave the highway and then we were pulling into the parking lot of what looked like a quaint little diner that occupied a corner of the strip mall.
