Always Three: A MMM Menage Coming Out of the Closet Romance (The Always Series Book 7)

by J. P. James

  19

  Hudson

  One month later…

  The curtains draw up slowly, revealing the entire cast below us.

  “Yes!” Hayden shouts at my side. I choose to whistle because I know I won’t have a voice in the morning if I scream.

  The house lights bathe the actors in brilliant hues of blue and white, no doubt blinding them but I doubt any of them care.

  “He did it,” I say thoughtfully. Hayden pats my back, pride rolling off him in waves.

  We watch Ricky from the box seats. It’s a special treat for the opening night, courtesy of Fyre Connell and his glorious connections. I didn’t realize the perks of being related to someone who’s dating a celebrity, but I’ll take it. There’s none of the celebrity hassle but the perks include free theater tickets.

  Ricky reaches for Hermia and Demetrius’ hands, and then those actors reach for their fellow actors. It continues down the line until the chain stretches across the entire stage.

  They surge forward, and the crowd erupts below us. They must not be able to see past the first five rows, but I bet the feel of the crowd is sensational. The entire audience is on their feet. The applause echoes through the theater, bouncing off the walls back and forth into infinity. The cheering builds gradually, sounding more and more like a tsunami headed for the coast.

  When Ricky and his crew push forward from the line, the noise from the crowd swells. I wonder if my chest will explode this time. This is what Ricky lives for, what he’s worked so hard to achieve, and now he’s here.

  I don’t think I’ve ever been more proud in my life.

  “Where is he?” I ask, huddled close to Hayden as swarms of people parade around us. The actors and patrons swarm the lobby, everyone looking for the one they want.

  Hayden cranes his neck. When I think it might snap, his hand flies up. He waves it frantically, his eyes fixed somewhere in the sea of people.

  I try to follow his eye line but it’s no use. I’m not the best at picking people out of a crowd. It doesn’t matter though. Ricky steps out from behind an older woman, excusing himself as he thanks her for coming to the show. He’s face is glowing, and he appears to be gliding across the floor like a figure skater.

  “Hey,” he sighs once he’s in earshot.

  Hayden and I glance around the crowd. There must be over a hundred people here, some ignoring us while others making mental notes. I turn to Ricky but I keep my hands against my sides. I want to reach out, but only if he’s comfortable with it.

  He laughs out loud, and decides to throw caution to the wind. He leaps into my arms, throwing one arm around my neck and reaching for Hayden with his other. He’s strong, and it even though we’re bigger than he is, it doesn’t take much to drag us together. Hayden joins the embrace too, burrowing his head in Ricky’s neck. I support the majority of our weight, but it’s the best thing I’ve felt in a long time. It feels like I have my entire family in my arms.

  “You were amazing,” I tell him.

  “You’re even better with a sword in your hand,” Hayden comments, his voice gravely and low. “And sexy as hell.”

  I set Ricky back on the floor, but his hands never leave us. We unfold but keep our eyes locked on each other, feeling the heat radiant between us like a nuclear reactor.

  “Thank you,” he beams up at us.

  “Ricky!” A voice shouts from the left side of the lobby.

  Ricky looks over my shoulder as I turn around. Fyre runs at a wicked pace while Jordan and Jameson take up the rear.

  “Fyre!” Ricky shouts as Fyre slams into him, pulling each other in for a hug.

  I hug Jordan while Hayden high-fives Jameson. With greetings out of the way, we turn our attention to our favorite distractions: our successful, extremely attractive boyfriends. How the Jones’ boys got so lucky, I’ll never know.

  “You rocked that stage,” Fyre cheers, ruffling Ricky’s hair.

  Ricky pulls away, laughing while he smooths his unruly locks.

  “I couldn’t have done it without you,” he praises.

  They share a look that must only apply to creative types, but I can sympathize with it. They’re both craftsmen. They put pieces of themselves into their work, whether it’s the stage or a record studio or a piece of art. They’re careers require them to be vulnerable and emotional, to connect with the human qualities in all of us. To see and feel that hard work pay-off must be an otherworldly, tremendous feeling indeed.

  The trio don’t take up too much of our time. Fyre has an early meeting and Jordan and Jameson both have early shifts.

  “I wanted to grab pizza before we head home too,” Fyre says, throwing his boyfriends puppy-dog eyes to prove his point.

  They head out and leave us to enjoy the evening. I grab us three glasses of wine, and we enjoy a few silent moments. We take turns, watching the people ebb and flow around us, and exchanging giddy smiles in between. It may seem silly, but it is one of my favorite we do as a couple. We enjoy the relationships around us, while also enjoying our own.

  “There you are,” I hear Sarah call from a few feet away.

  When I spot her, I realize how blind I must be. She’s done up her bright pink hair with sparkling blue tips. Her dress is an elegant emerald color and her shoes are as bright as her hair. Even though it’s the theater, the crowd doesn’t stand out compared to her.

  She has a cute girl on her arm, and she ushers her over too as they greet our small circle.

  “You were the waitress, right?” Ricky asks.

  The girl nods sheepishly, taking our hands and shaking them profusely. “Yep. Most people call me Colleen, but I’ve been a waitress for five years and I’ve been known to answer to waitress too.”

  I like the girl’s spunk. As Sarah nuzzles into her arm, I can see she does too. Sarah has so much spark that I wondered if there was anyone that could match that. I’m glad she has someone that can match that energy.

  Sarah pulls Ricky into her orbit, praising him for his performance while also bemoaning his looks. It sounds she wants him to get a haircut, and whatever Sarah wants Sarah gets. I admire their bickering but my eyes draw up when I see the woman walking closer.

  “H-hey,” Sarah stutters.

  Ricky looks over his shoulder and his while body stills.

  Janine looks good. She’s wearing a black dress, simple but elegant, with a red clutch at her hip.

  “Hey Ricky,” she tells him.

  She flicks her gaze up to Hayden and then me. I thought I might feel jealous whenever I saw her, but I weirdly feel nothing at all.

  Janine and Ricky have remained friends, though they haven’t seen as much of each other in the last month. They have their own lives, and now that they aren’t dating, they’re both free to explore the other hobbies and friends that occupy their worlds.

  “Hey you,” he tells her.

  He opens his arms, and Janine goes willingly with a small smile. They hug briefly and pull away just as fast. I can see now they ways they’re dynamics changed. When Ricky finally told her about our relationship, she didn’t take it well at first. She blamed him, and then herself, for what went wrong. I guess they both could be at fault, but I also think people grow up. Sometimes relationships run their course, and it isn’t anyone’s fault. The issue is when people stay in those relationships and stop listening to what they really want.

  Janine and Ricky did that for a while, but they’ve moved on and are better for it. I hated Danny for a while for the pain he caused Hayden and me. We’re more resilient now because of what happened.

  I don’t take love for granted. I know that relationships are about constant communication. I’m thankful that our trio talks openly and honestly with each other now. We’re always checking in to make sure this is what we want. So far, it has only made us stronger.

  “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Hayden says as he walks up to me.

  We watch Ricky and his friends for a moment before I lick my lips.

/>   “That we’ve come a long way in one month?” I ask.

  Hayden nods, tipping his head down to my shoulder and tapping it briefly. “Me too.”

  Just then, Janine excuses herself. I assume she’s going to the bathroom, but my heart kicks up when she starts walking towards us. Ricky eyes her for a moment, but then gives his undivided attention to Sarah and Colleen.

  As Janine steps up, her eyes look us up and down. When she locks eyes with us again, she smiles.

  “You guys are so handsome. Ricky has good taste,” she teases.

  Hayden and I let out the same chortle from the back of our throats. I start to blush a little, but I try to cover up the embarrassing display with some charm.

  “I can only assume he adopted his taste in part from you. So thank you for having such good taste in guys,” I tell her.

  She bites her lips, her eyes softer now. For a long time I believed Janine didn’t have a heart. I was wrong. She may be flaky and she may have her mood swings, but she’s just trying to figure things out. We all are, and I need to remember that more often.

  Before I know it, I lift my arms towards her and Janine doesn’t hesitate to wrap up in my hug. It is as brief as their hug was, but it brings a sense of peace as well.

  “Thank you for loving him,” she says, “the way he deserves to be loved.”

  I bite my lip this time as she moves towards Hayden. I hold back the emotions, but I can feel another piece of my heart heal under my skin.

  “Thank you. He’s glad you came tonight, and we are too,” Hayden tells her as she steps away.

  Her smile is bright, but as she takes another look at Ricky, she ducks her head and backs up. “Well, I should get going. Ricky is a popular guy. Goodnight,” she says with a small wave of her hand.

  She leaves as gracefully as she entered. For the mess that started this all, I feel like we’re all ships floating on calmer seas.

  Ricky and the girls continue to talk when I feel a small finger slowly tap the back of my ribs. When I turn around, I can’t believe my eyes.

  “Sidney,” I announce.

  I pull him into a side hug. The girls say their goodbyes to Ricky, and whips around in time to swarm Jane. He thanks her not only for her attendance but also for her love and support when we were younger. Hayden waits patiently until he can pull them both into a hug.

  “You’re looking much better than the last time I saw you two,” I note, hoping it isn’t too insensitive to bring up that horrible day.

  Sidney waves it off with his lithe fingers.

  “Trust me. If I can survive the rise and fall of Italo disco, I can survive a burning building,” he gloats.

  Jane groans while the three of us erupt in laughter.

  “You two should come over sometime. We’ll cook you dinner and you can tell us how the earth was formed,” Hayden teases.

  Jane smacks his arm but laughs with him. “Deal.”

  Sidney reaches out for Ricky’s hand, and holds it tenderly for a moment. Sidney’s lip starts to quiver, and it brings Ricky to the verge of tears.

  “I love you kid. You made me so proud,” he says.

  Ricky hugs him tightly, and they don’t let go until Jane worries they might actually be stuck together.

  When Sidney pulls back, his face shifts until he looks like a gremlin with a surprise up his sleeve.

  “Ricky, there’s someone I want you to meet,” he states.

  Sidney points over Ricky’s shoulder and Ricky turns to follow the line into the crowd.

  “Holy shit,” I mutter, following the same line and landing on the surprise.

  Ricky staggers a bit. His balance falters as his eyes determine if what he’s seeing is real or a mirage.

  “He’s the real deal,” Sidney confirms. “He flew in from London this morning as a favor to me. His granddad and I go way back, and I told him there was a rising star he should meet.”

  “Ricky,” Hayden whispers, grabbing his shoulder to comfort him. “It’s him. Mr. Darcy.”

  Sidney pulls Ricky out of our bubble, out into the crowd towards his idol. I wouldn’t be surprised if Ricky dies of a happy heart. At least, in the end, he’ll have died happy.

  I watch him and Sidney disappear into the crowd. Jane leans into Hayden while Hayden rests his elbow on my shoulder. I can’t remember a time when I felt so peaceful, but here I am. Not only has Ricky fulfilled his dream, and now meeting his childhood hero, but I also have the privilege of standing by his side as it happens. I can die happy too.

  Epilogue

  Ricky

  Two years later…

  No matter how many times I close a show, the same things always happen. The adrenaline flows through my blood. The lights burn holes into my eyes. Sweat gathers under my collar and soaks through my shirt. Butterflies flutter from the pit of my stomach and work their way up and out until they’re all but flying towards the ceiling. It’s crazy, hectic, magical, and inspiring all at once. When a show ends like this, it is the sign of a performance well done.

  Tonight is the final show of Much Ado About Nothing. We’ve been performing this show for two months, eight shows a week. Every now and then, my old insecurities knock on my mind’s door, but it has gotten easier to push them aside and focus on my craft. Besides, I can confidently say that this was the most fun I’ve had during a run. The cast is excellent, the director demanding but loveable, and the audience endlessly devoted. Not to mention there’s a set of twins who always manage to show up to every Sunday show.

  “Thank you,” I whisper towards the crowd.

  I know they can’t hear me, but I am humbled every time I get to this point that I can’t help myself. The words need to be set free, so I let them loose into the theater and give them life.

  The roar of applause floods my ears and drowns out the other senses. My mind wanders and, funny enough, it lands on the first time I rehearsed in Hayden and Hudson’s living room. They were playing video games while I practiced. It was the night Janine finally came back, but before that shitstorm, our evening was so domestic. Maybe it’s because we were friends for so long, but we fell into those dynamics so easily I barely noticed it until now. I can’t think of something more romantic, and it has my heart stuttering while I take my final bows on stage.

  These past two years have been a whirlwind, but considerably less chaotic. Hayden and Hudson have both been extremely supportive since day one. They’ve encouraged me every step of the way, not just with my sexuality, but also with my career and my self-image. In fact, I find new ways they helped me grow every day. When I stand up for myself in a crowd, I think of their reassuring words in my ear. When I have a stressful audition, I can feel their gentle touches on my skin. I’ve learned to take their lessons to heart, and feel more confident in myself.

  I continue to take acting classes, because an actor is first for foremost a student of the art. I find work semi-regularly now, since Fyre introduced me to his circle of friends and colleagues. That first performance as Lysander changed everything. My next hurdle is to finally leave Florian’s. Despite my acting gigs, Florian’s welcomes me back and I have a hard time turning them away. However, I’ve managed to scale back considerably. I’ve also kept a tight budget, and if I stay on track then by this time next year I’ll be a full-time actor and zero-time waiter. It’ll be hard to say goodbye to the tips and complimentary meals, but I think I’ll manage. My thick skin should be tough enough by then to survive.

  Once the director gave his blessings, he sent us on our ways to find our family and friends. I spot my guys instantly. I mean, it’s hard to miss two tall, attractive lookalikes, right?

  I grab Hayden by surprise, pulling him around his waist. I tug him down until his face meets mine, and I kiss him properly on his cheek.

  “Thank you for coming,” I tell him.

  Hudson taps my shoulder just then, and practically drags me out of Hayden’s embrace.

  “Thank you for another stellar performance,” he tells m
e. “The audience can’t get enough of you. Congrats babe.”

  “Cheers,” Hayden says as he raises his glass.

  Hudson and I do the same, linking all our arms together like the tangled mess we are.

  “Congrats,” Hayden echoes. “You’re an amazing actor, and you’re only going up from here.”

  They lean in at once, kissing each cheek at the same time. Heat stings my face, and I feel the rush of adrenaline all over again. My eyes darken. My head clouds over, imagining all the ways they could pin me between them.

  “I’m glad you could make the after party,” I say as I gesture around the room. “But the sooner we can get out of here, the sooner I can get you guys naked.”

  They both choke just as Sarah walks up with an equally attractive girl. She even has purple hair, and it accents Sarah’s pink locks perfectly.

  “You guys okay?” She asks, patting Hayden on the back to help.

  I think the smirk on my face might be permanent, but I have no regrets.

  “Ricky was just telling us about some of the backstage antics,” Hudson recovers quickly, tugging at his tie for extra airflow.

  “Can’t be any worse than the stuff I got up to my freshman year,” Sarah says without batting an eye.

  Her date elbows her in the ribs. Sarah scrunches her nose at her, but her cheeks blush and she straightens up. “Guys, this is my girlfriend Misty. Misty, meet the most adorable trio in the planet.”

  “Take that back,” Hayden warns.

  Sarah throws him a wicked grin. “You love me too and you know it. Don’t lie.”

  Hayden pulls her next to him, and without messy her hair he gives her the gentlest noogie on earth. She giggles as she escapes his clutches, burrowing back into Misty’s side.

  “Hey,” she calls towards me.

  I shrug but she just smiles wider at me. Her hand comes up and we high-five like the kids we are.

  “I’m glad you could make it. You look great. Both of you do,” I tell her.