Harem House - Selene Pt. 38

Kelly's Thursday went better than most. Waking up with the girls made the difference. Rani's lack of shame extended beyond sex, removing any embarrassment Kelly might have had over spotting or cramps. It'd been a while since Kelly had the chance to cook for a large group, and although it was work, she loved every minute. They'd been great about cleaning the living room while she cooked, and everyone left Arthur's apartment in good spirits.

The morning passed routinely enough. After Arthur's apartment, Kelly and Katelyn went to their apartment to change for the day. Normally, after Kelly left Arthur's apartment, Katelyn was waiting for her at home. This time, Katelyn had been with her the whole time. She enjoyed having someone to talk to on the drive.

Lunch proved more nerve-wracking. Rani bailed, texting something about homework. Selene lunched with Arthur in the cafe on standby during his conversation with Yvonne. Katelyn's schedule meant she ate a packed lunch on the other side of campus. Mindy bailed, texting that she had a lunch meeting with Beth. That left Kelly and Kat in the dining hall for lunch, but they couldn't discuss Arthur or the harem because Kelly's old field hockey teammates joined them and filled the table.

Kelly introduced her and did her best to include her in the conversations, but Kat stayed quiet among the girls. She didn't even make snarky comments--the total opposite of the bratty young woman among the harem. It made sense, though, given that Kat had never met these girls. Their raucous conversations didn't have a quiet setting, and none of them showed interest in getting to know someone new.

Kelly felt awful that Kat was the odd woman out. After a round of greetings, Kat retreated into her chicken salad and said her goodbyes when she'd finished her food.

Kelly exited the cafeteria later than usual, walking toward her next class. She wore a pair of 'mom jeans,' as Katelyn called them, high-waisted, baggy, and comfortable. Kelly tucked her vintage striped brown, red, and orange sweater into them. It had tight sleeves and a baggy middle, making her look as if she'd stepped out of the seventies. It was one of her favorite finds at the thrift store.

The autumn day started colder than those that came before it, but warmed as time wore on. Her zippered boots made her feet hot during the walk across campus. Kelly regretted choosing the sweater over a removable cardigan. She could always use one of her emergency outfits, which she kept in her locker, or one from her car, but it wasn't uncomfortable enough to remove yet.

She sat through her class with her pen in hand, taking notes as the professor presented on gamification and its applications in teaching children various subjects. Today's subject was history, which the professor treated as a type of trivia game. Kelly took diligent notes but couldn't help letting her mind wander to Arthur. She wondered how his lunch had gone and kept checking her phone for updates. So far, the chats remained silent.

She sat in the back row, her legs crossed, her eyes showing her disinterest with her dull expression, despite her usual precision with her makeup. Saturday's Ren Faire meant losing the day to the harem. Not that losing a day to them was a bad thing. On the contrary, she was looking forward to enjoying it. Fall Break meant recharging with Katelyn in her family's mountain cabin on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. The retreat would give them an opportunity to catch up on homework, study, and relax. Then they'd return to their usual routine, including Halloween, and pack things for her eventual move.

She had a lot to do before Thanksgiving.

Moving in with the others was a good thing. She wouldn't have to store clothes or extra makeup at Arthur's apartment. It skipped steps in her relationship plan, but Arthur had turned most of her plans on their head. She'd never have imagined that submitting to him and indulging her request for a casual relationship would lead to the harem and the total upending of her life plans.

Still no text messages.

Kelly wondered when she'd hear from Arthur or Selene regarding Yvonne. Had their talk spiraled out of control? Had Yvonne made a scene? Did security get involved? Did they need her to come and help restrain her or calm her? Was Rani there to help? Did Yvonne and Selene reconcile? Would she be in the Theater Club again? Did she think she still had a chance with Arthur? Did the harem have yet another enemy to monitor? Kelly had many questions and no answers.

At least it wasn't Lynn. For as much stress as Yvonne gave Arthur, she was no Lynn. After hearing Arthur's confession last night, Kelly had half a mind to disregard everything Arthur warned her against, march straight up to Lynn, and break her fucking nose.

Lynn was the harem's enemy. She'd earned their dislike, if not their hatred, with her antagonism. Lynn stalked them at homecoming. She tried to crash their party at the hotel. She'd attempted to blackmail Selene last Sunday. Outing Mindy to her parents had been her most direct strike against them. Then she'd messed with Selene at work. She tormented Arthur every chance she got, despite Kelly warning her to keep her distance.

There was no end to what Lynn might try to do. Arthur worried that she'd try to get in touch with their families. It didn't take much imagination to determine what she'd do if she did. She'd out them as polyamorous and cause trouble. If Lynn reached out to Kelly's family, they'd disappoint her. Her brothers would never listen to a stranger over their sister. Her mother was more complicated. She'd fibbed when the harem was new. Her mother was not open-minded. They had a difficult relationship, but there was no way Lynn could make it worse.

Still, she worried for the others. After class, Kelly browsed socials as she studied in the lounge, friend-requesting every parent she could track down. Rani's socials didn't connect to her family, so that was a dead end. It seemed strange, though. Rani had a lot of sisters, but not a single one of them followed her on Instagram. Or did she have more than one Insta?

A search for Rani Shah produced far too many results to comb through. Kelly didn't remember any of Rani's sisters' names to search for them, either. She'd have to ask Rani later, but at least if Kelly couldn't find Rani's family, Lynn couldn't either.

Mindy's family proved easier to find. Her parents didn't have Instagram, but they had Facebook. Kelly sent them both friend requests. They might not know her, but with Mindy as a mutual contact, they might understand she was one of their daughter's girlfriends.

Kat and Selene's mother had a Facebook account and accepted the friend request within seconds. Kat and Selene were mutual friends, as was Katelyn.

Katelyn's parents were already friends with Kelly and Kat on social media. Her older brothers didn't live at home, and there was a significant age gap between them. They were protective of her, though, and it might be a problem if Lynn tracked them down.

Kelly added Deb on socials a few days ago, but she didn't find George on anything but LinkedIn. She searched again but found nothing and ended up perusing the pictures Deb had posted of the weekend brunch. One comment caught Kelly's attention.

Lynn: You look so hot in this pic, Auntie Deb! You need to tell me where you bought that dress.

By rights, she should block Lynn. But if she did that, she wouldn't be able to see what Lynn was doing. Not that her Insta gave many hints about her nefarious activities. Pictures of her in different outfits, presenting her 'look' for each day, with plenty of cleavage filled her feed. Otherwise, her feed included photos of her food, new apartment, and basic hot-girl clickbait.

Following Lynn might give her better insight into her activities. She could set up notifications to learn of Lynn's activities as soon as she posted, but it'd give Lynn access to Kelly's feed, which she kept private. She had too many workout photos on her feed to trust the public with it.

Against her better judgment, Kelly sent the friend request. The notification a few seconds later shocked her. Lynn had accepted it.

Half a minute later, Lynn sent Kelly a message.

Lynn: Hey! I was going to ask Deb for your number, but this works better.

Kelly: Why?

Lynn: Because I wanted to talk to you.

Kelly: About?

Lynn: What are you doing tomorrow night?

Kelly would be preparing for the Ren Faire, packing for Fall Break vacation, and being on call in case Arthur or the girls needed her. She wasn't about to say that.

Kelly: Why?

Lynn: I want to have you, Mindy, and the others over for dinner at my apartment. We can make it a girls' night. No boys allowed. I wanted to apologize for accidentally outing Mindy the other day and figured I'd apologize to the rest of you so we can start over.

Kelly didn't know how to respond. The level of delusion for Lynn to think anyone would fall for that staggered her. She'd threatened to get Selene fired. She'd been a total bitch to all of them. And what she'd done to Arthur? Kelly clenched her jaw just remembering the tremble in his voice as he told the story. She didn't trust herself to see Lynn again.

Kelly: Not a good idea. I'll pass along your apology. We can leave it at that.

Lynn: You won't even give me a chance to apologize to Mindy myself? She won't accept my friend request, so I can't message her. Can you tell her to accept it?

Kelly: Will you admit it wasn't an accident?

Lynn: What wasn't an accident?

Kelly: Outing Mindy. You knew what you were doing.

Lynn: Yes, it was. She and Rani were so open on Sunday that I just assumed they were out and proud with everyone.

Kelly rolled her eyes. Lynn played dumb so often that Kelly began to believe it was her genuine state. That must have been the lie she'd told Deb. As dumb as Lynn was, she wouldn't put anything in writing that Kelly could show Deb to disprove her. Unfortunately, she didn't need to be smart to be dangerous.

Kelly: Tomorrow night? As in Friday?

Lynn: Yeah. If you're willing.

Kelly didn't respond. A different text came through to the harem chat. She hopped over to it. Arthur's message was more important than Lynn's any day.

Master: Some updates. The conversation with Yvonne went worse than I'd hoped, but better than expected. She's not going back to the Theater Club, at least not this semester, but she's not spreading rumors about me anymore, either. We've agreed to keep our distance since she doesn't want to be just friends.

Okay. Kelly read the text several times before the next one came. So Yvonne still wanted Arthur, but Arthur turned her down. What did that mean for the future? Did Kelly have to worry about Yvonne trying to steal Arthur away? Had she reconciled with Selene? Was Selene going to push for Yvonne to join the harem now?

Master: I'm having dinner with my mother tonight. I'm planning on telling her about Lynn. I know it's sudden, but I need to do it before I chicken out.

That was unexpected but welcome news. Kelly smiled to read it, but the smile faded as she realized the implications. They hadn't prepared for Lynn's retaliation if Deb evicted her from the house. If Deb could evict her. They had done no research into this. Kelly's mind kicked into overdrive as she imagined various worst-case scenarios. Rani, meanwhile, responded before Kelly did.

Queenie: That's great!

Wifey: What about fallout? Didn't you say you were worried she'd lash out?

Master: Yeah. I'll do what I can to minimize that. Hopefully, I can convince my mom to be smart. Evicting her won't be easy, even if my mom believes me and takes my side.

Whore: How could she not? She'll believe you.

Master: Maybe. I also wanted to let you know I ran into Rachel today, Mindy's roommate. She's very anti-poly and anti-me, but she got me thinking about therapy. I agreed to have a conversation with her, for her to try to save me after she goes to some therapy sessions.

Whore: WHAT?!?

Master: Also, I'm going back to therapy. I scheduled a session this afternoon.

Wifey: Wow. Okay. That's confidential, right? If you're complaining about your six crazy girlfriends to a guy in a lab coat, he's not going to write a tell-all book about us, is he?

Master: It's confidential. And my therapist is a she.

Queenie: Don't fuck your therapist.

Master: lol.

Queenie: I'm not joking! Don't do it!

Master: That's not even an option! I'm not going to do that!

Queenie: Good.

Pet: We can add that to the list of roleplay ideas, though.

Queenie: Hot.

Whore: lol.

Brat: [rolling-eyes-emoji]

Slut: [smirk-emoji]

Arthur reacted to Brat's emoji with a ^this emoji, and Kelly shook her head as she smiled at their antics. The harem had a way of soothing her anxieties. It took her back to this morning, when the whole clean-up, breakfast, and getting ready ran smoothly with everyone working together. Living in the house wouldn't always be a dream. They'd clash one day. Still, this morning had been a wonderful preview of what living with her found family might be.

Slut: While we have everyone, Jen asked me for an interview again. She said it'd be anonymous, and she wouldn't publish my name or anything, but people might realize it's from one of us.

Slut: I know we said we wanted to keep things private. It isn't the whole campus's business what we do. Still, with Yvonne, Sanjay, and Lynn out there, it might be nice to control the story, answer the rumors, that kind of thing. Thoughts?

She had a point. People often believed whatever version of a story they heard first. Only a fool trusted others to work to discern the truth. Yvonne's little rumors, even retracted, had caused Arthur to receive some hateful looks. Classmates or friends whose curiosity got the better of them approached them, peppering them with questions. Perhaps it'd be better to address everyone at once.

Master: Does she want to interview just you or everyone?

Slut: This one would be just me. I'm sure she wouldn't say no to interviewing all of us, though. And I don't have to do it if you say no, Master.

Master: I appreciate that. What does everyone else think?

Wifey: Controlling the narrative could be good.

Queenie: But do we control it, or does Jen?

Brat: I'm against it.

Pet: I don't care either way, but whoever gives the interview needs to go in ready for battle.

Whore: I'm out with my parents now, so fallout won't be that bad? Especially if we leave our names out of it and it's just the harem on campus.

Master: They'd probably prefer the term polycule.

Whore: Yeah, that one!

Master: Can I think about it? I'm just about to go to my appointment.

Slut: Sure, just let me know. She wanted an answer by Friday, and I think she's hoping to get the interview done before fall break.

That made sense, but the timing raised Kelly's suspicions. Selene's plan for Friday night involved Jen, so it was more likely that Jen used what minuscule leverage she had to get what she wanted. Devious but not malicious. She seemed accepting and sex-positive, so she made a better fit than one of the other school paper writers.

Selene was still trying to keep Friday night a surprise for Arthur. Kelly appreciated the sweet gesture, though her annoyance at being left out buzzed in the back of her head. It should have been the harem doing it for Arthur, but with Mark and Brad there, not everyone wanted to take part.

Kelly doubted she'd ever face Brad again if he saw her doing the things she'd done with the group. At least with the girls, they were in it together. Brad would be on the outside. She'd have to face him in the gym and see him at the Faire the next day. No, it was best if Kelly didn't take part in Friday night.

Lynn: Hello?

Kelly sighed. She flipped over to her conversation with Lynn.

Lynn: I need an answer sooner rather than later to plan food. Tomorrow night. Apology dinner? Are you in or out?

Kelly sighed. That would put her in the basement while Arthur had his guys' night upstairs. In a way, it was a terrible idea, but it might offer a significant advantage. The seed of an idea grew in the back of her mind. She needed to talk to Rani.

Kelly: I'll get back to you. I'm not doing this without talking to Arthur first.

Lynn: lol. You're a grown woman. You don't need your boyfriend's permission.

Kelly gave her phone the finger and didn't reply to Lynn.

~~~

Arthur's history with Doctor O'Cinneide was several years long, and they'd picked up more or less where they left off with Lori's departure. The summer break had caused him to stop attending sessions. Then life happened; he'd thrown himself into work, and his girlfriends took a significant chunk of time. Now, he was picking things up again.

Most of the session had been catching up about summer and establishing how he'd been since Lori's departure. Summer had been a depressing time for him, but nowhere near as bad as others. He'd distracted himself and kept busy.

Doctor O'Cinneide didn't judge, but she called him on his unhealthy coping mechanism. He knew better. She'd given him the tools necessary to work through his problems, but it had been too painful, so he hadn't used them. He'd decided instead it was best to ignore his problems and pretend they didn't exist.

Arthur recognized his pattern. He had to break it. Fortunately, the harem had broken his workaholic phase.

He told her about moving on and asking Kelly out. Their first date at the 1950s diner went well, but she'd told him she wanted to keep things casual, and he'd agreed. He hesitated at first but told her about Selene's friends-with-bondage-benefits proposal that came a few days later.

"Bondage, as in BDSM?" Dr. Cinneide asked.

"Yeah." Arthur said. "She said Lori told her I had a lot of experience with it because we did it together, and she'd always wanted to try it, so..."

"So you're currently active with two casual relationships?"

"Um..." Arthur hesitated. "Well, it started with two causal relationships. It's grown since then."

"Three?" The doctor asked. Arthur couldn't tell what she thought of it from her tone. "Or have they grown beyond casual to the point you now have to choose between them?"

"No, well, yes, kinda." Arthur said.

The doctor raised her eyebrows but let him continue.

"I'm dating six women in a polyamorous arrangement with a BDSM dynamic. They're aware of each other, and we're all in the relationship together, which has progressed beyond casual for most of us."

The doctor stared at him, not even writing. Her open-mouthed expression stared at his earnest face in a clash that would have made any witness laugh. The soft chime announced the end of their hour, and Arthur gathered his things.

"Wait--" The doctor stopped him. "I mean, uh... you're telling the truth? You're dating six women? Together?"

"Yes." Arthur said, nodding.

"And you're sexually dominating them in the bedroom?" The doctor asked.

"Yes, though at least one of them would prefer a more twenty-four-seven arrangement." Arthur admitted.

The doctor said nothing for a full half minute.

"Oh, and not to change the subject, but you might be happy to know I decided to tell my mother what happened between me and Lynn. I'm having dinner with her tonight." Arthur said. "So that's progress, right?"

The doctor nodded. "Okay. Well uh... We'll talk more next week. You should have led with that this week!"

Arthur smiled. "I'm sorry for the cliffhanger. I didn't mean to leave you hanging. We just ran out of time."

"No, no, don't worry. We'll discuss it next week. It was good to see you again, Arthur. Let me know how it goes with your mother, but I'd like to discuss your romantic relationships when we start next week. I have questions."

"Okay. And thanks." Arthur said, leaving her to prepare for her next meeting. He stepped out of his session, amused more than anything else.

Usually, he'd have work right now, but with his new schedule, he'd cleared the time between class and dinner for homework. He didn't have a go-to homework spot on campus. The library was probably the best place to get work done. Kat might be working, but she'd let him finish his homework. The student lounge might work, but it had too much traffic. Friends would distract him.

The outdoors presented itself as a good choice. The weather had warmed considerably from the cooler morning. A warm autumn breeze tossed crisp leaves across his path as they swirled away like brown, red, and yellow butterflies.

He had accomplished little in the therapy session, but talking with Doctor O'Cinneide reminded him of the tools she'd given him in other sessions. The anxieties of his workload and future lifted from his shoulders as he focused on one at a time.

He stopped at the gazebo where he and Katelyn had lunch the other day. It was a picturesque structure between the pond and the field of leaves. Luck and the odd timing of his arrival let him find it empty. He sat with his bag between his feet, surveying the pond to his right, the field to his left, and the campus buildings looming ahead of him.

It was a peaceful reading spot. The sea of leaves stirred more than the pond, though the ducks squawked their annoyance at his lack of treats for them when they waddled past him. He sat and did his homework while the sun did its job to brighten his spirits. The chats were quiet, so he worked undistracted by any traffic until a familiar voice made him lift his eyes.

"Hey there, handsome." Caleb's voice sounded its cheerful way again. The flamboyant young man plopped on the bench across from Arthur and smiled.

"Hey, Caleb." Arthur said. "How's Yvonne?"

"Oh, she's a mess." Caleb said, brushing away his concern and crossing his legs to put his hands on his knees. "But you did the best you could. Now she's just gotta cry it out. I'm going to buy us junk food, and we'll binge-watch as many musicals as we can."

"Sounds like a good time, honestly." Arthur said.

"She needs it, poor thing. You broke her heart, you know, but I always thought you were a heartbreaker." Caleb said. "But how are you doing?" He asked in a shift of tone that gave Arthur whiplash. Caleb's condemnation of Arthur's cruelty to Yvonne was in good humor. His concern for Arthur's well-being was genuine.

"I'm okay." Arthur said. "Honestly, I'm relieved we talked it out. It sucks that she doesn't want to be friends, but I can't force her, and I understand. I think. It hasn't sunk in yet."

Caleb nodded. "Yeah..." He tapped his foot. "I'm going to stay friends with her, obviously. I was pretty harsh on Monday. I felt so guilty after the meeting, but it was wild for her to come at you like that. Hollywood-level insanity."

"Thanks." Arthur said. "Hopefully, she doesn't hate me forever."

"Oh, she has the opposite problem." Caleb said, shaking his head. "But you know that. She caught the Arthur flu and isn't as practiced at your rejection as I am."

"The Arthur flu?" Arthur asked, laughing at the idea.

"It's a pandemic." Caleb said. "You've got a growing harem of girlfriends, more who'd be DTF on campus and plenty of people asking about you. I'm sure Yvonne's not the only lady who's fallen in love with those bright eyes. And that stubble isn't helping. It makes you look like a rugged lumberjack who's good with his hands." Caleb fanned himself.

"Sorry?" Arthur apologized, unsure of how to apologize for his lack of shaving that morning.

"Oh, you can't help it. Poor thing." Caleb said, placing his hand over his heart. "So hot, so wholesome. It's fucking tragic. If I had half your looks, I'd be such a slut."

Arthur chuckled. "You're not my type, but you're not ugly either."

"Thanks, but we're in different leagues, and I don't mean orientation." Caleb said, gesturing between himself and Arthur. "I mean, I'm a solid eight, and you're like... I don't know, a twelve? I don't think I've met a gay man or straight woman who knows you who wouldn't be down to fuck if you threw your interest their way."

Arthur chuckled. "Well, that's one hell of an ego boost. You'd better stop before my head explodes."

Caleb laughed. "Okay, maybe it's an exaggeration, but not by much. Even Logan couldn't stop saying how hot you are to the point it got annoying."

"Oh." Arthur said, confused. He'd met Logan, but the only time he recalled spending time with Caleb's new boyfriend was at homecoming. "I'm sorry."

Caleb waved his concern away. "Don't be. It was only annoying because I told him you're straight, and he kept harping on it."

Arthur raised an eyebrow. "You realize I've told you I'm straight, and you keep flirting with me, right?"

"Right, but I'm harmless, and it's me. It's our bit. I ask you if you've come to your senses, you say no, I mourn and decide to try again later, and we move on with our lives." Caleb shrugged. "You can't blame a guy for trying." Caleb said.

Arthur gave him a look to say, 'Uh-huh,' but it smoldered more than intended.

"You're still straight, right?" Caleb asked.

"Still straight." Arthur said. He rolled his eyes.

Caleb laughed it off. "Had to try."

Arthur scoffed and shook his head.

"I wanted to ask you something since you're the de facto leader of the group now that Yvonne has abdicated her throne." Caleb said.

"Uh--" Arthur tried to say something, but Caleb steamrolled right through it.

"Brad mentioned you were going to the Ren Faire on Saturday." Caleb explained. "He invited me to tag along, which I want to do, but would it be cool if I brought Logan? Everyone else is bringing a plus one. Or, in your case, a plus five?"

"Six." Arthur said. "But yeah, bring Logan. The more the merrier."

Caleb laughed. "Fuck you. Six? Well, at least with you collecting campus women, Yvonne will have plenty of fish in the sea when she's ready. I pity the breeders if you're their competition."

Arthur laughed. "Yeah. I hope she finds someone if she wants a relationship."

"Yeah." Caleb agreed. "I'll see you Saturday? Unless you're coming to the Brewery on Friday?" His band was playing.

"What time's the show?" Arthur asked.

"We start at eight." Caleb said. "I think there's another band before us at six if you enjoy hipster banjo music." He made a gagging motion with his finger.

Arthur laughed. "I'm supposed to hang out with Mark and Brad, but it might be nice to go out. Though we can't get too hammered if we're doing the Ren Faire the next day. We can't be too dehydrated."

"Eh." Caleb said as he stood. "No worries if you already had plans, but why didn't you invite me? Is this a straights-only guys' night?"

"We knew you had a show." Arthur said. "You always have a show. I'm surprised you don't have one on Saturday."

"Oh, we do." Caleb said, shrugging. "Logan and I'll have to leave early. We still want to go."

"Cool." Arthur said. "I'll let you know if we decide to carpool, but if you're leaving early, it might be more like a caravan; you'll want to drive yourself."

"Oh, I let Logan drive. I'm a total passenger princess. I'm only making the snacks run because Yvonne is in no condition to leave her dorm room." Caleb said. "Speaking of, are you okay if I talk shit about you with Yvonne? It's all part of the healing process. I promise I don't hate you."

Arthur laughed. "Go for it. Just don't go spreading rumors."

"Rumors, please. Anyone who's met you knows you'd never do half those things. I'm willing to bet you're a total bottom in the bedroom."

Arthur coughed, feigning that he hadn't heard Caleb.

"Oh, a bottom is when--"

"I know what a bottom is." Arthur said, laughing. "Just go have fun with Yvonne, help her however you need to. I'll see you Saturday."

Caleb laughed. "Okay. I'll see you then. Enjoy your homework."

"Thanks. Enjoy your musicals!" Arthur said, calling after him as he walked away. Caleb waved in response, and Arthur went back to his homework. As relieved as he felt after his conversation with Yvonne, he was glad she had Caleb to lean on. After Selene reported Monday's meeting, he was worried they might not reconcile, but Caleb and Yvonne were best friends, and she needed him. Guilt gnawed at Arthur for making her cry and need so much support, but he'd apologized for his part.

Homework continued, though the park filled with people as time passed. Students were eager to enjoy the last warm weather before it vanished into winter. Luckily, he'd gotten to the gazebo first, and no one tried to take it from him. They kept to the picnic tables or benches and left Arthur alone. A few of them gave him nasty looks when he wasn't looking. Most stared at him in curiosity, like he was an exhibit at the sideshow.

~~~

Selene didn't bother staying present for class. Her phone messages were more interesting, not to mention her daydreams. She imagined Master tying her to the lectern between the desks and the whiteboard, her ass to the classroom, a paddle in his hand. Or perhaps he'd prefer her hidden under the lectern. He could present to the harem the new bondage techniques he wanted to try while she sucked him off. Or, if he wanted to demonstrate, he could strip her in front of their audience and make her go through her poses and perform for their friends. Her core melted as she imagined his grip around her throat. Her grip against her thigh tightened to keep her hand from wandering where she shouldn't touch without Master's permission.

With her distractions, several moments passed after class ended before she realized that everyone around her was leaving. She packed her things and rushed to the exit but stopped when the professor addressed her.

"Miss Weber, a moment, please?" Professor Sweeney's polite southern drawl was soft and high as ever.

Selene paused in her packing. A professor asking to see her after class was never a good sign. Kat received accolades, but Selene? This wasn't the first time a professor gave her the "tough love" speech to get her to work harder. She frowned but nodded and approached the lectern after the other students left. Some of them gave her the side-eye as they passed, as if knowing why she was in trouble.

Professor Sweeney, a petite woman in her mid to late forties, waited for Selene.

"You wanted to see me, Professor Sweeney?" Selene asked. Caution filled her voice, but she braced herself for the coming condemnation.

"I wanted to discuss two things, Selene. Do you mind if I call you Selene?" She asked.

"It's my name." Selene answered. "No, I don't mind."

"The first reason is... well... your grades have struggled this semester. You seem distant and unfocused in class. But that may be because of the second reason." The professor fished something out of her purse and handed Selene a small brochure.

Selene turned the brochure over, her puzzled expression giving way to realization as she read the front of the pamphlet. "You are not alone." Selene read. "SASS? What's SASS?"

"Sexual Assault Survivor Sorority." Professor Sweeney said. "It's a RAINN-sponsored support group here on campus for... well, the name explains it."

Selene's confusion turned to revelation. Yvonne. Somehow, something Yvonne said to someone had made its way to Professor Sweeney.

"Oh, but uh--"

"It's okay." Professor Sweeney said. "You don't have to explain if you don't want to. I just wanted to let you know that the support group is available. Some of their meetings are online. They have a Discord chat and sometimes meet on campus or host events to distribute kits, whistles, self-defense devices, or even teach self-defense courses."

Selene moved to return the brochure, but Professor Sweeney refused to take it.

"Just know that it's okay." She said. "I have extra credit work for you that might help your grades, given everything you have going on."

Selene stared at her for a second. "Miss Sweeney, I wasn't assaulted."

Miss Sweeney raised an eyebrow. "Your boyfriend didn't--"

"No." Selene said. "There's a rumor that he did, but he didn't. Not even a little bit. The girl who started that rumor wanted to get him in trouble, but she was wrong. She saw us together and jumped to the wrong conclusions." That wasn't technically true, but the explanation took the enmity away from Yvonne.

"Oh." Miss Sweeney looked embarrassed, shaking her head at her mistake. "I'm so sorry. When I heard the story, it just made sense. It explained so much. I'm so sorry I jumped to conclusions."

Selene smiled. "It's okay. I'm just a terrible student." She shrugged. "Honestly, I'm probably in the wrong major. I'd drop out of school entirely if my mother wouldn't freak out."

"Oh, don't do that." Professor Sweeney shook her head. "If you're aware that you're a poor student, you can take steps to adjust to the material. Have you tried the tutoring center?"

Selene made a face.

"I can't put the work in for you, but I don't want you to flunk out, either. You're a sweet young woman, and you need to plan for your future." Miss Sweeney said. "If you don't enjoy education, other majors exist. Perhaps theater? I've seen you on stage, and you're quite talented. I'm sure you could get into the theater program."

Selene shrugged and shook her head. "My mother would disown me, which'd make affording classes kinda tough."

Miss Sweeney frowned but nodded. As unfair as life was, financing ruled many young people's decisions. Selene wasn't alone in that. Yet she'd never heard a professor tell any student to take loans to cover the cost. Professor Sweeney reached for the brochure, but Selene pulled away.

"Actually... I'm not a survivor, but I know someone who is. Can I pass this on to them?" Selene asked.

Professor Sweeney smiled as sweet as sugar. "Sure. Tell her to get in touch if she needs more information."

"Oh uh..." Selene hesitated as she put the brochure in her backpack. "The survivor I know is a guy."

"Oh." Professor Sweeney's smile fell. "Then I'm afraid that won't be much use to them. SASS is a woman-only society to preserve a safe space for survivors."

"But..." Selene hesitated. "He's a survivor. Does a club like that exist for men?"

Professor Sweeney shook her head no. "Not that I'm aware."

"That doesn't seem fair." Selene said. "Isn't there anything?"

"I'm not sure." Professor Sweeney said. "And while I know it's not fair, the truth is there are more female survivors than male, six times more, statistically."

Selene frowned. She didn't appreciate that the support evaporated because Arthur was a man. That wasn't Professor Sweeney's fault, though. She didn't decide who needed support and who didn't.

"But if you wanted to start one and devise a series of lesson plans to educate others regarding sexual assault against men, I'd be willing to give you extra credit. That would help improve your grade. Your other professors might even be willing to count it, too." Miss Sweeney said.

Was that a thing? Selene wondered. It'd be work, but if her efforts benefited Master, she'd do the work gladly. Would he want that? He hated discussing what happened with Lynn. She'd known him for years, and he'd only told her because of their relationship now. He wouldn't have confessed without prompting. He was so ashamed he kept it a secret. She wondered if men were less likely to report sexual assaults. She'd have to look into the facts.

"I'll consider it." Selene said, smiling. "Thanks. And I'm sorry for the miscommunication."

"Don't worry." Miss Sweeney said as she packed up her bag. "Maybe some good will come of it."

Selene nodded and left, deep in thought.

~~~

Katelyn left the classroom behind her, her stomach reminding her it was time for dinner. She'd finished her classes for the day, and her heavy backpack slumped to her butt behind her with its ton of books and her computer. Slinging it over one shoulder made it droop further, and she was working hard to maintain her posture, but it was a lost cause.

Otherwise, she felt cute today, with her brown hair in a braid behind her. She couldn't reach behind her with her wounded shoulder, but Kelly had been kind enough to help her. Her white tank top left several inches of her stomach bare above her powder blue skinny jeans, which clung to her legs as a second skin. The pink cardigan she wore over it acted like a jacket but was lighter and open in the afternoon heat. Her white sneakers were bright in the dimming sun, and the walk to her car from the Education building wasn't far. She dumped her bag, changed her phone, keys, and wallet into her purse, and locked the car.

The walk to the dining hall was longer, but she didn't mind. It gave her a chance to enjoy the autumn air. The crisp leaves scattered across campus in the dry, gentle breeze. She checked her phone for new messages, but the chats had been quiet after Arthur's updates. The highlight was Arthur having dinner with his mother tonight, so he wouldn't be at the cafeteria. How his mother reacted determined Lynn's presence in their future. Katelyn had only met her once last Sunday. Deb had spent most of the brunch playing peacemaker and tour guide. Lynn leaving that brunch without Kelly's fist in her face was a miracle, especially if she'd known what Arthur told them. The details made it so much worse. She didn't know if Lynn would survive her next encounter with Kelly.

Kelly's anger was justified, but it was so uncharacteristic of her. In Katelyn's experience, Kelly wasn't a violent person. On the contrary, Kelly acted as a pseudo-maternal figure to her. She wasn't Katelyn's mother, but she was the mom of every friend group she had. There was no stopping that. Katelyn relied on it sometimes. She didn't know what she'd do without Kelly in her life. They were more than roommates now, but they weren't dating each other.

Katelyn didn't know how she felt about the others sexually. Doing things with the harem made her hot, but not as much as Arthur did. Sex was one thing, she supposed. She'd experimented in the safety of the harem and enjoyed herself, but she didn't see herself going on dates with Kelly or the others. Even if she cared for Kelly, she wasn't romantically interested in her, not the way she was in Arthur. Besides, Kelly wanted to play the part of the wife, and Katelyn wasn't husband material. That was Arthur's sphere in their found family. Katelyn wasn't sure where she fit yet or how she'd relate to the others. Was bisexual but hetero-romantic a thing? Did she need to define herself?

She wasn't sure, but she pondered as she checked socials and walked toward the cafeteria.

She jumped when a familiar voice called out her name from closer than she expected.

"Katelyn!"

Katelyn spun to find Ava, one of the twins from her intramural volleyball team, running up to her. "Hey!" Katelyn said, smiling.

"Heading to dinner?" Ava asked. "Mind if I join you?"

"Please." Katelyn said. "Save me from scrolling and walking. I'm likely to walk straight out into traffic and get another injury."

Ava laughed. "Is that how you got that one? I thought you got drunk and tried to ride a bull?"

"It was a mechanical bull, thank you very much. You're supposed to ride it." Katelyn said. It was a funny story now, she supposed, but shame had spilled out of her when it happened. Guilt continued to upset her stomach over vomiting in Kat's back seat.

"And how did that work out for you?" Ava asked.

"Shut up." Katelyn said, rolling her eyes. She adjusted her purse strap on her shoulder, jostling the bag at her hip.

"Want me to carry that for you?" Ava asked.

"I've got it." Katelyn said. "I'm not a total invalid."

"I know." Ava said, assuring her. "I get it. I hurt my knee in high school and had to use crutches. As nice as everyone tried to be, the doting got on my nerves."

That injury explained why Ava wasn't on the school team and instead played in intramurals.

"Yeah. I wouldn't say it's on my nerves, but I'm a big girl. I can carry my purse." Katelyn said.

"Are you comin' to the game next week?" Ava asked.

"Of course." Katelyn said. "I can warm the bench and cheer you on."

Ava nodded, smiling as they joined the crowd heading toward the dining hall. Swept away by the wash of people, Katelyn stuck close behind Ava. She kept her eye on her friend amidst the shuffle of students heading to eat dinner at peak dining hours.

Unfortunately, Katelyn saw someone who drove away her appetite. Sean approached with his eyes low as he stepped in front of her. His hands were in his pockets, and his shoulders slumped forward. He looked upset but otherwise whole in his jeans and Wolves jersey.

"Hey, can we talk?" Sean asked.

"I have nothing to say to you." Katelyn said.

"Come on, Kate. Don't be that way." Sean said. "I just want to--"

"Lady said no." Ava's voice rose above the din of the crowd, causing several eyes to turn their way.

Sean looked annoyed at Ava's interference. "This doesn't concern you."

"Katelyn, do you want to talk to this asshole?" Ava asked, well aware of Sean's cheating on her friend and teammate.

"I don't." Katelyn answered.

"Take no for an answer." Ava said.

"Please, Kate." Sean said. "Just talk to me?"

"Why?" Katelyn asked. "Why don't you go talk to your new girlfriend, the one you started sleeping with while dating me?"

"I messed up." Sean said. "I know that, but can't we--"

"She dumped your ass for somebody else, didn't she?" Ava asked, interrupting Sean.

"I'm talking with--" Sean started to say, but Ava cut him off again with laughter.

"No, you're harassing your ex-girlfriend." Ava said. "Let me guess, the blonde bimbo you cheated on her with cheated on you? Tale as old as time."

Sean went red-faced. Katelyn couldn't discern if he turned red from embarrassment or anger.

"So now, what? You want to patch things up with Katelyn?" Ava asked.

"I miss you." Sean said, reaching for Katelyn's free hand. "Can't we just talk like adults?"

Katelyn pulled her hand out of his reach and put it in her pocket. "I don't miss you." Katelyn lied. A part of her missed the familiarity with Sean, but then she remembered his betrayal, and none of that mattered. "I've moved on from you."

"Have you?" Sean asked, raising his voice. "Already? That was fast."

"That's what happens when you fucking cheat on me!" Katelyn yelled, and if anyone else in the lobby hadn't been aware of the scene, they watched it now.

"What the fuck is going on here?" Rani's voice joined the fray from ahead in the line. She, Mindy, and Kelly were near the scanner when the commotion caught their attention. They abandoned their place in line, and Rani joined Katelyn's side just as Kelly stuck herself between Sean and Katelyn.

"I'm just trying to talk to my--" Sean tried explaining.

"She's not your anything." Kelly corrected him.

"My ex-girlfriend." Sean said, finishing his sentence despite Kelly's interruption. "I want to talk to her, that's all."

Kelly looked behind her, checking Katelyn's expression for approval or dismissal.

"I told him I didn't want to talk." Katelyn said.

"Looks like you have your answer then." Kelly said, pointing her thumb toward the door. "The back of the line's over there."

Rani and Mindy flanked Katelyn, and Rani slid her hand into Katelyn's in silent support. Sean's eyes flicked over them in confusion, then recognition.

"Wait a minute. You're that Indian chick she was with at the bar, right?" Sean asked. His confusion was understandable, given the change Rani affected whenever she dressed casually on campus. Her baggy jeans and oversized hoodie drastically altered her appearance from the cowgirl outfit she'd worn on their girls' night. "Are you bi now?"

"So what if I am?" Katelyn asked. "It's not your business."

"Are you two dating?" Sean asked, unable to hide his interest. "When did you meet? How soon after--"

"We're both dating the same guy." Rani said, answering his question. "We're poly. And yeah, sometimes we fuck." She threw Sean a wink that made Katelyn blush crimson.

Sean stammered, his eyes flicking between the girls. Kelly glared at him, making him step backward. The observing crowd started whispering, and Katelyn closed her eyes, wishing Rani had kept her mouth shut or been more discreet. She hadn't lied, but Katelyn found it embarrassing to have her private sex life laid out in front of strangers. Rani might not have shame, but Katelyn did.

"Go jack off about it and leave Katelyn alone." Rani said, miming the action and laughing at Sean's flustered stammering. "Go cheat on someone else."

Sean looked confused. "But if you're open to dating multiple people... that's all I wanted. I was just trying to--"

"No." Katelyn said. "There's a huge difference, Sean! You can't cheat on your girlfriend and then say you were exploring polyamory! That's not how that works! Now fuck off and leave me alone!"

Despite the harsh words, Kelly didn't berate her for her use of language. She nodded at Sean and pointed. "You heard the lady. Now get out of her sight, or so help me God, I will drag you by the earlobe."

"Okay, okay, Christ." Sean said, raising his hands and walking away. "Y'all are freaks."

Mindy stuck her tongue out at Sean's back as he walked away. Kelly, Rani, Mindy, and Ava encircled Katelyn, checking on her.

"I'm fine." Katelyn said. "Let's just get dinner."

The others nodded and proceeded through the line. Kelly helped Katelyn get her food and doted on her. Ava gave Katelyn a knowing smirk, but Katelyn didn't mind Kelly's help. She wasn't condescending. Given half a chance, she might even do it without Katelyn's arm being in a sling.

That didn't stop the others who overheard their scene in the lobby from side-eying her. This was what it was like to be one of them. She overheard people whispering, conjecturing, and condemning without a conversation. None of the onlookers asked Katelyn for clarification. Sean was a cheater, so obviously, public opinion was against him, but she'd responded to his cheating by turning into another sex-cult freak. So fuck her, right?

Katelyn didn't know what to do. Attraction to Arthur sparked in her blood whenever she looked at him. He made her feel safe in ways Sean never did. The girls were terrific. She even loved Kelly and Kat. They were her friends. The sexy times were amazing behind closed doors. Processing last night and this morning took time. A club meeting, a sexy surprise for Arthur, and fun for everyone involved. Then came the emotional whirlwind, Arthur strapping her to the mattress and giving her orgasms until her legs shook like Bambi, sleep, breakfast with everyone, and resuming daily life.

"Don't worry." Rani said, bumping Katelyn with her hip.

Katelyn looked startled and spun to look at Rani, who'd surprised her. "Don't worry about what?"

"The whispers." Rani said, gesturing with her eyes toward everyone around them. "You get used to them. Besides, what they imagine we do is what they wish they could do in the same situation." She shrugged. "It'd blow their minds to learn what actually happens."

Katelyn giggled. She supposed Rani had a point.

"Come on. Selene's waving to us." Kelly said, pointing toward a table on the far wall, near the window overlooking the campus walk.

Katelyn followed Kelly to Selene, who was sitting with Kat. Ava had split off during their time in line to join her sister. So Kelly, Rani, Mindy, Selene, Kat, and Katelyn enjoyed a table to themselves. The harem had its own table, minus Arthur, of course.

Selene, Kat, Katelyn, Kelly, Rani, and Mindy sat in that order. Katelyn sat facing the window that overlooked the campus. It was a good view, though the setting sun meant the lights inside would soon overwhelm the twilight, transforming the windows into mirrors. They chatted and enjoyed each other's company as they ate, not discussing any serious matters until Kelly leaned closer to Rani and started talking in a low voice.

"Rani, if I had some files on a laptop, could you recover them from the hard drive without the password?" Kelly asked. "How long would that take?"

Rani considered the question. "It depends on how old the hard drive is. It might not be possible with some of the newer encryption methods. I could do it in a few hours if it's an older machine. Did you forget the password or something?"

Kelly shook her head. "I had an idea. It's still forming, but do you remember when Arthur said Lynn had proof--photos of their time together?"

The table plunged into silence. The ambient chatter of hundreds of college students still filled the room, but the table became a sudden dead zone as the girls shared expressions of interest and concern among themselves.

"Yeah. I remember. Do you have Lynn's computer?" Rani asked.

"No, but Lynn wants to invite us to an apology dinner tomorrow night for 'accidentally' outing Mindy." Kelly supplied the air quotes with her fingers around 'accidentally.' They knew she'd done it intentionally.

"Are you suggesting what I think you're suggesting?" Rani asked.

"If we can get the evidence of what she did..." Kelly tilted her head toward Rani, letting her fill in the rest.

"Then Arthur could press charges." Rani said, realizing the implications.

"And bye-bye, Lynn." Selene said, cutting in with a smile that reminded Katelyn of a shark.

"What if it's not on her computer?" Mindy asked. "It was years ago, right? We'd have to get whatever phone or camera she used, any thumb drive copies, all of that stuff."

"We'd just need one copy of the footage for proof." Kelly said. "Not that I'd mind taking it away from her, but it's not a big deal if she still has a copy."

"Okay." Rani said, still thinking it over as she ate a dinner roll. "I might be able to clone her hard drive quickly, but it'd still be tough to access without the password."

"Maybe she has her password written somewhere?" Katelyn asked. Her passwords lived on the last page of a locked journal under her mattress. There were too many to remember.

"Maybe." Rani agreed. "Either way, I'd need time to access her machine, so we'd have to run a diversion or something."

"Like a proper heist." Selene said excitedly. "What if you--" She pointed at Mindy. "Invite her to the hot tub, assuming everyone can keep their cool during her bogus apology dinner and make it seem like you're buying her bullshit?"

"That's a lot of acting, but... worth a shot?" Rani said, weighing the options in her hands.

"I'll keep Arthur occupied upstairs." Selene said. "Not that Arthur would enter the basement except to rescue one of us."

"Can't we get in trouble? Isn't it theft?" Kat asked, raising a concern that had been itching Katelyn's mind.

"It's a risk." Rani said and checked to make sure no one was close enough to eavesdrop. "Though your part in the heist is just keeping her distracted. I'd be the one doing the actual thievery."

"I don't want you to get arrested." Mindy said, putting her hand over Rani's.

"Nah, I've got good lawyers. Don't worry." Rani said. "Besides, Lynn wouldn't press charges. Her M-O would be to threaten me with charges, blackmail me, and try to use it as leverage for something. Probably money, and the moment she does that, we have her for blackmail."

"Aren't her parents rich? Why would she try to blackmail poor college students for money?" Kat asked, pointing out the obvious flaw in that expectation.

"Aren't you worried about this plan?" Katelyn asked Kelly.

"Yeah, I worry. But we'll do everything we can to keep Lynn in the dark." Kelly said.

"Would it even be admissible as evidence if we stole it?" Katelyn asked, which caused Kat to nod and point at her in agreement.

"The cops didn't steal it." Rani said. "We'll turn it over to them anonymously. Also, they wouldn't use it as courtroom evidence. It'd give them the reasonable cause they need to raid her apartment--"

"Our new house." Kat interrupted.

"--And get the data off her drive with a warrant." Rani finished her sentence.

"That's probably the best plan." Kelly said.

"And then poof, no Lynn on campus next semester either." Selene said, smiling as she finished her salad.

"Well, I'm not the one risking my freedom, so..." Kat threw her hands up in the air in exasperation.

"Who knows what else we'll find?" Kelly said, and the others nodded.

Katelyn frowned and put her hand on Kelly's for reassurance. Kelly squeezed her hand, but the excitement in her eyes worried Katelyn more than her hand comforted her.

"So we're good with the plan?" Rani asked. She checked their faces one by one for confirmation.

"Does Arthur know about this?" Kat asked, expressing another objection.

"No." Kelly said. "And he shouldn't. He needs plausible deniability. Besides, if we tell him, he'd tell us not to do it."

"He might have a point." Kat said. "How are you even considering this, Kelly? You're supposed to be the one telling us to remember Arthur's orders, right? He said to stay away from her."

Kelly took a deep breath. "I know. And he has a point. But we have a chance to get her out of our lives. And I am so--" Her grip on Katelyn's hand tightened without conscious effort, and Katelyn yanked her hand away. "Sorry." She apologized to Katelyn. "I am so angry at her for what she did to Arthur. I can't stand by and do nothing. Right? What's that quote? All it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing?"

"Or good women." Rani said.

"Good girls, you mean." Mindy piped up. If they'd been discussing something else, she might have made them laugh.

"And this plan is better than beating the shit out of her." Kelly said. "Which, honestly, I'm still considering."

Rani offered her a high five, and Kelly took it.

"You're not anxious about this?" Katelyn asked. "You're anxious about everything. How are you going to play it cool with Lynn glaring daggers at you over a bullshit apology dinner? She's going to bait you. Heck, that might even be her plan. She'll provoke you into throwing the first punch."

Kelly huffed. "I won't throw the first punch, okay?" She looked at Katelyn, who returned her annoyed expression with a skeptical one. "I promise. If she punches me, I'll let her get the first hit in, and then I'll throw the last punch."

"If Lynn tries to hit you, I want to see it." Rani said, giggling. "But somehow, I think Lynn would slap-fight and pull your hair or something, not go straight for a punch."

Kelly shrugged. "Either way."

"So you're cool with this." Katelyn said, eying Kelly. "Not anxious at all?"

"I'm anxious." Kelly admitted. "But it's this, or I break every bone in her body."

"I'm fine with that plan!" Selene said.

"Let's keep that as Plan B." Rani said, patting Kelly's shoulder, who grinned at Rani.

"I don't know what happened, officer. She just ran into her fist so many times." Selene said, chuckling to herself.

Mindy giggled at Selene. "Seriously, if we can do it, I say we try."

"Fine." Kat huffed. "But let's try not to break the law. Is there any way to get the evidence legally?"

"Not really." Rani shrugged after a minute of contemplation. "Think of it like bending the rules. We do this, and we give Arthur his power back over Lynn. She goes to jail, and we know we helped put a monster behind bars."

"You girls talk me into the weirdest things." Katelyn said, shaking her head with a laugh. "First bull-riding, then bondage, sharing a boyfriend, and now a full-on Ocean's Six heist." She gestured to the six of them.

"Just wait until they pull you into bisexuality." Kat rolled her eyes and stabbed her fork into her chicken breast.

Katelyn laughed.

"Expanding one's horizons isn't a crime, Brat." Selene said, poking her sister in the rib.

Kat smacked Selene's hand away, and Selene stuck her tongue out at her. Kat returned the facial gesture.

"So we're in?" Rani asked. "We're doing this?"

"I'm in." Kelly agreed.

"I'm in." Selene said, nodding. "Though I'll be upstairs keeping Arthur busy."

"I'm in, but I want us to be careful." Mindy said. "We can't trust Lynn."

Katelyn frowned and checked the faces of the surrounding girls. Kat wasn't happy, but Kelly was determined. She had to choose between the two, and Kelly had never steered her wrong. Besides, it might solve things. If nothing else, it'd give them leverage over Lynn when she inevitably tried to hold leverage over them. So, fuck her. She deserved far worse than Rani invading her privacy.

"I'll help however I can." Katelyn said.

Kat grimaced. "Fine. But if you get caught, you're on your own. And if Arthur finds out, I'm disavowing all of you, Mission Impossible style."

"We love you too, Brat." Rani said, blowing her a kiss.

Kelly smiled, and Katelyn understood why. The ramifications of failure aside, this was finally taking action and moving against Lynn to remove her from their lives. That bitch was going down.

She read over Kelly's shoulder as Kelly withdrew her phone from her purse and texted Lynn.

Kelly: We'll be over tomorrow for your apology dinner.

Lynn: Great! What's the headcount? I need to know how much food to make.

Like she was going to be cooking any of it.

Kelly: All of us, minus Selene. So, five.

Lynn: Why no Selene? Is she still mad at me for shopping at the bookstore?

Kelly: She has plans.

Lynn: Got it. See you at 7?

Kelly gave her a thumbs-up emoji and put her phone away. "Tomorrow night at seven." She told the others.

Katelyn added it to her calendar.

~~~

Arthur parked in one of the parking garage's guest spots and made his way to the elevator. The drive had been long but familiar. Rush hour traffic was heaviest on its way out of the city, so he'd missed the worst of it. Not that he'd have minded a delay. He didn't want to have this conversation again, but he had to.

He swallowed his nerves and stepped into the elevator. Any prayers he might have offered that it'd get stuck and delay the conversation were silent. He pressed the "16" button and waited as the elevator carried him to his parents' floor.

He'd grown up in this building. Despite the four years he'd been away, it was still more or less the same. The "16" button lit the same. The elevator still hiccuped after reaching the floor, then settled before opening its doors. He exited and turned right. The elevator across the hall led to the main floor lobby. The neighbors to the left in 16C and 16D were friendly enough.

These apartments weren't like his apartment. This building was outside his income zone, but his parents had bought their apartment before he was born. They'd sublet it while they lived at the house. Now, they rented the house while living in the apartment to be closer to work.

His most recent memories of this place were visits with Lori. The Christmas lights, wreaths, and garlands decorating the hallway during his last visit were missing. He stopped outside his parents' door, 16A, ignoring the door behind him. 16B: The Barreras. He knocked.

When the door opened, he momentarily worried he'd knocked on the wrong one. Mari Barrera, Lynn's mother, opened the door wide and gave him a bright smile. She was a stocky Latina woman who pulled Arthur into a hug before he could recover.

"Oh! Look at you!" Mari said. "Every time I see you, you're more handsome. You must tell me your secret. I'll give it to Gabriel." She laughed as she released him and pulled him into the apartment before closing the door.

It was his parents' apartment, and though their layouts were very similar, the decor his mother had was unmistakable. Mari decorated her apartment with colorful souvenirs from life. Arthur's mother preferred elegance, which meant matching decor and artistic displays, vases, and hardwood floors.

The door opened to an ample open space, with the kitchen and island ahead. Their dining area and living room sat to the left. The far wall held a bedroom door on the far left, Arthur's old bedroom. A windowed patio ran the length of the dining room and kitchen, with sliding glass doors for entrances onto the concrete, brick, and iron-girded haven.

Deb emerged with open arms from the hallway to the right between them and the kitchen, which led to the master bedroom, home office, hall closet, and guest bathroom.

"Arthur!" Deb said, hugging him. "Was it a long drive?"

"Eh." Arthur shrugged. "About an hour. It's always just enough time to listen to the Pimpernel soundtrack if I start it when I leave campus."

Mari and Deb smiled.

"Mari and I were just--"

"Having our daily bitch fest about work." Mari finished the sentence for Deb, who looked shocked. "What? He's grown. He can handle a few bad words." The two empty wine-stained glasses on the island supported her story.

Deb rolled her eyes. "Well, she's not wrong." Deb said. "But we'll talk more later, right, Mari?"

Mari nodded. "Sounds like you're giving me the bum rush now that he's here." She patted Arthur's arm. "You should stop by on your way out. Lynn's visiting tonight! I assume she's going out, but she'd love to see you if she's around later."

"Oh, uh... thanks." Arthur said. "But I'm heading back straight after dinner. It's an even longer drive back to my apartment."

"Well... if you have time, you're always welcome. Even if Lynn's not there." Mari shrugged, blew a kiss to Deb on her way out, and left them alone as she left, closing the front door behind her.

"You've no intention of visiting after, right?" Deb asked.

"None." Arthur said. "It'd be a snowy day in hell before I approach Lynn."

"Mmm." Deb nodded. "You should know I filled Mari in on Lynn's little escapade with the Taes. They're speaking to her about what she did to poor Mindy."

Arthur grunted in response. Not that he didn't trust Mari and Gabe to speak to their daughter. It's that he doubted their efficacy. So far, their parenting style with Lynn had been to give her whatever she wanted, take her side in every argument, and shield her from every consequence. They'd created a monster. He couldn't imagine them rebuking her. It just wasn't in their wheelhouse. As frustrating as it was to have his father say no over the years, he understood why better now.

"Oh, before I forget, I have a copy of the new house keys for you." Arthur said, presenting her with the keys.

Deb looked confused but took the keys.

"I changed the locks since Lynn had access to the main house." Arthur said.

"Ah." Deb said. "Right. Sorry about that." She sighed. "I know it's a lost cause, but I can't help wishing the two of you got along better."

"Well, that's something I wanted to discuss tonight." Arthur said, taking off his suit jacket and draping it over the back of one of the island's chairs. "But first, I need to ask you a favor about next week. Kat, Selene, and I are moving in, and I thought it might be less time-consuming if I rented a U-Haul to move everything in one or two trips."

Deb smiled. "That seems reasonable."

"Unfortunately, I can't rent one until I'm twenty-five, so I need someone older than twenty-five to rent and drive it." Arthur explained.

"Ah, I see where the favor part comes in now." Deb said, stroking her chin. "Well... I'm not sure about next week. I have projects due at work. It's the end of our fiscal year, and it's not a great time to take PTO. Would Saturday work?"

"The thirty-first might be cutting it close." Arthur said.

"No, I meant this Saturday." Deb said, leaning on the counter.

"Oh..." Arthur said. "No, even if we weren't going to the Ren Faire, there'd be no way to get everything packed in time."

"Oh, that sounds fun!" Deb said. "We took you there when you were younger. You loved it."

"I think I remember that?" Arthur said. "I've gone with the drama club, for sure."

"I have an album of our trip there. You in your little King Arthur costume, Lynn in her Guinevere dress." Deb said. "I think we digitized it. I'm not sure. Your father's in charge of that."

"So that's a no on the U-Haul?" Arthur asked. Not changing the topic at her mention of Lynn, but not yet ready to discuss her.

Deb chewed her lip. Arthur saw she wanted to help, but he understood the end of the fiscal year was his parents' crunch time.

"Why can't you rent it on your own?" Deb asked as she moved into the open kitchen. "You shouldn't need me to rent it for you."

"When I Googled it, it said you had to be twenty-five to rent a car." Arthur said, shaking his head.

"Did you check U-Haul's specific policy?" Deb asked. "Don't trust the results summary. But if you still can't, maybe hire a moving company? I can give you the info for the company your father and I used. It's worth it, but I'm sure Selene and Kat would split the cost with you if you're worried about money."

Arthur frowned. Kat and Selene couldn't afford a moving company. Even splitting the bill, it'd come to over a thousand dollars for them. He could afford it, but with the money he'd been spending, it was more than he should have removed from the account within a month. Every withdrawal from the principal hurt his future, as it supported his present and cost him more than the money he withdrew. He had to stop spending from his savings.

"No, they're good for the rent, but they don't have much savings." Arthur said. He pulled out his phone, though, and checked the U-Haul website. "Oh, you're right, though. U-Haul is different. I can rent it on my own." Arthur shook his head and closed his phone. "I should have looked that up myself."

"You can't be right all the time, or life would be boring." Deb said, patting Arthur's shoulder. She squeezed it and started pulling ingredients from the cabinets.

Arthur chuckled as he unbuttoned his cuffs and rolled his sleeves to the elbow. "Yeah, I guess so."

"What's the next item on your agenda?" Deb asked, producing the cutting board from a cabinet and laying it on the island.

"Agenda?" Arthur asked as he moved to the sink to wash his hands.

Deb chuckled. "You've got a list of things to discuss, right? Or was the U-Haul why you asked for the dinner conversation? You said everything's okay with the girls?"

"Everything's good with the girls." Arthur confirmed, smiling to himself as he washed his hands.

Deb watched his smile and matched it with her own. "They're good to you?"

"They are." Arthur said, nodding. "Things have been going way better than I deserve."

"I hope that continues." Deb said. "We tried with the Tae's, but old college friends can only interfere in parenting decisions to a degree."

"Yeah." Arthur nodded. "Rani and I are more concerned than Mindy, but we have time. We're meeting her parents on Monday. If we can make a good impression, maybe they'll be okay with her moving in."

"Well, let me know if I can help." Deb said, pulling ingredients from the fridge and moving them to the counter. "It was great to catch up again, but it was a late night."

"Okay." Arthur agreed. He didn't know if his mom might help, but he'd give it a shot.

"So, what else is on your mind?" Deb asked.

"Well, first things first..." Arthur said, surveying the ingredients his mother had assembled. "What are we making?"

"Mari gave me a new empanada recipe!" Deb said, excited to try it. "It's more carbs than you usually eat, I'm sure, but I bought gluten-free pie crusts, so the worst ingredient for you is the cheese."

Arthur nodded, and Deb set her phone on the counter with the recipe pulled up. He started chopping vegetables while his mother washed her hands and prepped the stove to cook the meat. They worked together for several moments in silence before Deb broke the peace.

"Do you need to put any of your things in my storage unit?" Deb asked. "I know you have furniture that you got for yourself and uh..." She hesitated to name his ex-girlfriend, so instead, she said: "And your apartment, that you won't need anymore."

"I was going to ask you, yeah. I'm sure the girls have storage needs as well. Is there room for all that?" Arthur asked.

"Depends on how much there is." Deb said. "I'd appreciate not having to house every knick-knack, but there should be room for beds or more expensive furniture they're not willing to throw away."

"Perfect." Arthur said, and silence fell again. His chopping was slow and methodical. He used the beats between slices to build his courage. His mom could tell when he was stalling, and her patience gave way to curiosity.

"So..." Deb segued. "What's been on your mind, hon?"

Arthur steeled himself, holding the knife. "It's uh... a lot." Arthur said. "Are you in an okay headspace?"

"What?" Deb asked, confused.

"I don't want to overburden you if you don't have room for the burden." Arthur explained. "If you're too stressed or--"

Deb laughed. "Honey, I'm your mother. It's my job to worry about your burdens, not the other way around."

Arthur nodded, but he disagreed. He dropped it rather than argue. She'd tell him to stop talking if she didn't want to hear anymore.

"Are you okay?" Deb asked.

"It's just... I have a lot going on, and I'm having trouble sorting it out. I had an argument with someone earlier, which prompted me to realize I needed to take control of my life. Acting, not just reacting, you know?"

Deb nodded. "You want to be proactive."

"Yes." Arthur said. "Even though I'm worried about what might happen if Lynn lashes out about this."

"So it's about Lynn?" Deb asked.

"Yeah." Arthur said, chopping the pepper with more force than necessary. "But before we get into it, I need you to promise not to act on it yet. Whatever reaction you have, you need to be cautious. If she takes revenge against the girls, she'll hurt them. Not physically, but the way she tried to hurt Mindy. I don't want their relationship with me to ruin their lives or their relationships with their families."

Deb shook her head. "According to Lynn, what happened at the Tae's was an accide--"

"Do you really believe that?" Arthur asked, cutting his mother off with anger in his tone, which was so uncharacteristic that she stopped stirring the beef in the pan.

They stood back to back, offset, in the strip of kitchen between the island counter and the kitchen counter. Arthur faced the dining area, while Deb faced the wall between the kitchen and the home office. She turned and looked at him with her eyebrow raised.

"I believe her apology." Deb said. "As for whether it was an accident, I have my doubts. She was mad at Mindy for something Mindy said on Sunday and lashed out. Either way, she admitted what she did was wrong and is hosting the girls for an apology dinner tomorrow night."

Arthur turned to stare at his mother. It was his turn to show surprise. "I'm sorry, she's what?"

"She..." Deb hesitated, familiar with the look in Arthur's eyes. "Arthur, why are you angry? Her apologizing is a good thing, isn't it? She's taking responsibility for her actions."

"The girls are planning on going? You've talked to them?" Arthur asked. The annoyance in his voice was akin to a buzz saw.

"No, I haven't discussed it with them. Lynn and I discussed it on the phone and in texts. She wanted to invite me to mediate in case things got out of hand." Deb said.

"Well, none of them mentioned it to me." Arthur said. "So if Lynn told you they were coming, she's lying. I doubt she's even invited them. She probably just wants to pretend she did, so you can be there when no one shows up, and she can claim she tried."

Deb was silent. "You think Lynn's capable of that? You always think the best of people."

"Not her." Arthur said, returning to chopping the vegetables.

"Are you ready to tell me why?" Deb asked. "What happened between you two in high school?"

Arthur's shoulders tightened, his jaw clenched, and his knuckles around the knife handle turned white. "That's why I'm here."

Deb stopped and moved beside Arthur, putting her hand on his arm to stop his chopping. He stopped, released the knife, and turned to face her. She met his eyes and held his gaze, searching it. He tried to speak, but no words came out.

"Should we sit?" She asked, nodding toward the stools.

Arthur cleared his throat. "No, it's best if I distract myself and don't stare right at you as I try to say this."

Deb looked worried, but she released his forearm and turned away, letting Arthur survey the living room as he started his story. She returned to the stove, adding seasoning and browning the beef in the pan.

Arthur pulled a deep inhale through his nostrils, the telltale start to his storytelling. The habit almost brought a smile to Deb's lips, but it never materialized.

"You know, things changed when we got to high school." Arthur said, summarizing. "Lynn started hanging with different friends, and during our freshman year, it didn't take her long to become a different person."

To her credit, Deb listened. She let him speak, knowing that he was building to a point.

"Her friend Angie had a problem with me. I have no idea why. I was an easy target, though. Ugly, awkward, shy, the whole nine yards." Arthur said.

"You were never ugly." Deb argued, unable to help herself.

Arthur sighed. "Mom. There are photos. It's okay. I don't still tie my self-esteem with my middle school or high school self-image. The girls have helped with that. My self-image has been getting better. It's just... It's what made me an easy target for bullying at school."

"It's your story." Deb said, raising her hands in surrender. "Just don't disparage yourself too much, or I'll interrupt again."

"Thanks? I guess?" Arthur said, shaking his head. "Anyway... the bullying at school was from Lynn and her circle of friends. It got unbearable, but she kept it separate from our time together outside of school. Mostly. At least in front of you guys."

"What do you mean?" Deb asked, confused. "In front of me and your father?"

"And Gabe and Mari." Arthur answered. "She played nice to you four, but to me... she turned brutal as soon as we stepped foot on school grounds. After school, we'd hang out as usual. She started threatening to tell people that I... she threatened to lie and say that I, the school creep, forced her to do things she didn't want to do. So, soon enough, she had me doing things for her instead."

"Like what?" Deb asked.

"Like cheating on her homework and exams." Arthur said. "I did her assignments for her."

"You tutored her after school, sure, but that's not--"

"Mom." Arthur said, cutting her off again.

Deb shut up.

"I'm aware of the difference, alright? I'm telling you. If you check my old computer from high school, you'll find every homework assignment done in duplicate. I changed enough of the wording to make it sound as though Lynn wrote her own." Arthur nodded toward his old bedroom door.

"I believe you." Deb said, though she tried to interject with humor. "I don't want the scars that come with searching on my son's teenage-era computer."

Arthur rolled his eyes at that and cleared the chopping board, adding the veggies to a bowl and mixing in spices. The hot peppers he'd cut made him wash his hands for a second time after handling them. He returned to the island a moment later, laying out pie crusts on the baking sheets. Meanwhile, Deb's smile faded as she processed what Arthur told her.

"So that's what caused the rift between you two? She made you help her cheat her way through high school?" Deb asked. The hope in her voice made it clear she hoped that was the answer to all her long-held questions. It made a certain amount of sense. Arthur's moral outrage could be fierce.

"You believe me?" Arthur asked.

Deb put her cooking utensils on the counter. She turned the burner's heat off and moved the pan to a cold burner. Turning to face Arthur, she cocked her hip and put her hand on it. "Honey, of course, I believe you. I know how much you cared about her. You knew it was wrong, which is why you didn't tell me. Because, oh boy, you'd both still be grounded if I found out you helped her cheat. But..." She hesitated, her voice trailing off as she noticed the pain in her son's eyes. "But that's not all you have to tell me... is it?" She asked with sudden realization.

"No." Arthur shook his head. He swallowed and took another deep breath. "By senior--"

The front door clicked as a key turned in the lock. The door swung open to reveal George, Arthur's father, as he stepped through with his briefcase and lunch bag. "Hey! I made it!" George said, sounding almost as surprised as Arthur's face appeared.

Deb left the aisle between the island and the kitchen counter to hug George hello. They shared a brief kiss as George set his lunch bag on the corner and the briefcase on the chair that held Arthur's suit jacket.

"Where are your groupies?" George asked as he placed his suit jacket beside Arthur's.

"My girlfriends?" Arthur asked, confused for a moment, but his father meant his jovial greeting kindly. "They're on campus, doing their own things tonight." Though he assumed Kat or Selene, or both, would be at his apartment later. Someone always was.

George chuckled. "Yeah, your girlfriends. How many are you up to now?"

"Six." Arthur answered. "Katelyn joined the polycule." He explained to his mother as she passed him. She didn't appear surprised.

"Six! Are you treating them well?" George asked.

"As best as I can." Arthur said.

"Well, do your best. I don't envy you if they all get mad at you at the same time." George chuckled. "What's for dinner?" He asked as he took the position across the island from Arthur. "Anything I can do to help?"

"You don't have to work?" Arthur asked, confused.

"Not tonight." George said. "I'll put in hours from the home office tomorrow and Saturday, though. It's crunch time."

Arthur nodded. His father's arrival surprised him, but his not hiding away in the home office while he and his mother cooked surprised him more.

"Besides, your mother told me you were coming to dinner tonight, so I thought I'd make time." George said. "I've been wanting to catch up with you." He surveyed the food preparation and gestured toward the pie crusts Arthur laid out. "Empanadas?" He asked. "Are the Barreras coming over? Have you convinced Lynn to join your girl gang yet?"

"George." Deb said, catching his father's attention with a practiced pronunciation for that purpose. Not angry, but enough to surprise George.

"Sorry." George said, apologizing to Arthur. "I'm just not sure how to refer to your uh... group of girlfriends."

Arthur avoided telling his father that the girls referred to themselves as a harem. "The technical term is polycule." He said.

"Polycule." George repeated as if tasting the word. "I guess that's better than a gaggle or a flock." He chuckled.

"The Barreras won't be joining us tonight." Deb said, answering George's other question. "But Mari gave me the recipe. You enjoy Mexican food, don't you?"

"Sure." George said. "I'll eat anything, even if I pay for it in the morning." He patted his stomach and gave Arthur a wink.

Arthur chuckled.

"Arthur was just filling me in on his issues with Lynn." Deb said. "Did you know she made Arthur do her homework for her in high school?"

George's smile faded. He looked at Arthur with an appraising eye. "I hope you got tit for tat."

"George!" Deb said, turning his name into a reproving expletive.

George raised his hands in surrender. "Sorry, sorry. I shouldn't joke." He eyed Arthur, who wasn't offended. He knew his father's first response to most situations was to lighten them. For many difficult conversations, it was a good instinct. However, sometimes, he needed to get serious. "That's quite an issue. It explains how she went from a promising 4.0 in high school to flunking out of college. I assume she's approached you about continuing to do that for her next semester?"

Arthur looked surprised at how quickly his father accepted the information, assimilated it, and used it to predict the next logical move.

"No, but I assume that's why she wants to get close to me." Arthur said.

"Well, maybe." George said, stroking his chin. "It's a possibility if you became her source of good grades, but cheating in college has serious ramifications. I hope you know better than to do that again."

"Of course." Arthur said, almost snapping but keeping his voice tight and restrained. "I want nothing to do with Lynn."

"I know you don't want her living in the basement." George said. "But we promised her parents that--"

"George, stop." Deb said, holding her hand up in a stop signal for George to stop talking. "Let's hear him out. Okay?"

George raised an eyebrow. "Are you willing to entertain the idea of kicking Lynn out?" George asked Deb.

"It depends." Deb said. "From what Arthur told me so far, it was more than just helping her. Cheating on projects, writing her assignments, and she blackmailed him, extorted him, to do it."

"Really?" George asked. "Why would a girl like that resort to blackmail and extortion when she's got..."

Deb's eyebrows were far more communicative than any words might be.

"Other methods?" George finished his sentence with words that were an obvious replacement for whatever he would've said. "You get more flies with honey, right?"

"Possibly because I was gross and chubby." Arthur said. "I don't know."

"Hm." George said, considering it. "Okay. So what else did she do? What else caused this rift between you that you won't man up and get over?"

Arthur took another deep breath. That was his father's answer for most of life's emotional hurdles. Man up. Get over it. He loved his father, but he didn't feel an incredibly close emotional bond with the man. It wasn't George's fault. He was a product of his generation. Arthur felt lost trying to explain why it didn't work that way when his father seemed confident it did. Anecdotal evidence was never universal.

"It's... It's complicated." Arthur said, trying to get back into the groove of his story. "Lynn made my life hell during high school. She was my bully. At home, she'd be nice to you guys and even to me sometimes. It was a Jekyll and Hyde routine. I didn't know how to tell you what was going on without opening myself to more ridicule at home. I was already getting enough of it at school."

"Heh. You were always emotional." George said. "A bit of a--"

Deb's glare told him to stop talking, so he did. George swallowed his words and shook his head. "I'm sorry, son. Go ahead." George nodded. "I promise I won't make fun of you for admitting a girl beat you up."

"Well, she didn't beat me up. At least, not usually. Not like that. She used words." Arthur said. "Accusations."

"Hm." George said, taking a seat as Deb and Arthur resumed their preparations. "Just wait until you get into the real business world. You'll have to be extra careful to avoid that."

Arthur frowned. He knew that well enough, he supposed, with Liz from HR putting strain on his relationships with Mindy and Beth at the office. Still, it was a grim reminder that he'd never escape the fear of someone accusing him and not needing proof to ruin his life forever.

"Go on, honey." Deb said. She nodded her encouragement. "You were saying?"

Arthur tried to regain his place in the story, but his father sat in his line of sight. Try as he might, it was tough to look at his father and admit his weaknesses. He kept his eyes on his hands as he worked, trying to snap out of it. He should have brought the girls. A hand on his back, a silent signal of solidarity, would have gone a long way in stoking his courage. Instead, he had to brave both his parents on his own.

"You mentioned senior year?" His mother prompted hopefully.

"Yeah." Arthur said, swallowing. "So... senior year... she uh..."

A knock at the door caused them all to turn toward it. Arthur didn't know whether to express relief or frustration at the interruption. Both? They both washed over him.

"Are you expecting anyone?" George asked Deb.

Deb shook her head. "Not unless Mari forgot something. Can you see who it is, dear? I'm a little busy here." She said as she mixed the meat, vegetables, and spices in a large bowl.

George nodded and hopped from the raised chair at the island to the floor. He walked to the apartment's front door and opened it wide before narrowing it again. "Well!" George said. "Speak of the devil."

Lynn stood on the other side. She wore a tight, plaid buttoned shirt that showed her cleavage, with half its buttons undone. It tucked into a tight pair of ocean blue denim jeans. Her brown cowgirl boots matched her wide belt, and the silver buckle caught the light from the entrance.

She smiled and hugged George, kissing his cheek. "Oh, Uncle George. Auntie Deb might be mad at me about Mindy, but I'm not that bad, am I?"

George coughed and looked over his shoulder at Deb, who glared in Lynn's direction. Beyond Arthur's recent confessions, they had other disagreements between them, like Mindy's parents, even if Lynn apologized.

"Mammi said that Arty's here?" Lynn asked, looking around George to spot Arthur standing at the island. "Do you mind if I borrow him?"

"We're in the middle of something." George said, still standing in the doorway enough to block Lynn's entrance despite her attempt to brush him aside. Something that struck everyone in attendance as unusual. George usually stood aside. "We're getting ready to have dinner, you see, and there's something I need to discuss with Arthur privately. Can you come back later?"

"Oh." Lynn said, surprised. George had never sent her away before. "But... aren't I family?"

George smiled softly. "Come back later. I'm sure Deb will be happy to see you after dinner."

Deb nodded, and Lynn took her rejection in shock and surprise. George closed the door. He turned the deadbolt as softly as he could before returning to the kitchen.

Arthur stared at the door, unsure if Lynn was listening from the other side. The apartment was well soundproofed; part of the luxury they offered was not hearing the neighbors, unlike what Arthur had to deal with at his complex. But if she pressed her ear to the door, she might overhear. He checked the peephole for himself and saw her disappearing into her parents' apartment.

He sighed as he walked to the island. "It's like I can't escape her. Everywhere I go, she pops up just to annoy me."

"I'm sorry, honey." Deb said and gestured for him to step aside. Deb spooned the mixture into the waiting pie crusts. She and Arthur then mixed in the cheese and folded the crusts over, forming the empanadas.

"So... senior year." Arthur said, not looking at either of his parents. "Things escalated to the breaking point."

Arthur paused, hesitating to continue as if climbing an impossible obstacle. George and Deb watched him patiently as they waited for Arthur to continue his story. He kept busy by comparison, glazing the empanadas and putting them into the oven. Deb pointed for him to sit, but Arthur began the cleanup, keeping himself occupied. This was the third time in a week he'd opened this wound. He couldn't sit and cry. Not with his father watching. Still, he'd grown weary of it. He didn't want to repeat the story. Only his parents' patience and refusal to change the subject coerced him to continue.

He sighed. This would be the last time. Then he'd be done--no more recitations for a long, long time.

"Four years of hell neared their end, and Lynn and I started discussing colleges and our future." Arthur said, continuing his tale. "We got into an argument because I wanted to stop helping her after writing her college application essays."

"You wrote her application essays?" George asked, glancing at their front door.

Arthur nodded. "I knew Lynn well enough to write in her voice and put her opinions on the page better than she could. Freshman year, she at least put in some effort. By senior year, she didn't even try to do any of her own work. That's what she had me for."

"Why in the world did you play along with this for so long if she wasn't giving you anything in return?" George asked. "We didn't raise you to be a simp, did we? Are you sure you weren't getting something out of it? You don't have to be embarrassed."

"George." Deb said.

"No, it's okay." Arthur said. "I wasn't getting anything out of it other than humiliation and constant harassment, which I did not enjoy. I put up with it because I thought she was giving me my freedom."

His parents looked confused.

"Everyone at school was aware I liked her." Arthur said. "But anytime I approached her on campus, they'd tease me for being a creepy stalker. As if I made our schedules the same, or whatever."

"You weren't creepy." Deb argued.

"I was an awkward teenager." Arthur said. "And yeah, I looked like a creep. You remember my hygiene and sense of style."

"You were just a late bloomer." Deb said. "Look at you now!"

"Yeah, well, back then, her threats had weight." Arthur said. "If I didn't help her, she'd have me arrested and thrown in jail, and she wouldn't even need proof to do it."

George straightened at that and glanced at Deb, who shared his expression of concern.

"You must have been frightened." Deb said, letting Arthur continue.

"Yeah." Arthur said. "Frightened enough to keep working for her. I tried to stop it a few times, but every time we argued, I'd cave. We had a conversation during our senior year's spring semester. We discussed our futures and what college might be like. Part of me wanted to go to the same school she did, but another part of me saw going to a different college as my only chance to escape."

"Is that why you went to Pendleton instead of the Ivy Leagues?" Deb asked. A touch of anger tinged her words. She'd lost the argument over which schools he should apply to years ago. She'd pushed him hard to apply and attend college with Lynn.

"I had a lot of reasons to attend Pendleton." Arthur countered. "The financial aid was better because of the alumni scholarship, for one. And I don't regret my choice. If it weren't for Pendleton, I'd never have met Selene, Kat, Kelly, Mindy, Rani, or Katelyn."

"Or Lori." Deb added.

"Yeah." Arthur agreed. "I wouldn't have met any of my girlfriends or be part of a polycule is my point. So, attending Pendleton was for the best."

"Ha!" George slapped the island. "Fair point! You're the big man on campus now."

Arthur nodded. He didn't know if he'd phrase it that way. The campus gave a mixed reaction to the polycule, and while some might see him as aspirational, others condemned him with equal fervor. He had friends, though, and wasn't the social outcast he'd been in high school.

"So go on. You and Lynn planned on going to separate colleges." Deb said, encouraging Arthur to return to his story. She wouldn't let him change the subject.

"Yeah. We had a long talk, and Lynn seemed to have the change of heart I'd hoped for. She cried, apologized, and told me things would be different. That this was the start of something new for us." Arthur said. The well of tears behind his eyes prepared for the pour that he held back.

"Well, that's good, right? You two cleared things up?" George asked. He didn't sound confident. "Is that why she asked you to the prom? But what happened? Because, as I recall, you refused--"

"Let him finish." Deb said, patting George's shoulder as she stood beside him while he sat in the raised chair at the island.

"She lied." Arthur said, cutting to the chase. "I thought we'd be together. That she loved me the way I loved her, but she lied. She hated me. She always hated me."

Arthur turned his back on his parents and started washing the dishes, loading the drying rack as he washed them by hand rather than loading the dishwasher. It took longer, but it gave him something to do as he continued his story. Deb and George both silently warned the other not to argue with Arthur over Lynn's feelings. This tale was his story, and Arthur appreciated them letting him tell it, even if it'd been slow going so far.

"Do you remember the motel party I went to in my senior year?" Arthur asked.

"The one where you got drunk and picked a fight with the entire football team?" Deb asked. "I still can't believe you drank. You'd still be grounded if--"

"I lied." Arthur said. "I didn't pick that fight, and I didn't drink a drop of beer. That's not what happened."

"What are you talking about?" George asked. "We had to take you to the hospital, remember? You were black and blue for weeks. There was that video, and we had to fend off assault charges from that kid you hurt."

"You did?" Arthur asked, not remembering that.

"We didn't tell you about that." Deb said, shaking her head. "We let the lawyers handle it. With how depressed you acted afterward, we didn't think it was a good idea to add to your burdens."

"Your mother didn't think you'd handle it well." George said, earning himself a glare from Deb. "What? I'm saying I thought he was tougher than you gave him credit for. Drunk or not, it takes guts to take on an entire team of guys single-handed."

Deb rolled her eyes but patted her husband's head and let him put his arm around her waist.

"If you didn't fight the football team, then what happened?" Deb asked.

"I was a social outcast at school." Arthur said, reminding his parents of his lack of friends, thanks to Lynn's efforts. His conversation with his therapist reminded him of something she'd helped him realize years ago. "She isolated me during childhood and high school, sabotaging any friendship I attempted to make while remaining unattainable. So those guys didn't invite me to their party. I went because Lynn invited me as her plus one."

His parents waited for him to continue. They couldn't argue about his lack of friends in high school, even if his social circle was much larger now.

"Lynn rented a room, and she made promises based on everything I'd done for her over the years." Arthur said.

"Sexual promises?" George asked.

"George!" Deb chided him.

"What? I'm just making sure I understand what he's saying." George said.

"Romantic promises." Arthur said. "This was supposed to be the start of our new relationship together. We knew it'd only last until summer. Bittersweet and romantic, typical eighteen-year-old high school stuff." Arthur said. "She said she had something special planned for us, and I hoped that meant something romantic, possibly even sexual. I was half right."

"She left you with blue balls?" George asked, earning himself a smack on the arm. George laughed and rubbed his arm, but Arthur wasn't laughing.

"It's worse than that." Arthur said. His voice and heavy tone contrasted sharply with George's levity.

His father wasn't one to sit with his emotions when he saw an easy way out through cracking jokes, no matter how inappropriate they might be. He was lucky Deb had a good sense of humor, though Arthur supposed it never would have worked between them otherwise. His father's lack of comfort with emotion aside, Arthur had come this far. Farther than any previous attempt he'd made to tell his mother what happened. He had to see it through, not for himself, but for the girls. This conversation was the only way to permanently remove Lynn from their lives.

Arthur steeled himself with another heavy breath. He turned off the water and leaned against the kitchen sink, facing the back tile with his back toward his parents. He sensed their eyes on him but closed his eyes and imagined the scene from last night instead. His girls sat with him, surrounding him, holding him, and reassuring him. He could do this.

"How awful could it be?" George asked. "Come on, Arthur. If you're going to finally man up and tell us what happened, just--"

"She forced herself on me." Arthur said, blurting it out in one go.

Silence.

"She... what?" George asked. The surprise in his voice equated Arthur's statement with something incomprehensible. Arthur might as well have confessed to being Santa Claus. It made no sense to his father.

Arthur's grip on the sink's edge tightened. His back muscles flexed as he lowered his shoulders, trying to hold in his rage.

"Lynn invited me to the party and her motel room. I went. When I got there, something felt wrong. It wasn't romantic at all. She sat in the chair and gestured for me to take the bed, but I wasn't sure what was happening. Sex wasn't on my mind, ironically enough. I thought we were preparing to emerge from the room and announce our relationship to our classmates at the party. I thought if things went well, the night might end with some level of physical intimacy. At least, I hoped, since we were both eighteen, but I wasn't expecting it. I knew she didn't owe me that. I tried to kiss her hello, but she wouldn't let me. She ordered me to stand at the foot of the bed, so I did."

He opened his eyes and kept them open. Closing them meant picturing the memory again and recalling it in too vivid detail. The threads of Lynn's t-shirt, the strap of her bathing suit poking through the V-neck, the jeans she wore that clung against her crossed legs. He recalled the firm mattress against his back and the scratchy quilt. The smell of watery cleaning products and old carpet, the air still carrying the singed odor of an old bag vacuum with an ancient motor.

"She told me to take my shirt off." Arthur said. "It was my first time, but it felt so... wrong. I wanted romance, and this was the opposite of that. It was her being a bully. I felt so vulnerable and alone that I didn't want to do it. Lynn insisted, mocking me, threatening me, until I started taking off my clothes. She sat back and mocked my body. She held nothing back. By the time I was in my underwear, I was in tears. I tried to back out, to gather my things and leave, but she stopped me. I begged her to stop, and I refused to take off my briefs. She pushed me onto the bed, straddled me, held me down, and... ground herself on me."

Arthur took a ragged breath. Restraining tears as he plunged through this trauma once more. It hurt less than last night, but he was so goddamn weary of this pain. This story. He wasn't brave enough to look behind him where Deb's grip on George had tightened. They sat in silence for at least a minute as they absorbed the information.

Arthur didn't cry, at least not until his mother threw her arms around him from behind. She wet the back of his shirt with her tears, holding him. She sobbed, and George, to Arthur's surprise, joined the hug from the side. He stroked Deb's back and held them both in a firm hug.

George preferred handshakes more than hugs. Deb slid into his arms easily enough, but she was the only person he initiated physical contact with once Arthur grew too tall for George to ruffle his hair.

"I'm sorry." Arthur said, unable to say anything else.

Deb's sobbing didn't let her answer. She squeezed Arthur so hard around his ribs that he worried they might break.

"Mom." Arthur said, his voice raspy from lack of breath. He tapped her arm three times, then realized that meant nothing to her. "I need to breathe." Deb's hold slackened, though she didn't release him. He sucked in a deep inhale. "Thanks."

Silence reigned for several minutes as Deb cried, and Arthur let her hold him. To his surprise, the group hug stayed the entire time, even after George broke the silence.

"Well, that explains why you were so angry when you saw her again at the house." George said.

"Yeah. That's what caused me to hate Lynn the way I do." Arthur said.

"Is that the end of the story?" George asked. "How did you go from that to getting the shit kicked out of you by the football team?"

Arthur turned to face his parents now that he'd passed the most painful part. He'd miscalculated. Deb's eyes strained with tears. Her makeup ran, and she refused to let him go. George had a more concerned expression on his face, though his eyes looked misty. He kept one eye on Deb, acting as her rock through this emotional storm. Arthur's guilt at having brought this storm into their lives swelled within him. Pain clung to his heart.

"I'm sorry." He said again to Deb.

She sniffled. "You're sorry?" Deb asked through her sobs. "YOU'RE SORRY?!?!" She yelled. "This is my fault. All these years... I should have known. I should have--"

"It's not your fault." Arthur said. "It's not my fault either. It's Lynn's fault. I've taken a few years of therapy to come to terms with this, and I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner. I wanted to, but I couldn't hurt you with this. You love Lynn."

Deb sniffled. "You're my son." Deb said, her grip on him tightening. "My only child. I love you more than life itself, and she hurt you in ways I--I--."

"She's a surrogate daughter to you." Arthur said. "I know you always wanted--"

Deb grabbed Arthur's face, forcing him to look her in the eyes. "You are my son, and I love you, and I am so... so sorry she hurt you. I'm sorry I wasn't there for you and that you felt you couldn't come to me with this when it happened. I would never have--" She broke down. Deb cringed at the memories of all the times she'd tried to encourage Arthur to date Lynn or pushed the two of them toward each other in recent days, weeks, and years. She couldn't even finish her sentence, but no one forced her. Arthur hugged her, and she rested her head on his shoulder as she cried. George stroked her back, standing right beside her the entire time.

"Let's go sit in the living room." Arthur said.

They made their way in staggered steps, with Deb unwilling to relinquish her hold on her son. Finally, they made it to the sofa and Arthur gently pried himself from her grasp. Deb clung to George in Arthur's absence as he took the recliner that he'd turned at an angle to the couch, which faced the TV on the far wall opposite the kitchen.

"So... yeah." Arthur said, exhaling. "She, uh... stayed clothed the entire time, and I was in my briefs. There was no, uh... No actual sex. Just grinding, insulting me, and then she left."

"And you didn't stop her or fight back?" George asked as the only one of his parents able to speak.

"I tried." Arthur said. "I outweighed her, but she turned out to be stronger than me, and I wouldn't hurt her to escape. Even if I wanted to, I wasn't in shape. I didn't have the muscles. Even with these, when Lynn tackled me during homecoming, I just froze. Rani said it's natural, but..."

"A freeze response is natural in that situation." George said, nodding.

Arthur raised an eyebrow.

"Go on, son." George said. "She left you in the motel room. And then..."

"I chased after her." Arthur said.

George winced, though Arthur couldn't tell whether it came from his words or his mother's vice grip on George's hand.

"I was still in my underwear." Arthur said. "And the motel was full of our classmates. Everyone got an eyeful of Lynn turning the corner and arriving at the party, and then the school creep came around the corner, streaking in his underwear and chasing her."

Now, George's wince came from Arthur's words.

"Lynn screamed when she turned around and saw me." Arthur said, recalling the startled fear in her screech. "Like we hadn't just come from the same room. She was popular, so the football team rushed to her defense. That's when they beat me up. As you saw in the video, I didn't fight back. I got knocked down, kicked, and dumped."

"Dumped?" George asked, confused.

"They threw me in the dumpster after I blacked out from the pain." Arthur said.

George frowned. "Well, obviously, we wouldn't have grounded you if you'd told us the truth."

Arthur couldn't bring himself to chuckle at that. "I was too depressed at the time to go anywhere. I had no friends before that happened, and afterward, the school treated me as public enemy number one. I'd have gladly homeschooled the rest of my senior year or gone to public school."

George nodded. Deb sobbed. Arthur waited, letting his mother recover herself enough to speak.

"I am so sorry for..." Deb sniffled, and George handed her a tissue from the box on the coffee table. Deb took it, blew her nose, and dabbed her eyes with the next tissue. "For everything. For what you endured, and that you endured it alone. I should have pushed harder to figure out what happened. We should never have grounded you. I--"

"Mom, it's okay." Arthur said. "None of what happened is your fault. I hid things from you out of, I don't know. Shame. Fear. A whole slew of things. I've hesitated to tell you. I didn't want to hurt you. This..." He gestured to her growing pile of dirty tissues. "This is all my fault."

"Don't you dare worry for my sake!" Deb said, blowing her nose again. "I'm your mother. I should have--"

"You did everything you could." Arthur said. "You're always there for me and support me, even when I do crazy stuff like come out as poly or decide to move in with my girlfriends. I just wasn't strong enough to tell you. That's on me."

Deb sniffled.

"So what changed?" George asked. "Why tell us now when it's--well, why now?"

"Years of therapy?" Arthur suggested. "It wasn't an overnight thing. Lori was the first person I told. She helped me figure things out as we grew intimate. I, uh... I had a lot of baggage in that arena."

George nodded.

"The girls helped, too." Arthur added.

"You told your girlfriends about this?" George asked.

"Yeah." Arthur said. "I told Rani on Sunday and the rest of them last night, which is another reason I told you. Rani and the others were insistent."

"Remind me to thank Rani." Deb said, still wiping her face with tissues. "I'll have to send her flowers. Does she enjoy flowers? Or I'll take her to dinner or something."

"You don't have to do that." Arthur assured her.

"How did they react to the news?" George asked. "Are they still willing to move into the house?"

Arthur looked confused. "Well, they reacted like Mom did, and yeah, they still want to move in. They didn't dump me or anything."

"No, I mean, with Lynn living there." George said. "I'm surprised you were willing to accept our offer, given what she did to you."

"That's why I brokered stipulations against her access to the house. And if it weren't my only chance to share a house with my girlfriends, I wouldn't even consider it." Arthur said, though a thought settled into his brain as he answered. "But I take it that means you don't intend to kick Lynn out, even after what I just told you?"

"We absolutely are." Deb said, looking at George.

"We absolutely would if we could." George responded, shattering Arthur's hope. "She has a lease, Deb."

"You had her sign a lease?" Arthur asked, surprised.

George frowned but nodded. "We made you sign a lease and an employment contract, didn't we? I thought it best to document everything so we're protected."

"So you can't kick her out?" Arthur asked.

"Well..." George gave Deb a pained look, then turned his expression toward Arthur. "Not that I don't want to." He said to Arthur. "Believe me, son, now that we know what happened, we never would've agreed to house her."

Deb nodded her agreement.

"But she signed a lease until next July, and as her landlord, there are very few reasons we can evict someone." George said.

"Wasn't there a clause about doing something illegal?" Deb asked.

"On the property." George said. "We can evict her if she uses the property to do something illegal. That's standard to keep people from, I don't know, trying to build a meth lab or something."

"So there's nothing we can do?" Arthur asked.

George sighed. "Our grounds for eviction are: If she doesn't pay her rent, causes excessive property damage, gets a pet without permission, sublets the apartment, or if she engages in disruptive behavior. Behavior such as excessive noise, harassment, or trouble, but that's a legal case we'd have to prove in court. Otherwise, we're stuck until July, when we can decide not to renew her lease."

Arthur frowned. "And she's signed it?"

Deb started crying again. George put his arm around her, hugging her to him as she rested her head on his chest.

"We had her sign it before she moved in. Standard procedure and all." George said, sighing. "If you'd told us sooner, like at that dinner we invited you to--" Deb squeezed his hand, shutting him up.

Arthur frowned and nodded.

"I'm sorry, son." George said.

"We have to do something, though, right?" Deb said. She looked at George for reassurance. "What can we do?"

George looked at Arthur. "Are you going to press charges?"

Arthur shook his head. "I don't have any way to prove it. Lynn's the one with all the evidence."

Both of his parents looked confused.

"You mean she has evidence of what she did?" George asked.

"Well, I kept her homework from high school, but she has evidence from the motel. She recorded everything without telling me. A few pics of me in my underwear from the motel room made the rounds at school." Arthur said.

Deb looked horrified, though her expression turned to anger as her cheeks blushed enough to match her red eyes. She shifted to stand, but George held her down, hugging her with one arm and preventing her from rising.

"Let me go!" Deb yelled, smacking George's chest. "I'm going to--"

"You're going to get arrested for assaulting a young woman in her parents' apartment and ruin any chance of solving things." George said, his voice stern and patient.

Arthur watched them, realizing he might have more in common with his father than he realized. His father's anti-violence lecture after Arthur's fight with the football team popped into his head. Sometimes, being the bigger man meant choosing a peaceful resolution over violence. It was never the easy option, but it was the right one.

"You're not leaving this apartment until you've calmed down." George said. "And you're not going over to Gabe and Mari's tonight. You can get that idea out of your head right now."

"But George--" Deb said, protesting.

"But nothing, Deb. You're in no shape to handle this." George said.

"You promised not to lash out, remember?" Arthur asked. "I don't want Lynn taking anything out on the girls. If you decide to act on any of this, it needs to be smart. Besides, it doesn't sound like you can do anything." He sighed, leaned forward with his elbows on his knees, and put his head in his hands.

He'd hoped this would remove Lynn from his life, but he'd gone through the pain and weary retelling of his trauma for nothing. Lynn had won. She had a signed lease that prevented them from evicting her. She was attending Pendleton next semester and living in his basement, and there was nothing he could do about it.

"Have you considered a restraining order?" Deb asked. "Could we use that to evict her from the house?" She asked George.

George frowned. "It's virtually impossible for a man to get a permanent restraining order against a woman."

"She's been stalking me and the girls, showing up at Mindy's parents' restaurant, at Selene's job, and all over campus." Arthur said. "She even followed us to a hotel over homecoming. She keeps popping up, and not by accident."

George looked pained. "Unfortunately, those are public places she may have had legitimate reasons to visit." He looked thoughtful. "Where does Selene work?"

"The campus bookstore." Arthur said.

George shook his head. "If it were your office, we might establish a pattern of harassment. Even then, one of the girls might have a better chance of getting a restraining order. Though with Lynn already living in the house, that might only prevent them from moving into a location she occupies."

"Can't we do something?" Deb asked.

"I'll talk to our lawyer in the morning." George said. "I'll see what we can do."

"I'm supposed to have dinner with her tomorrow night." Deb said, crying. "I can't."

At the mention of dinner, the oven timer sounded, and Arthur rose from his seat to take care of the food. He left his parents on the sofa, even as Deb tried to rise to help, but George kept her in his embrace. Arthur didn't mind. He took out the empanadas and set the tray on the stove to cool. He poked one with a fork, inspecting its crust and contents.

The planned side dish for this evening was a salad that his mother prepared. Arthur put it together in the large salad bowl from the cabinet as his parents talked in hushed voices. He hated this. The responsibility for his mother's tears settled across his shoulders, and after all that pain, he had nothing to show for it.

Sure, the relief at telling them lightened his heavy heart, but now he'd dragged his mother into the drama with no recourse. There was nothing anyone could do. He predicted what Rani, Kelly, or the others would say. She was already involved, and it was better if she looked at Lynn with her eyes wide open. Unfortunately, that was the only consequence he could imagine. He'd broken his mother's relationship with her surrogate daughter. Lynn would hate him for that. He could only imagine how she might counterattack.

Then there was his dad. He would have preferred his father's absence tonight. Still, his dad hadn't been the barrier Arthur expected. And he'd come home especially to join dinner with Arthur, which was an unusual effort on George's part. Of course, his father hadn't expected this was what he'd be walking into when he joined them. His old man probably wished he'd stayed at the office.

Still, his mom needed George there. She relied on him and didn't have to be strong for Arthur's sake when George was there to hold her as she cried.

Arthur hoped he and the girls had that same relationship that many years later. His parents were excellent role models of a strong, united marriage. They weren't perfect people, but they understood each other's imperfections in ways Arthur marveled at sometimes. George recognized what Deb was thinking and what she needed without asking. That kind of understanding didn't come with time and proximity; it came with effort. Put the work in. That's what Deb told him. He understood that better now as he watched his father help his mother rise from the sofa.

She hugged Arthur on her way past the kitchen, and she retreated through the hallway into the bathroom. Arthur returned to the center of the kitchen, mixing the salad. George remained standing in the kitchen, at the crossroads of the kitchen aisle between counters and the hallway.

"I uh..." George hesitated. "I just want to let you know that your mother and I love you, and we're here for you."

Arthur nodded. "I know. Thanks, Dad."

"If you need anything, you don't even need to ask." George assured him. "If you want to press charges against Lynn, we'll support you and pay for the lawyers. Money for therapy or whatever mental health expenses you have, we'll help you cover them. We'll do whatever we can, though your mother is a better listener with the emotional stuff than I am."

Arthur stared at his dad. The offer wasn't a small one, and the brief glimpse into his father's support made him realize that the older man was doing his best. He didn't know how to handle the situation, but he put in the work. He was making the effort despite his unease at the unfamiliar territory and manning up, as it were.

"Thanks, Dad." Arthur said, moving toward his father. He embraced him, hugging his dad and holding him in the hug.

His dad hugged him and didn't signal for release by patting his back like usual. "And uh... I'm sorry if I was insensitive. I'm not great with these situations. I make inappropriate jokes to lighten things up all the time. Stuff like this makes me uncomfortable."

Arthur squeezed his dad, then let him go. He put a hand on his shoulder, patting it. "I get it. I do the same thing sometimes, which I now realize I learned from you, so my girlfriends might yell at you for my terrible sense of humor."

"Ha!" His father said more than laughed, but slapped Arthur's shoulder as their embrace pulled apart. "Come on, I'll help you set the table. Why don't you fill me in on what you've been learning in school?"

"Sure." Arthur said, thankful for the abrupt change in subject. It let them return to normalcy after the heavy emotional labor he'd endured.

Arthur pulled the plates, bowls, cups, and silverware from the cabinets and drawers. His father helped him set them around the table as Arthur filled him in on how the semester was progressing. He moved the empanadas to a serving dish and the salad bowl. His mother emerged from the bathroom with her makeup removed rather than fixed. She hugged Arthur again, not letting him go. George finished setting the table, even as the two continued their conversation, exchanging ideas about management techniques.

George pulled Deb away from Arthur and guided her to the table. She reluctantly released her son and sat.

Arthur squeezed his mom's shoulder on his way past her. She patted his hand. He took his seat across from his mother while his father sat at the head of the table with his pack toward the balcony. George offered a brief prayer of thanks for the food, out of tradition more than faith, and they began passing the food around to fill their plates.

"So you skipped class to come here tonight?" George asked.

Arthur nodded. "Things have been escalating between the girls and Lynn, and I needed to tell Mom what happened." He sighed. "It's been a lot, having this conversation three times in the last week, but at least now everyone knows, and it's done."

George and Deb shared a glance and nodded.

"We won't push you, of course." Deb said. "But your father and I will support you in pursuing legal action. You know that."

"I told him." George said, almost defensively.

"Yeah, Dad mentioned it." Arthur nodded. "I don't think it's a good idea, honestly. I've got no proof, and she doesn't need any to ruin my life. Or the girls' lives."

Deb frowned at that and tore a chunk from her empanada with her teeth.

"It might be the only way to evict her from the house. But with how long court cases take, it might not be quicker than waiting 'til July." George said, sighing.

"We could always confront her and ask her to leave." Deb said. "Mari will have to understand."

George gave his wife a soft, compassionate expression but shook his head. "We believe Arthur without evidence because we trust he wouldn't make this up, and we remember what we've observed during their high school years." He explained. "Gabe and Mari love Lynn, and they've spoiled her rotten. And if we confront her, it's far too easy for her to spin this on Arthur."

"I've considered that." Arthur said, nodding. "It's one reason I was hesitant to tell you guys. I wasn't sure you'd believe me."

"How could she spin that on Arthur?" Deb asked. "He had bruises! We have medical records and--"

George shrugged. "You take a girl like Lynn and put her in front of a judge. She testifies that Arthur enjoyed it, that they had an arrangement between them for such a thing. Or worse, that he expected sexual favors for the homework he did for her. Then he became aggressive when she said no, and the football team intervened to rescue her. To a judge, it's the far more likely scenario. No offense, Arthur. I'm not saying I believe that at all. I'm just saying what a judge might say."

"Don't worry. It's nothing I haven't already said." Arthur said. "Lynn's a better actor than I am. She can convince most people of anything. That's how she gets away with everything."

"You don't give yourself enough credit." Deb said, still frowning but not pushing the issue. "You're a much better actor than she is. Now that I know what she is, I'm embarrassed I ever thought of her as a daughter."

George reached across the table and squeezed Deb's hand again, holding it in his and not letting her go. "Honey, you always find the good in others. You never would have realized Lynn was capable of that without Arthur telling you. Don't beat yourself up over what's done. Let's figure out how to move forward."

Deb nodded but didn't trust herself to speak.

"You shouldn't go anywhere near her." George said to Arthur. "Don't spend any time alone with her, and try to have someone you're not dating with you if you're with her. Any testimony your girlfriends give in your defense will be suspect since you're dating them."

"Well, at the house, it'll be all the people I'm dating. So that's not possible." Arthur said. "But I can record our conversations, and I'm doing my best to minimize face-to-face contact."

"Obviously, you're not going over to the Barreras' after dinner like Lynn wanted." George said. It wasn't a command, per se, but a statement of the obvious.

Arthur nodded. He wasn't going anywhere near Lynn if he could help it.

"We should walk him to his car when he leaves." George suggested to Deb.

"Of course." Deb answered. "And next time you visit, I'll be there in the garage to greet you."

"You don't have to do that." Arthur said.

"I'm going to do it anyway." Deb said in a tone Arthur knew better than to argue with.

"Good." George said.

The three of them ate in silence for several minutes. Arthur finished his salad and moved on to the empanadas. The crust tasted almost as delicious as the innards. The cheesy beef empanadas were delightful, and Arthur knew he'd have to ask his mother for the recipe. He'd make them for Kelly or the next dinner date that let him cook instead of going out on the town.

"So... would it be insensitive if I changed the subject?" George asked after several minutes of silence.

"No, go ahead." Arthur said, almost laughing at the awkward, sheepish glance George gave Deb.

"What are your weekend plans?" George asked.

"Oh, I'm having a guys' night at the house tomorrow." Arthur said.

His parents raised their eyebrows at that. "A party, already? You haven't even moved in yet." Deb said.

Arthur laughed. "Not a party. Mark, Brad, and I are going to hang out, eat snacks, drink beer, and watch A Knight's Tale."

"Great movie." George chimed in. "That sounds fun!"

"Do you want to join us?" Arthur asked, looking at his father, who looked surprised.

Deb looked significantly at George, then darted her eyes between him and Arthur. Arthur almost smiled at her silently encouraging him to accept the invite.

"Oh, uh... I don't want to intrude. I'm sure your friends don't want an old man hanging around." George said, waving off the invitation.

"It's just beer and a movie. You're welcome to join." Arthur said. "I'm sure the guys won't mind."

"I appreciate the invitation." George said. Deb silently encouraged him again. "I'll consider it."

Arthur nodded. "Well, you're welcome if you decide to join us." He said. "Other than that, we're heading to the Ren Faire this Saturday."

"You and the guys?" George asked, surprised.

"Well, me, the girls, the theater club, and everyone's significant others." Arthur said.

George chuckled. "How the hell are you getting there? A school bus?"

Arthur laughed. "We joked about it, but we're just going to carpool."

"Hm..." George nodded. "You'll want to trade in that old Ford for a passenger van or one of those old VW buses if you keep adding girlfriends. You need to learn to turn some down now and again."

"George." Deb said, warning him he might've crossed a line.

"What? The kid has charisma and is collecting girlfriends like baseball cards. Er... sorry, son. I just meant--"

"It's okay." Arthur said, realizing why his father was apologizing a moment after he forgave him for it. "Though, for your information, I turned someone down earlier today."

Both his parents looked surprised at that. He smiled, though there was sadness to it, and filled them in on the drama with Yvonne while they finished dinner. Her reaction to the polycule, to his and Selene's dating, her spreading rumors, her apologizing, and their conversation. She wasn't a good fit for the polycule, at least not in her current set of beliefs and desires. Maybe after some growth? Arthur didn't know what the future held; Right now, she didn't even want to be friends. She wanted to break off their friendship and move on from him.

"Is that the confrontation that made you want to be proactive?" His mother asked.

"One of them." Arthur replied. "The other was this crazy religious girl. Mindy's roommate. She's been trying to save my soul or something, trying to convince me to give up polyamory. She's been nice about it, but I just couldn't handle one more thing today. She was the last straw, so I made a deal with her to go to therapy."

"If selling your soul gave you six sexy girlfriends who, by your mother's account, worship the ground you walk on, everyone would do it. There'd be nobody in church on Sunday." George said, chuckling to himself.

"I never said they worship the ground he walks on." Deb said, rolling her eyes. "But they love you, Arthur."

Arthur blushed.

"And what do you mean everyone would do it?" Deb asked, her voice turning sharp as she turned toward George. "Would you sell your soul for six girlfriends instead of one wife?"

"Not at my age!" George scoffed. "I don't have that kind of stamina. I can barely keep up with you!"

Deb glared at George but couldn't hold the angry expression for longer than a few seconds before her mouth slipped into a quarter grin.

"Sorry if that's offensive." George said. "I'm not sure what jokes are okay to make with polyamorous people. They don't cover that in our sensitivity training at work."

"Do they give you guidance on what jokes to make about other sexualities?" Arthur asked.

"The typical suggestion is to avoid any attempt at humor whatsoever. It's too subjective, and one complaint can ruin a career, or worse--in the company's opinion--sue the company and cost them money." George laughed, making light of a genuine statement.

Arthur chuckled along, shaking his head at his father's antics. His mother's mood was improving. Dinner was delicious. Arthur was thankful he'd taken the evening to spend time with his parents, even if trauma dumping hadn't been as productive as he had hoped.

"Well, that was delicious." George said, wiping his mouth with the napkin after the meal. "Thank you both for cooking."

"You're welcome." Deb said. "How about dessert?" She asked Arthur. "I bought gluten-free pumpkin pie from the bakery. It'll just take a few moments to warm in the oven."

Arthur smiled softly. "Thanks, but I'm full." Arthur said, patting his abs. "I have to get back. I need to stop at the grocery store. The girls keep eating me out of a full fridge."

"Get used to that." Deb said. "We might have to buy a second fridge."

"Third." George chimed in. "There's one in the kitchen, one in the garage."

"Oh, that's right. I forgot the garage one. They'll be okay then." Deb said as she stood from the table.

George started clearing the dishes as Arthur and Deb hugged goodbye. He gave Arthur a farewell hug but kept loading the dishwasher as Deb helped Arthur gather his things.

"Hey, Dad?" Arthur said, hanging by the front door.

"Yeah?" George asked, shutting off the water to hear better.

"Thanks for... everything. It was great to see you tonight, and I'm glad you were here." Arthur said.

George smiled. "You're welcome." He said. "I'm glad, too. We'll be in touch. Be sure to text us when you're home safe."

"Will do." Arthur said.

"Come on." Deb said, holding the front door for him. "I'll walk you to your car."

Arthur was going to protest that he didn't need an escort, but he swallowed his pride and let his mother take his arm as they walked toward the elevator.

"Arthur..." Deb said after they'd stepped inside the elevator and the doors shut. "Thank you for telling me. I wish you'd told me sooner, but I'm proud of you for facing your fears and working through everything to tell me what happened. I know it's difficult. You always think it'll get easier with repetition or time. Sometimes, things like that stay with you and are too vivid to face each time. I'm so glad you opened up to me, especially with your father there. I know you two aren't as close as either of you would like, but he loves you. You know that, right?"

"I know." Arthur said. "I love him too, and you."

Deb squeezed him. The doors opened, and they walked through the parking garage to his car. After Yvonne's ambush, he expected the same tactic from Lynn, but she wasn't waiting for him at his car. There was no sign of her in the hallways, elevator, or parking garage. She might still be visiting with her parents, or she might have left. Either way, it wasn't his problem.

Deb kissed his cheek as he opened his driver's door. "Drive safe, sweetie. Let me know when you get home."

"Will do." Arthur said. "I'm going to get groceries on the way home. Don't panic or call the cops if I don't text within the usual time."

Deb nodded. "Of course." She patted his back. They shared one last hug, and Deb made her way back to the elevator as Arthur sat in his car. She waved to him when the elevator arrived, and she disappeared into the building once more.

Arthur held the steering wheel in his hands and let out an exhausted breath. The draining, emotional hurdle that had loomed ahead for years was finally behind him. Now, he had to keep looking forward.

~~~

Deb ascended the elevator in tears, holding herself and crying as the mechanical closet rose toward the 16th floor. Dinner had been surreal, and the conversation with Arthur had been the hardest story she'd ever had to endure. The hum of the elevator filled her ears, drowning out the memory of his words. It buzzed like a white-noise machine. The lights in the elevator shone too bright. She closed her eyes and welcomed the darkness that granted her relief.

The cold metal against her back, the warmth of her own body against her arms, and the upward sweep of motion pressed against her. She hugged herself, rubbing her arms with her hands as she crossed them over her chest. The soothing motion did little to soothe her troubled mind. What were they going to do?

Lynn, the young woman she'd loved as if she were her daughter, had hurt her son. Love forgives mistakes. She could look past Lynn's poor attitude, call her on it when she crossed the line, and still love the young woman. Unfortunately, this wasn't a mistake. This was evil. Deb couldn't forgive that.

Lynn's betrayal wasn't her pushing a boundary and crossing a line. It was a nuclear strike.

What would Mari say? Would she understand? Would she trust Arthur over Lynn? Was George right? It should have shocked her that Lynn might lie, but it didn't. She'd caught Lynn lying before, in little white fibs children tell their parents. But now she'd stepped onto a tightrope, and the relief of Arthur opening up made it worth the danger below her.

Years had gone by, and she'd begged him to tell her what was bothering him. She'd supported him, been there for him, and reminded him that she'd listen to him if he wanted to talk. Patient, continuous emotional support. For four years, she'd patiently encouraged him, and he'd finally opened up three weeks too late.

Deb wanted to tear up the lease. She didn't want Lynn living there anymore. Lynn didn't need her own place. The arguments that it was closer to campus, independence would be beneficial, and responsibility would improve Lynn's behavior seemed so artificial. Deb had let her stay in the basement for cheap as a favor to Mari. Lynn drove Mari crazy. Families were like that. You love them, but they drive you crazy. Not everyone was meant to live together. She worried Arthur and his girlfriends might discover that the hard way, but they meshed well.

They were a great group of girls, and she was so thankful they'd helped Arthur through this and gotten him to open up regarding his trauma. Her hopes that they would be a positive influence on Lynn evaporated with her maternal love for the young woman. If they loved her son, they'd hate Lynn with a passion that might put their futures in danger, along with Lynn's physical well-being. Maybe Lynn would move out rather than walk into the lion's den every evening.

The elevator dinged, and the door slid open. Deb opened her eyes and blinked to find Lynn standing there. She'd been thinking of the young woman, and now she was here.

Lynn was all smiles. She still wore her jeans, cowgirl boots, and plaid top, like she was going out dancing at a country bar--not her usual style of place, or Deb's.

"Auntie Deb!" Lynn said, stepping into the elevator before Deb stepped out. "Want to go line dancing with me?"

Deb stared at her. The elevator door slid closed.

Lynn tilted her head, her eyes combing over Deb's face without her makeup on. "Is something wrong? Are you okay? Did something happen to Uncle George? Did Arthur leave? I was hoping to catch him without Kelly around for--"

"SHUT UP!" Deb screamed so loudly that Lynn backed away. Silence fell like a hammer blow in the tiny room. "The only thing I want to hear coming out of your mouth is the true answer to this question, no lies, no spin, nothing."

Lynn stared at her wide-eyed and wild, looking around as if Deb had trapped her in a corner, which she had. Deb stood between her and the elevator door. This mechanical closet was too small to maneuver around her.

"What--"

Deb put her hand over Lynn's mouth, staring her in the eyes. "Did Arthur do your homework for you in high school?"

Lynn glanced down, indicating Deb's hand silencing her. She removed it.

"Auntie Deb, you're--"

"It's a yes or no question!" Deb said. "YES OR NO?"

"Y-yes." Lynn said. "He helped me so much with--"

"No." Deb said. "Not did he help you or tutor you. Did he do your assignments for you and let you turn them in as if they were yours?"

Lynn's eyes widened still further, and she moved to step past Deb to the elevator buttons, but Deb blocked her path, preventing her from leaving.

"Answer me." Deb said.

Lynn looked defiant. She might overpower Deb, but their relationship didn't lend itself to violence. At least, Deb hadn't thought it did. Looking at Lynn now, knowing what she knew, it was hard not to smack the younger woman. To let her hand fly and beat the shit out of her. She deserved so much worse.

"Yes." Lynn said, her resolve crumbling as the waterworks started. "I'm sorry, Auntie Deb. I know it was wrong, but--"

"Stop it." Deb said, anger outpacing her sorrow. "Arthur told us what happened. He finally opened up about everything that happened in high school. Everything." And her confirmation that some of it was true meant all of it was in Deb's mind. She hadn't needed the verification, but the confession eased her conscience about the horrible violence her imagination conjured when she looked at Lynn.

Lynn's expression of sorrow morphed from tears to confusion and then panic. Deb wondered how Arthur ever thought she was a better actress than he was an actor. He might have charisma, but his self-confidence was shit, and now Deb understood why. She stared the reason in the face and summoned her willpower not to murder Lynn with her bare hands. Bare hands that tightened into fists.

"You told me you were each other's first time during your senior year, remember?" Deb asked.

Lynn sniffled, wiping her face with her arm. "Y-Yeah."

"Was that a lie?" Deb asked.

"No, of course not." Lynn said. "I didn't think you'd want to know the details, obviously, but--"

"Arthur told us the details." Deb said, her eyes still red from crying. "How it led to that fight with the football team and why he doesn't want you at the house, and I agree with him."

Lynn's eyes searched Deb's for answers, but found only wrath and ruin behind her eyes.

"I don't want you in his life, either. Or mine." Deb said. The tears started again. "You have a lease, which we'll release you from. I want you gone, but until then, you will not speak to Arthur or me. I'm not your Auntie Deb. He's not your Arty. We have nothing to do with you. If you want something, talk to your mother, and she'll relay whatever it is to me." Deb said. "Do you understand?"

Lynn's confusion spread, her eyes narrowing. "But... Auntie Deb--"

"I'M NOT YOUR AUNT!" Deb said. "For years, I opened my home to you, fed you, guided you, loved you, helped you however I could, and you do that to my son?!? You're nothing to me. Not anymore. Not after what you did!" Deb grabbed Lynn's shirt by the neckline and shook her, holding it tight in her fists.

"But it was a misunderstanding!" Lynn said. "He startled me! I didn't know he'd come running out of the motel room in his underwear, and I didn't tell the football team to attack him!"

"I'm talking about before that." Deb said, her voice cold. "When you were in the room together."

"He... he told you?" Lynn asked. The disbelief in her voice confirmed Arthur's story. "I thought he'd be embarrassed that he couldn't get it up."

Deb backhanded Lynn across the face so hard the smack was a thunderclap echoing through the elevator and the elevator shaft long after her hand completed its arc. Lynn turned from the force of it, twisting and staying there out of shock.

The angry red flare on her cheek burned and sizzled against the air.

Deb's shoulders heaved as she took a breath, not apologizing for the strike. Lynn should be thankful it was her right hand and not her left with the engagement ring and wedding band. She held that hand in a fist. Yet, no matter how much she wanted to follow up by punching this bitch in the gut, the slap had shocked her into stillness, too.

"You... you slapped me." Lynn said, straightening in surprise.

"Yes." Deb said. "And you fucking deserved it." Deb pointed her finger at Lynn's face. "You deserve worse than that, and you fucking know it!"

Lynn flinched, touching her hand to her face in disbelief and making the pain flare through her skin.

"I want you out of my house. You can start packing tonight." Deb said, pressing the elevator button to open the door. The doors slid open, and Deb stepped out into the hallway.

"No." Lynn said, her voice soft but determined.

"Excuse me?" Deb asked, whirling on her with a finger raised.

Lynn straightened and strode out of the elevator with a strut. "I said no." Lynn said, standing tall. The tears, sadness, and confusion were gone. Her countenance was a stone-faced bitch meeting Deb's gaze with nothing but icy anger. "Like you said, I have a lease. I'll be living there until at least July."

"How will you pay rent after I tell your mother?" Deb asked. "Your parents agreed to put you on an allowance. What will you do if they decide to cut you off completely?"

"You're why they put me on an allowance?" Lynn hissed.

"You need to learn financial responsibility." Deb said.

"You're such a bitch!" Lynn spat.

Deb straightened at seeing Lynn's true colors. She couldn't believe she'd been so blind. "How dare you." Deb said, her lips pressed into a thin line.

"Oh, I dare." Lynn said with a wicked smile. "And you know what? I don't care. Try your hardest, but my dad will never cut me off. My parents love me, and they're afraid of me."

"They're just tired of dealing with your tantrums." Deb spat. "They're not scared of you."

"Same result." Lynn said. "They'll never abandon me like you are. They're my actual parents. Not just neighbors who wish they could've had more kids. And you and Uncle George were so kind, making the rent so affordable for me. Even if they refuse to pay it, I'll get a job and be able to afford it."

Deb ground her teeth, tears pressing against her eyelids. She concentrated on the last words Lynn said and not the other blows she'd struck. Lynn hadn't worked a day in her life. Whatever else she might plan on doing, working wasn't in the cards. She'd be in for a rude awakening. It might even be good for her. Earlier that day, Deb might have even suggested she get a job, but she no longer cared what was best for Lynn.

"We'll see." Deb said. "But I am warning you: if you do anything, and I mean ANYTHING, to hurt Arthur or those girls, you will be out on the street."

"You can't evict me for--"

"I will burn that fucking house to the ground before I let you live there if you hurt them." Deb said, moving toward Lynn again and grabbing her shirt. Lynn didn't back down, but fear flickered across her face before she retook control of her expression. "I'm serious, Lynn. I won't let you hurt my son again or lash out at the girls, either. Whatever your plans were with Arthur? They're over. Move on."

Lynn studied Deb's face, but the angry older woman didn't even blink. She shoved Lynn away from her, toward the elevator, and turned away. Deb stalked through the hallway, reaching her front door in record time. Lynn stood by the elevator, shell-shocked, fuming, and annoyed.

"Grah!" Lynn stamped her foot and smashed the elevator button. The elevator slid open, and Lynn stormed into it as Deb entered her apartment.

George had finished the cleanup. He'd opened a bottle of Deb's favorite dessert wine, heated two slices of the pumpkin pie, and buried hers under whipped cream. He dimmed the lights, fetched the weighted blanket, and put it on the sofa.

Deb hugged him as he came out of the hallway, collapsing into his arms and crying.

George said nothing. He held her, let her cry, and carried her to the sofa, even if his back protested the gallant gesture. Deb curled up and let him, though it didn't make her laugh the way it usually did. He set her on the sofa and laid the blanket over her. Then he placed the wine glasses and pie slices on the coffee table and joined her on the couch. She curled against him, closed her eyes, and cried.

~~~

Before he started driving, Arthur checked his phone for the first time since he'd arrived to find he had no messages. Even the harem chat was silent, which was unusual. He considered texting Kat or Selene. A grocery run would put him home late. Being alone tonight sounded awful, but he didn't have the energy for sex. Selene had drained him today, and guilt ate at him for telling her no. Inviting Kat over with no intention of fucking seemed unfair. He couldn't sleep in Mindy's dorm room but might sleep in Rani's, depending on her often-absent roommate. Both would respect a sexless slumber, but neither was convenient in the dorm.

Master: Hey, are you awake?

Wifey: Honey, it's only eight o'clock. I'm awake. I've been waiting to hear from you. How did things go with your mom? Did you tell her?

Kelly's desire to know what happened made sense. No doubt the entire harem was waiting to hear how things went tonight.

Arthur checked the clock on his phone and the dashboard. She was correct. It seemed much later, but that was a measure of how exhausting these conversations were.

Master: I'll text the harem chat an update, but yes. I told my parents. Unfortunately, Lynn has a signed lease. There's not much they can do.

Wifey: That's bullshit.

Wifey: I'm proud of you for following through, though. And both your parents?

Master: Yeah, my dad was there.

Master: I know it's bullshit (does that count for your swear jar?), but they're doing what they can. My mom's upset. My dad was surprisingly good about everything.

Wifey: Well, that's good! Is your mom okay? Should I call her?

Master: I'd let her process. She's got my dad to lean on.

Wifey: Right. Makes sense.

Master: It's late, and it's okay if the answer is no, but can I come over?

Wifey: Of course you can! But I still have my monthly visitor, so you might want to text Katelyn instead of me.

Master: I'm not up for sex tonight. But I wouldn't say no to a cuddle.

Wifey: Then I'm your girl. Come on over, Mister. I'll spoil and cuddle the crap out of you. You're better than a heating pad or hot water bottle.

Master: lol.

Kelly sent a smiley face, a kissy face, an emoji hugging a heart, and finally, a heart. Arthur sent a heart emoji in return.

Master: I'll be there in forty minutes to an hour.

Wifey: See you soon.

Arthur put his phone away, turned on the soundtrack for A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, checked his mirrors, and backed out of the parking space. He needed a comedic musical he could sing along with, and A Gentleman's Guide fit the bill. Besides, he needed to learn the songs. He didn't notice the elevator doors opening as his car exited the parking garage. Lynn glared at his tail lights as he drove away.

The drive was smooth, and the roads were empty. The suburbs and the rural stretch of road cleared Arthur's mind. Music gave him something to focus on besides his troubles. He found his mood much improved by the time he parked in Kelly and Katelyn's apartment complex.

Arthur parked and pulled out his phone again. He texted his parents first, texting his mom.

Arthur: I stopped at Kelly's instead of going home tonight. Here safe. Thanks for dinner and for listening to me.

Mom: Thank you for opening up. It means so much to me. You mean so much to me. I love you.

Arthur: I love you too.

Mom: Tell Kelly we said hi.

Arthur gave her a thumbs-up emoji. After that, he drafted a message to the harem chat. It was long, too long, and he changed his mind halfway through. He deleted the message and rewrote it, keeping it concise.

Master: I told my parents. It was rough. I'm still processing, but the long and short is that they know what happened and are supporting me in any way they can. Unfortunately, Lynn has a lease. My dad's going to talk to his lawyer tomorrow, and we'll see what our options are from there.

Everyone gave it a heart reaction, and a few gave it a tear reaction.

Whore: Both? As in your mom and dad?

Master: Yeah, my dad being there was unexpected.

Whore: Aw, I like your dad! He's nice.

Queenie: Eh, Deb's more my type. Lol. But I'm glad you told her what happened.

Brat: Are you okay?

Slut: Yeah, are you ok, Master?

Master: I'm okay. Just exhausted. I don't want to discuss it again for a long, long time.

Everyone placed a heart reaction to his message.

Pet: I'm glad you're ok. They believed you? You didn't have to convince them?

Master: They believed me. They want to kick Lynn out, but my dad is concerned about the potential legal repercussions.

Slut: That's so fucking fucked! They should be able to evict her after what she did.

Queenie: Well, if Arthur were to press charges...

Master: We're not having this conversation again tonight. I'm too tired.

Queenie: [Rolling-eye-emoji]

Brat: Careful there, Concubine. He spanks hard when provoked.

Queenie: lol. I mean, uh... yes, my king.

Master: That's better.

Slut: You can spank me if you need to vent. When are you coming home? Do you need help bringing in groceries? Or with other things? I'm available.

Queenie: Tell us you're horny without telling us you're horny. Lol.

Whore: That's her secret. She's always horny.

Master: Thanks, Slut, but I'm actually crashing at Kelly's tonight.

Slut: Oh, ok. Well, tell me the details tomorrow while I suck you off.

Master: Behave, slut.

Slut: Make me.

Brat: Ignore her. She's just trying to make you drive over here by honing in on my territory.

Slut: Shh! It might've worked!

Master: lol.

Wifey: Are you texting while driving? Or are you here?

Master: I'm in the parking lot. I'll be on my way up soon.

Whore: Have fun! Don't tire him out too much! Our Master needs his rest for this weekend.

Queen: Yeah he does, lol.

Most of the girls laugh-reacted to that, and Arthur silenced his phone as the conversation ended. The walk to Kelly's apartment was a quiet one. He pressed the intercom at the door, and she buzzed him into the building. Arthur didn't see a soul as he padded through the lobby, the hallway, the elevator, and another hallway. He stopped outside her and Katelyn's door, raised his fist, and knocked, but the door swung open before his knuckles made contact.

Arthur had a straight view into Kelly's apartment, the small open space by the door, the L-shaped living room sofa, the dining room table, and the small but open kitchen. Neither Kelly nor Katelyn was in sight. He stepped inside, assuming at least one of them was behind the door. He was correct.

"Welcome home, Mister." Kelly said, shutting the door behind him. She held a short, round glass in one hand, filled halfway with amber liquid. Whiskey by the smell of it. She wore plain black pajama pants rolled low on her hips. She bared her abs and the rest of her since she was topless. Her only piece of jewelry was the three-strand pearl choker clasping her neck. The red lipstick bloomed on her lips, the bright color of a fresh rose. Her red hair fell behind her in waves, curtaining her smiling face and bright green eyes as she checked his.

Her welcome-home smile never faded, disappearing only to kiss him when he pressed his lips to hers and wrapped both arms around her. She raised the whiskey glass behind him in their embrace and moaned into the kiss.

He pulled away to look at her again, but left his arms around her. He loosened his grip on her only as much as necessary to see her. "Good evening, Darling."

"Take off your suit jacket. You can hang it there." Kelly said, gesturing to the coat hooks beside the door.

Arthur slid his suit jacket off, hanging it up as instructed. When he turned around, Kelly pressed the whiskey glass into his hands. He took it and kissed her again. "Thank you."

"You're very welcome." Kelly said, smiling as she stepped toward the living room. "Have a seat." She gestured toward the center of the sofa, facing the fireplace and the TV above it.

Arthur loosened his necktie with one hand, but Kelly raised her hand to stop him. "Let me handle that." Kelly said.

Arthur didn't know what she meant, but he followed along. He sat on the sofa and relaxed. Standing behind him and reaching over him, Kelly loosened his tie and unknotted it, sliding it from his shirt collar. She unbuttoned the top button of his shirt, and relaxation washed over him. She walked away, and Arthur sipped his whiskey.

The light amber liquid sparked against his tongue. An oaky base supported the sweeter tastes of vanilla and honey mingled with gentle, nutty spices. A simple but smooth whiskey that lacked the complexity of others.

"Is this Jameson's?" Arthur asked as Kelly returned. She circled the sofa and moved the coffee table to give Arthur more legroom. Legroom that she occupied as she stepped around the table and knelt before him. Arthur raised an eyebrow, his dick hardening, but she didn't move for his zipper.

Kelly took his foot and placed it in her lap, untying his shoe. "You got it in one." She said. "I wasn't sure what kind was your favorite, so I bought a bunch of different ones."

"You what?" Arthur asked.

Kelly slipped his shoe from his left foot and placed it aside. "Well, they don't spoil." She said. "The girl at the shop was very helpful. She said this one is a good place to start."

Arthur nodded. He wasn't sure if she'd gone to a liquor store for whiskey for his sake or if this was part of a roleplay. He didn't mind either way. "It's a good one." He said. While not his favorite, he still enjoyed it. He swirled the glass in his hand and lifted his foot as Kelly removed his other shoe. "Thank you. You don't have to do this, you know."

"Shh." Kelly shushed him. "Don't worry. I'm not expecting you to take the lead and do a session with me tonight. I'm doing this for myself because I want to. You've been through the wringer two nights in a row. Let me take care of you, Mister."

"I won't stop you." Arthur said, smiling. However, guilt grew at her pampering him.

Kelly took his shoes and carried them to the door. She returned to stand behind him again, leaning over the back of the couch to rub his shoulders. Her palms pressed against his traps, the muscles on either side of his neck, and pushed relaxation into him as her fingers soothed aches he didn't know he carried.

"Fuck." Arthur said, though absent of any venom or excitement. It was a release of relaxation, and Kelly's chuckle danced across his ear.

"You've been carrying a lot of stress." Kelly said. "Sex isn't the only way to relax. Heck, with you, sex is a source of stress. Your girlfriends are so demanding."

"Mm." Arthur agreed.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Kelly asked.

"About what?" Arthur asked. "The harem? Trauma-dumping on my parents? They say hi, by the way."

"Anything." Kelly answered. "Anything you want. You can relax, drink your whiskey, and let me rub out the day's stress."

"Phrasing." Arthur chuckled at the innuendo he suspected was unintentional.

"Oh, I know how I phrased it, Mister." Kelly said. She kissed the top of his head.

"Mm." Arthur moaned again as her thumbs pushed against a knot of tension in his shoulders that rippled through his upper back. He stretched his neck and closed his eyes, struggling against the relaxation. "Well, the day started well enough." Arthur said. "Breakfast was amazing."

"Thank you." Kelly said, taking the compliment to her cooking skills.

"And it was nice to sit around with everyone and just... Be." Arthur said.

"Yeah." Kelly agreed, moving her hands to his neck as she used her thumbs to work the knots there. "I know what you mean."

"I think last weekend helped us push past any awkwardness. The kinky stuff we do loosens everyone up and lets us be ourselves with each other." Arthur said. After all, they outlawed shame in the harem. Once you'd seen someone naked, degraded, writhing in pleasure, and cumming their brains out, it was tough to find anything awkward.

"Oh, I agree." Kelly said. "It was nerve-wracking at first, but I love the harem. We have a great little family."

"Well put, Wifey." Arthur said and sipped his whiskey again. He emptied the glass, and Kelly took it from him.

"Would you like a different whiskey or more of the same, Sir?" Kelly asked.

"One more of the same, but then that's it." Arthur said. "I shouldn't even have that. I'm going to have beer tomorrow and need to watch my intake."

Kelly walked away with the glass and returned with it refilled. She leaned over and placed it in his hands, letting her full, plump, bell-shaped D-cup breasts hang free as she did so. Arthur took the glass with one hand and cupped her breast with the other.

"Want to play with them?" Kelly asked. "Or would you like me to continue your massage?"

"What a dilemma." Arthur said, miming his contemplation. "You spoil me."

"You spoil me too, so it's only fair." Kelly said. She kissed him, putting her hands on his shoulders and pushing him back against the sofa. "I know you said you're not interested in sex tonight, and that's okay with me, but if you want me to help you with a release before bed, I can."

"How are your hands? Are they tired from massaging me?" Arthur asked.

"I've got more endurance than that, Sir." Kelly said. She walked around the couch and resumed rubbing his shoulders.

Arthur leaned forward, putting his elbows on his knees, and let her rub his upper back. Her fingers soothed his muscles, and he closed his eyes as her hands wandered lower, working the knots in his mid and lower back.

"Do you want to lie down?" Kelly asked.

Arthur answered by sipping his drink, putting the glass on the coffee table, and turning.

"Need help removing your shirt?" Kelly asked.

Arthur stood, unbuttoned, and removed his collared shirt and the undershirt that came with it. Kelly put her hand out for them, and he placed them in her care. She took them away as he laid face down on the sofa.

Kelly straddled the back of his thighs and bent over him, rubbing her hands along the bare skin of his back. The heat from their friction seeped into him, relaxing him even further.

He wondered where Katelyn was but assumed she was in her room, giving them privacy. It felt strange to exclude her but impolite to ask about her. It wasn't as if he needed Katelyn to be there.

"So what about after breakfast?" Kelly asked. "What stressed you out today besides the conversation with your mother?" She already knew the answer, but she was coaxing him to vent his problems, to share them with her. Guilt pressed in on Arthur at the thought of denying her. He wanted to let her feel special and relied on, and he knew he could depend on her. She already knew most of it, but discussing it might help.

"The HR lady gave me and Mindy a lecture on workplace romance guidelines." Arthur said. "She seemed pretty pissed off. We're not in trouble, but we would be if she discovered we fucked in the office or if she sussed out my arrangement with Beth. And now I'm worried that she's got it out for me."

"What are you going to do?" Kelly asked.

"Nothing?" Arthur asked, trying to figure out what he could do about it. "I have to be more proactive, but we need to be extra careful in the office. We'll have to watch ourselves and make sure we don't cross any lines or say anything inappropriate. HR became aware of Mindy and me because of a whistleblower, who might have been Tara or Sarah."

"Plenty of women in your office." Kelly remarked. "Are they just jealous they don't get to fuck you, too?"

"Ha." Arthur laughed without sincerity.

Kelly didn't respond. She kept massaging his back, using her fingers to ease his stiff muscles.

"Why do you and the girls act like every woman wants to fuck me?" Arthur asked, realizing the pattern. "Is it a jealousy thing? An insecurity I need to address?"

"No, Honey." Kelly said. She kissed his spine, then returned to massaging him near his shoulders. "It's because everyone wants to fuck you."

Arthur laughed.

"I'm serious." Kelly said. "Tell me one woman you approached who wasn't interested in you."

"Uh... I don't know. Thalia?" Arthur said, racking his brain for someone from school that he'd approached. He didn't pursue women, especially since he was in a relationship. Not that he often invited outsiders to his bed. They fell under the umbrella of women his girlfriends wanted to sleep with. If it had been just him without Rani, he wouldn't have even considered flirting with Thalia.

"Thalia." Kelly repeated the name. "The confirmed lesbian who, from what Rani showed me, did more with you than any man before?"

"Okay, I guess she doesn't count." Arthur said. "I don't know. I just don't assume people want to fuck me."

"You still think you're ugly." Kelly said, sighing. "You're in denial over how beautiful you are."

"No, I know I'm attractive now. I work hard for these muscles." Arthur said. He flexed his back to prove his point and realized how much better it felt since Kelly started.

She slapped his back gently, and he relaxed. "It's more than that." Kelly said. "You are a genuinely handsome person, Arthur Clarke, in looks, personality, everything. People see that, and girls? We can sense it. Haven't you ever noticed how everyone always smiles at you? How women smile at you first, let their eyes wander over you, or how girls you just met compete for your attention?"

"People are friendly." Arthur said, not shrugging because of her hands rubbing his back, but his tone conveyed the shrug.

Kelly rolled her eyes. "You, sir, are a gorgeous idiot."

Arthur chuckled at that. "What about you?" He asked. "You're hotter than I am."

"I'm not." Kelly said. "And I don't mean that in a self-deprecating way. We're equal. I'm hot and pretty. Guys hit on me all the time, and lesbians, but I recognize when they do, and I shut it down."

"And I don't recognize it when girls hit on me." Arthur said as the realization dawned on him. His earlier conversation with Yvonne made that clear.

"You really don't." Kelly said.

"So, how can I tell when a girl is hitting on me?" Arthur asked.

"Oh, we do little things." Kelly said. "We make eye contact, smile first, or touch your arms." She grazed her fingertips along his triceps and forearms. "We let the touch linger and laugh at things that aren't funny."

"Literally every girl does that." Arthur said.

"Bingo." Kelly said, patting him on the butt.

Arthur laughed. "Not every girl I meet is flirting with me."

Kelly used her elbow to rub a stubborn knot on his back, and the noise Arthur made interrupted any conversation. She chuckled.

"You have six women willing to share you amongst ourselves and shill you out to casual flings." Kelly said, moving to her other elbow. "You're new to being objectified because Lori ran interference, but you're hot, Arthur, and women want to fuck you. You'd better get used to it."

Arthur didn't answer that. He stared off into the distance. If that were accurate, why was his love life before the harem such a failure? He didn't look the way he did in high school, but he was still the same person, wasn't he?

Maybe not. In high school, Arthur lacked the confidence and courage he developed in college. Lori had helped him in that arena. The effort he put in over the years changed him. Between working out, therapy, and continuous self-improvement, he'd forged himself into someone unrecognizable from who he was in his senior year of high school.

That hadn't stopped Lori from leaving him.

"Should I turn on the fireplace?" Kelly asked. She gestured to the fireplace across the room. The TV hung above the mantle. Its dark screen was an ineffective mirror to the rest of the room. The gas fireplace had fake logs in it, and Kelly could ignite them with the turning of a valve or the press of a button on the remote.

"Sure." Arthur said.

Kelly lifted herself off him and turned the iron key in the brick fireplace facade, which ignited the flames. She rubbed her arms and returned to him. "Thanks." She said. "It's chilly without a shirt."

"Would you like to put one on?" Arthur asked.

"Do you want me to cover myself?" Kelly asked. Her question was a more teasing jibe than a sincere inquiry.

"Not really." Arthur said, smiling, watching her, and rolling over to his back.

"You don't want more of a massage?" Kelly asked as she approached.

"It's your turn." Arthur said as he swung his feet to the floor and sat up on the sofa.

"Oh." Kelly said, hesitating. "That's okay. You don't need to do that."

"I want to." Arthur said.

Kelly smiled softly, stepping between his open legs and running her fingers through his hair. "Thank you, but I don't want you to tonight. You've had a long, hard day. And you've endured more than your fair share of emotional turmoil these last few days. I want to spoil you, Mister."

Arthur appreciated her more than ever. He didn't know what he did to deserve her. His instinct to tell her she didn't need to do this warred with his exhaustion. Needing someone else to care for him seemed so weak and unmasculine, even though that was stupid and backward thinking. Still, his instincts battled his more evolved brain, which reminded him everyone needed someone to care for them sometimes. It was okay to ask for help, and it was even more okay to accept help when someone offered it freely, which was what Kelly was doing.

"I feel like I'm taking advantage of you." Arthur said. "Shouldn't I take care of you, too?" Arthur asked.

"You have, you do, and you will." Kelly said. "But tonight, it's my turn. Let me do this. Please?" Kelly cupped his face in her palm and stroked his cheek.

Arthur almost teared up at that. He took her hand in his, peeled it away from his face, kissed her palm, squeezed her hand, and nodded.

Kelly returned the squeeze and pressed him backward against the sofa so that he reclined against the cushion. She pressed her hands to the front of his shoulders, rubbing them and his collarbone and using her thumbs to ease the tension out of his body.

Arthur closed his eyes and exhaled a slow breath. "Are we alone tonight?" Arthur asked. "Where's Katelyn?"

"She's still out with friends." Kelly said. "She, Kennedy, and Ava were hanging out after dinner, but she's due home soon."

"Mmm." Arthur answered with a grunt as Kelly moved her palms to his pecs, rubbing small circles to loosen stiff muscles.

"Did you want her tonight?" Kelly asked as she straddled his lap. She worked her fingers over his shoulders, rubbing his neck and muscles again as if she were driving the burdens of the world from them.

"No." Arthur said. "I just wanted to know if we'll be interrupted. I'd feel a little guilty ignoring her if she's here, but you're more than enough for me tonight."

Kelly kissed his lips, pressing her soft, red lipstick-covered lips against his.

Arthur grinned and rocked his hips. Her crotch rubbed his, and he pressed against a thicker barrier than usual between his now-rigid length and her pool of warmth. She kissed him again, holding his face in both hands. They made out for a minute. Then she moved her hands to his shoulders and shifted so she stood on her knees, straddling his thighs, her nipple level with his lips.

Arthur exhaled, his hot breath washing over her areola and prickling it into attention. He repeated the action on her other breast, smiling as it had the same effect.

Kelly cupped her breast, squeezing it and offering it to him.

Arthur parted his lips and kissed her nipple. Then the other.

Kelly smiled. "Go on, Mister. Grope, suck, and go to town. They're sensitive, but I enjoy it."

Arthur shifted, reaching past her and holding her with his hand on her back as the move threatened to spill her from his lap. She flailed somewhat, but he held her firm. Arthur pushed back into the sofa once more, reclining as he slid his hips forward. Kelly straightened again, then leaned forward. Arthur rested his head against the top of the couch. Kelly braced her hands in a wide grip on either side of him. Her breast pushed against his lips, and he opened his mouth, sucking on her breast as it fell into his open maw.

Kelly moaned, bending her elbows and lowering herself, smashing her breasts against Arthur, who enjoyed every second. Her flesh on his tongue tasted sweet, though her breasts remained his second favorite meal.

He rocked his hips, rubbing against her in a steady rhythm while he sucked, kissed, nipped, and squeezed her breasts in irregular motions. He closed his thumb and forefinger over the bud of her breast and teased it. Her eyelashes fluttered in pleasure, and she bit her lip.

The sudden sound of keys at the door made them both freeze. At lightning speed, Kelly jumped from his lap, grabbed a fleece blanket from beneath the coffee table, and flung it over them. She landed on the couch beside him, still facing him, but now next to him rather than straddling.

Arthur adjusted the blanket, pulling it further over Kelly so that by the time the door opened, only their heads were visible.

Katelyn stepped into the apartment, closed the door, and stared at the suit jacket hanging beside the door, where Kelly hung her jacket when she wore one. She turned toward them and laughed.

"Oh, hi, Arthur." Katelyn whispered, waving. "I thought you two would be in the bedroom. Sorry."

"It's okay." Kelly said, sitting up and letting the blanket fall to reveal their bare torsos.

Katelyn kicked off her shoes and put them by the door. She blushed as she took in the scene.

"How was your evening with Kennedy and Ava?" Kelly asked.

"Oh, it was okay. We just did homework. We didn't get much done, though. The twins peppered me with questions about..." She gestured between the three of them.

"Sorry." Arthur said, apologizing.

"Oh, you have nothing to be sorry for." Katelyn said. "They're the ones who need boundaries." She walked further into the apartment, passing them and moving as if to disappear into her bedroom.

"Wait." Kelly said. "Would you like to join us?"

"Oh..." Katelyn paused in the hallway behind them. Arthur could see her desire to join them battle with her sense of intrusion. "Are you sure? I don't want to intrude if you want time alone together."

"I could use the help, honestly." Kelly said, smiling.

Katelyn looked at Arthur, waiting for his approval. He beamed at the gesture.

"You're welcome to if you want to. We're not doing what we did last night or last weekend. Tonight, we're relaxing and enjoying each other's company." Arthur said.

"That sounds amazing." Katelyn answered, her eyes lighting up. "Do you guys need anything?"

"Just you." Kelly said.

"Where should I sit?" Katelyn asked as she approached from behind the sofa. With Arthur in the middle of the branch facing the TV and Kelly beside him, she could sit on the cushion beside Arthur or the branch beside Kelly.

"Here." Kelly said, scooting herself to the other branch, perpendicular to the fireplace. She pulled Arthur after her, and he shifted, putting him in the corner between the two branches of the sofa. That left the branch across from the fireplace for Katelyn.

"Is it okay if I get comfy?" Katelyn asked.

"Of course." Kelly nodded.

Katelyn tossed off her pink cardigan, draping it over the couch. She unbuttoned her powder blue jeans and shoved them down. She stepped out of them, leaving her in her white cropped tank top and a pair of white cotton panties with pink paw prints on them. Katelyn grabbed the second blanket from beneath the coffee table.

Arthur patted the cushion he'd been sitting on a moment ago. "Where's your sling?"

"In my backpack." Katelyn said, pointing to where she'd dropped the heavy bag by the door. "It's okay. The shoulder is still sore, but it's not broken. So long as I don't raise it above my head or move too much, it's fine. The ache is the worst part, but I took some meds."

"You should wear your sling." Kelly said with an accusatory tone. "The doctor said you should keep it immobilized, and you haven't even started any physical therapy."

Katelyn rolled her eyes as she climbed onto the sofa, lying on her right side and keeping her wounded shoulder above her. "Yes, Mistress." She teased.

Kelly grumbled but stopped when Arthur put his arm around her. He kissed her, and every annoyance ceased. Katelyn put her head on Arthur's thigh, covering herself with the blanket and using him like a pillow. He played with her hair, running his fingers over her scalp.

"You should listen to your mistress." Arthur told her. "And your doctor."

Katelyn giggled. "Yes, Master." But she made no move to fetch the sling.

"So go put on your sling." Arthur said, pointing toward the door.

"Aw, but--"

"Be a good girl and do what Master tells you." Kelly said. "Or lay over his lap and take your spankings from the swear jar."

Katelyn grumbled, pushing herself up and stalking toward the door from the sofa. Arthur and Kelly watched her go, the soft cotton underwear catching and giving them a cheeky peek at her butt. Katelyn untied her braid as she walked, using her right hand. Then she bent at the waist, smirking at them behind her. Kelly moved her hand to Arthur's lap, finding his zipper and lowering it in a slow pull beneath the blanket.

"Is this okay?" Kelly whispered her question. "I know you said no sex, but I can see you're hard." She reached in and freed Arthur's growing cock from his trousers. "You don't have to do anything. Just let us take care of you."

Arthur nodded his approval.

Katelyn stood and put on her sling, fastening it and laying her arm in it. She returned to the sofa and raised an eyebrow at Arthur's growing erection beneath the blanket as Kelly stroked it.

"Good girl." Arthur said, patting the cushion beside him.

Goosebumps erupted over Katelyn's body, and her nipples poked through her white tank top with its spaghetti straps. Katelyn laid down again, and Arthur helped her pull the blanket over her. With her right arm beneath her and her left trapped in the sling, she frowned. "It's not fair, Kelly can stroke you, but I can't with my arm in the sling."

Kelly scooted, sliding her legs further down the couch and moving her hips further from Arthur.

Arthur adjusted as well, placing his butt on the edge of the sofa cushion. He reclined with his shoulders against the sofa back, his back supported by the seat and a throw pillow.

Kelly laid her head against his abdomen, positioning her mouth over his cock and pulling his blanket aside to give Katelyn a show. She sucked Arthur past her lips without a word, her hot breath washing over him in pleasurable warmth. Arthur ran his fingers through her hair, stroking her scalp while she stroked and sucked him, taking her time as if enjoying her meal.

"No fair." Katelyn whined, scooting closer until she rested her head on his abdomen from his left side.

Kelly moved away, pushing Arthur's cock toward Katelyn, who stretched her neck and sucked his tip, circling her tongue over his mushroom head as she made a happy humming noise.

Arthur groaned, relaxing on the sofa. The massage, the whiskey, and now the slow, gentle blowjob from two of his girlfriends sharing his cock between them was bliss.

"You taste good." Katelyn said, offering his cock to Kelly.

Kelly took it and lowered her head further, taking more of him into her mouth than before and tightening her lips around his shaft. She lowered her hand from his shaft to his balls, massaging them with much more tender manipulations than she had on his back and shoulders.

"Mmm." Arthur moaned.

Katelyn whined, and Kelly offered her Arthur's cock. She took it, mirroring what Kelly did. She tightened her lips around him and stroked the top quarter of his cock with her mouth. Kelly continued massaging his balls while he did this, and Arthur continued sliding his fingers through their hair, tracing his fingertips along their scalps.

"Is it good, Master?" Katelyn asked. "Am I helping?"

"You're doing an excellent job." Arthur assured her. "You're a good girl, Pet. So is Mistress."

Kelly sucked his cock, pushing further until the soft tip pressed against the stiff, wet entrance to her throat. She teased him with the possibility, stroking him with her mouth, playing with his balls, and repeatedly pressing against that barrier without pushing past it.

Katelyn watched in the meantime, her arm under her, shifting to rub herself between the legs.

"Did I tell you that you could play with yourself, Pet?" Arthur asked.

Katelyn snatched her hand away from her panties as if Arthur caught her with her hand in a cookie jar.

Arthur chuckled. "Let me play with you." He reached over her, sliding his hand along her torso, over her hip, and between her legs. He kept his fingers on the outside of her panties for now but rubbed her, stroking her, stoking her warmth, and letting her arousal grow as Kelly sucked him.

When Kelly passed his cock to Katelyn, she repeated Kelly's method, and Arthur continued pleasuring Katelyn while she did it, which distracted her. He slid his other hand along Kelly's torso, reaching her pajama pants and sliding his hand over her hip toward the warm gap between her thighs.

Kelly grabbed his wrist.

"It's okay." Arthur assured her. "I'll keep my hand on the outside if it bothers you with your period. If it hurts, and you want me to stop, use your safe words. You remember them, right?"

"Yes, Sir." Both girls said in unison.

Arthur relaxed and resumed playing. Kelly rocked her hips against his hand while he played, and Katelyn tightened her thighs over his hand.

Katelyn was wet and ready, so Arthur slid his fingers up, then under the waistband of her panties. He pushed her slick, puffy pussy lips aside, opening her to his fingers. Arthur played with her, teasing her hole and massaging her clit until it opened its bud. He pressed his middle finger against it, and she moaned against his cock.

"Please, Sir." Katelyn said. "Put your fingers in me." She passed Kelly his cock. Kelly shifted and plunged her face down until she took him into her throat. She stroked his shaft with her throat, pulling away to tongue the tip, then plunging her face along his shaft once more. She repeated the process with gleeful enthusiasm as he rubbed her between the legs.

Katelyn moaned as Arthur's finger slid into her tight, molten tunnel. She closed her eyes, squeezing him inside her as he stroked her, curled his finger, and rubbed her clit with pressure from his palm.

Kelly continued her blowjob, and Arthur's grip between her legs tightened even further.

"I'm close." Arthur whispered.

Kelly popped off and offered the cock to Katelyn, who wasn't paying attention with her eyes closed in rapture, so she giggled when his cock smacked her across the face. She opened her mouth and bobbed for it, catching it and swallowing it. Kelly reached over Arthur and pressed her hand atop Katelyn's head when she didn't descend far enough to match what Kelly had done. She pushed Katelyn to take Arthur's cock into her throat, and she glugged, tightening her throat around his cock like a vice as she swallowed him.

Arthur's balls tightened in Kelly's hand, and she squeezed him gently, pressing her thumb against the spot between his balls and his ass. His grip seized on both women, and Katelyn convulsed as she came, losing focus on the blowjob. Kelly had to control her, lifting her head by the hair and pushing her down Arthur's cock again with every stroke.

Arthur erupted, blowing his seed into Katelyn's throat as his dick throbbed and pulsed with his release. Katelyn choked, coughing. Kelly pulled her off Arthur's dick in a flash and took her place, letting Arthur fire his release into her mouth, throat, and mouth again. Katelyn coughed but signaled she was okay at Arthur's concern.

She smiled, stroking her fingers through Kelly's hair. Kelly released Arthur's cock and kissed the tip. Katelyn followed her example, kissing the tip of his dick. Kelly pulled the blanket over him, pulling it to his shoulders before she patted his abs and rested on him. She used his right side for a pillow, and Katelyn mirrored her on his left with her ear over his steady heartbeat. Arthur kept rubbing Kelly, but she placed her hand over his and moved it to her breast.

Arthur was too relaxed to protest that she deserved to cum too. He closed his eyes in the wake of bliss that left his heart full and his balls empty. He didn't want to argue too hard and tried to be understanding. Arthur planned to say something as soon as he opened his eyes, but sleep tricked him.

Katelyn fell asleep first, lulled into slumber by his steady heartbeat, his warm body, and the comfortable embrace of his arm draped over her. Arthur followed as if she dragged him with her. His breathing shifted, and Kelly smiled, closing her eyes and relaxing against him with his arm draped before her. She hugged it, cuddling him and using him as a pillow.

They fell asleep with their lips tugged into small grins, happy, warm, relaxed, and content. They needed no words to say goodnight.

Arthur dreamed of a cozy, warm beach, his feet in the sand, and his girlfriends laughing, swimming, sunbathing, and splashing each other in the lazy ocean waves.

Katelyn dreamed of herself and Arthur on a road trip, playing passenger princess with his cock in her mouth as he drove.

Kelly dreamed of the kitchen in their new house, cooking a meal for the girls and Arthur, who waited for her while she descended to the basement to fetch something. She grabbed the bottle of wine she sought and ascended the stairs, ignoring the naked, begging Lynn chained to the wall. Her time would come.