Lakeside Cougars - The Complete Trilogy, page 48
For a moment he struggled to think of how to phrase this, and then in a burst of inspiration a single sentence came to him and he almost rejected it, but finally shrugged and sent it.
I think Susan might be falling for me.
“Oh man, you texted her that!?” she groaned.
“Trust me, this is the best way to do this,” he said. “We’ll find out for sure. I mean, ideally.”
“Well, if you think so…”
He got a response back: That wouldn’t be so bad.
He showed her. Susan frowned, then chewed on her lip as she studied it. “Maybe...she doesn’t think you’re serious.”
“Could be,” he agreed, and fired off another text.
I’m being serious, I think she might actually be falling in love with me. I think this might very quickly become more serious unless someone intervenes.
“That’s...a weird way to put that,” she murmured. “And are you sure? I mean do you really like me that much?”
“So far, yes,” he replied.
His phone buzzed: Well, invite her to the meeting tonight and we’ll discuss it properly. But I can tell you myself, I’m fine with it. Honestly, I could see myself living with her and you while you two date.
“Holy shit, you were dead on,” Susan whispered.
“Yep.” He fired off another text: That is extremely good to hear. She’ll come tonight and we’ll talk about everything. Also, we totally fucked, it was incredible, and we filmed it.
He had almost put his phone away when it buzzed again: You had BETTER show me. A pause, then a second one. If she’s cool with it.
Atticus laughed, then frowned as he put his phone away. He supposed this wasn’t the best way to handle this little interaction, given Colleen didn’t know Susan was seeing her responses. Shit. Oh well, he was a little too distracted by how giddy Susan was making him feel to worry about it for long.
“So there you go, we’ll discuss it later tonight,” he said. “And it will probably go well. For now, let’s head on inside.”
“Yes, let’s,” she agreed, giggling giddily again and hurrying out of the car.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
It became clear to Atticus that ‘modern art’ was something he struggled with.
Either it was fucking awesome or he had no idea what the hell it was supposed to be. Or, sometimes, why it was worthy of being put in a fucking gallery.
He and Susan walked through the gallery slowly, taking it all in, after he’d given them a quiet donation of five hundred bucks. Luckily Susan hadn’t been paying attention while he’d done it. He didn’t really want to seem like he was trying to show off. He had money finally and this seemed like the kind of place that should be donated to.
Plus, he didn’t want to just pull out an ace in the hole and play this date on easy mode.
Although...he had the impression that he was already playing on easy mode with her because of how crazily she was into him. That thought felt weird when he initially had it, but then he thought, well, why not? Why couldn’t he finally enjoy that for once?
And so he did.
Because they were both being carried along by the current of lust, and that felt fine.
They walked through the art gallery and stopped for a couple of minutes at most of the art pieces, and there were a lot. Probably over a hundred. He saw some stuff that was little more than a dot or a line or some shape on an otherwise blank canvas. He saw a lot of paintings and drawings that just seemed like a chaotic scattering of colors and malformed shapes and figured he probably just wasn’t smart enough to figure out what the fuck they were going for.
There were some decent landscapes, some paintings of buildings and people, all of which looked pretty middle of the road. More what you’d expect to see when you looked at art. A few of them, though, he clearly got.
They did what they were supposed to do.
He stepped into a new room at one point and his eyes were magnetized to a dark painting. He walked over to it, slowly, feeling a strange fear welling up in him. It was little more than black and some grays and reds in there, deep, dangerous red that, after a long moment, he abruptly realized formed eyes.
In another, he found a depiction of a massive wasteland, a desert with a skyline of broken skyscrapers in the distance. An immense cellphone, partially constructed and half-encased in scaffolding, was surrounded by wooden Xs that people had been hammered to and long since left to rot and be picked over by whatever carrion creatures might have endured.
The last image he saw almost felt like it had been held back and placed here specifically for him, or at least that it was meant to be seen last.
It was a scene of a stretch of moonlit beach somewhere in Oregon. It was so simple and yet...something about it called to him in some powerfully wistful way that he couldn’t articulate. Something about the moonlight, the faint blue edge it had been given, the crisp clarity of it. He stared at it for almost ten minutes before they left.
“Now what?” Susan asked as they got back into the car and hit the road.
“Now we eat,” he replied.
“Where?”
“You’ll see.”
Five minutes later, he was pulling into the parking lot of her favorite restaurant.
“You are fucking kidding me,” she whispered. “Did Edith tell you this was my favorite place?”
“She did. I thought it would make you happy.”
“Uh, yes, it’ll fucking make me happy. I am also really goddamned happy I fucked your brains out before now, because I am going to put myself into a food coma here if you will let me.”
“I will let you. Go nuts.”
She began to get really excited, then abruptly frowned, looking uncertainly at the seafood place. “This place is pretty expensive…”
“Edith mentioned that, too. Seriously, I can cover it. No problem.”
“Well, if you’re sure then I’m going to take you seriously.”
“I’m sure and I hope you do.”
She grinned broadly at him and got out. He joined her and they headed inside.
…
Well, this was it.
They were having their big meeting.
Atticus pulled slowly into the driveway of Colleen’s lakehouse. Kate’s and Edith’s cars were already here. He and Susan had a bit of time left after their meal and so they went to a nearby park she knew about and then lost track of time talking.
There was something special about Susan and it wasn’t until they were talking in the park that he finally pieced together what it is, what he was reacting to in her that he didn’t for anyone else. Or at least anyone else in Lakeside.
It was the poverty. The failure.
Up until Cold Reset, he had more or less been a complete failure. Barely graduated high school. Didn’t have any kind of ‘higher education’. Never worked a job above minimum wage. Never really had a good relationship before Colleen. He’d definitely struggled with bills. Struggled to keep the lights on, to keep food in the fridge, gas in the tank.
Colleen and Edith and he was pretty sure Kate just...didn’t know.
They didn’t know what that felt like. They hadn’t lived that experience.
And he didn’t blame them for it, he wasn’t mad at them for it. In truth, he was very glad they didn’t have to put up with it. But he couldn’t deny that there was a unique connection on that particular impoverished wavelength.
“I’m really scared,” Susan murmured, staring up at the house.
“I understand. I kind of am, too, but I think that’s just nerves.” Atticus took her hand and she looked at him. “Listen, you don’t have to be scared. I fully believe that Colleen, Edith, and...the other woman in there...I guess it doesn’t matter now, Kate, won’t be mean–”
Susan’s eyes bulged. “You fucked Kate!?”
“Uh...yeah.”
“You are telling me that you are fucking Kate Green?” She looked back to the house with something like horrified wonder. “You have the three hottest women in Lakeside in there waiting for you,” she murmured softly. Her gaze slowly drifted back. “And you want to bring me in there to...negotiate for sex?”
“Well, I was hoping to have the four hottest women in Lakeside in there,” he replied. “And yeah, I’d said that’s more or less accurate. But Susan, seriously, listen: you don’t have to be intimidated. I understand that you can’t just turn it off.” He thought suddenly of something Vetra had said to him. “I know you can’t turn off the fear in your heart, but you can try to turn off the fear in your head by understanding that, at the very least, this should go smoothly. Edith clearly likes you. Colleen seems pretty into the idea of you and I being an item.”
“Why?!” she almost demanded. “How is she not jealous? I mean, that was some amazing sex we had.”
He laughed. “I...don’t really know. She just isn’t. Neither is Edith...I think. Kate sure isn’t.”
“What does she have to be jealous of? She is one hundred percent the most attractive woman in this entire town.” She paused, then her eyes widened a little. “Don’t tell Edith I said that! Or Colleen!”
“I won’t, Susan. Although...have you seen Vetra? Actually, nevermind. But listen, we’re going to get this sorted out, okay? Everything will be...chill. Even if we figure out that a relationship isn’t on the table, no one’s going to scream at you. Whatever happens, I will take care of you in there, okay? I will protect you.”
She offered him a somewhat shaky smile and nodded. “Okay.”
“Come on. Trust me, it’s not as bad as you think it’s going to be.”
They got out and walked up to the front door. Atticus could hear conversation, and then laughter. He opened up the door and walked in with Susan, finding Colleen, Edith, and Kate all relaxing together in the living room.
“Hey! Look who made it,” Colleen said with a warm smile.
“Oh Susan, you look petrified,” Edith said.
“I’m...nervous,” Susan replied. “Hi.”
“Have a seat and let’s get this conversation going, because I am fucking dying to see that video,” Colleen said.
“There’s a video? Of what?” Kate asked, suddenly excited. “Also, um, hi Susan. I feel like we don’t really...know each other.”
“We don’t,” she agreed, “and hi...and thank you.”
“For what?”
“Letting me fuck your boyfriend.”
“He’s not–” She paused, pursed her lips, looked to Atticus. “You know, I’ve been thinking about it, and we kind of are boyfriend and girlfriend...right?”
“I’d say that,” he agreed. “That’s partially what this meeting is about.”
“Well, how about the two of you settle that here and now then, and get it out of the way?” Colleen suggested.
“Fair enough.” Atticus sat down on the recliner and, after a brief hesitation, Susan sat her big ass down in his lap, and then hugged onto him, almost like a shipwreck victim finding some floating wreckage. “I want you to be my girlfriend.”
“Can I assume exclusivity will be a requirement from my end?” she asked with a small smirk.
He shifted awkwardly. “Uh...yeah.”
“While you keep hammering away night after night at three difficult cougar vaginas?”
“Uh...yeah. Sorry.”
She shrugged. “I really respect that you’re being up front and dead honest about it, instead of dangling some ‘we’ll see maybe it’ll change’ bullshit in front of me. And here’s the thing: I’m actually okay with this arrangement. I’ve hit the dating scene and just...I’m not impressed with what’s on offer. The bar is so low,” she muttered, shaking her head.
“Oh my fucking God, is it not?” Colleen asked, earning her a surprised look from Atticus. “Part of what had me so damn scared about my post-divorce life is just how fucking godforsaken the dating scene has gotten. The stories I have come across, again and again, online and in real life. I spoke with a lot of my readers and there’s just so many horror stories.”
“I decided to go on a date with a guy two years ago and he showed up to the restaurant unshowered and reeking. In his gym clothes. On purpose. Not like, he lost track of time at the gym and the choice was either don’t shower or be late to the date. No, like, he did it on purpose, he admitted it. He thought it would impress me. And just, Jesus Christ, the state of some men’s bathrooms! Literally just have good hygiene and keep your place even kind of clean, and that would put most guys head and shoulders above most other guys...okay, I’m getting off track.”
Kate paused for a moment, pursing her lips as she thought about it. Atticus waited, keeping his hands almost protectively on Susan, who was still clinging to him.
This was a very weird conversation to have in this position.
“Okay,” she said, suddenly decisive, “yeah. I want this. I kind of want you as a boyfriend...okay no, I really want you as my boyfriend, but the main thing that was holding me back was the fact that I’m too busy for a relationship, and I also just like being on my own probably too much. But if my boyfriend is already railing some other women then...I won’t be neglecting him, right?”
“It sure seems like it’d work out to that,” he replied. “Okay, awesome. Um...do we admit it? Like, publicly? Like if people bump into us when we’re out and about and see us kissing and go ‘oh I didn’t know you two were together!’ because you know they will.”
She laughed. “Yeah...you know what? Fuck it. I don’t care if they know I’m dating you while you’re also dating Colleen and Edith and Susan. I don’t give a shit. I’m not ashamed of anything about this relationship.”
“Awesome. Obviously I’m cool with it if everyone knows we’re fucking,” he replied.
Kate rolled her eyes. “No shit.”
“Cool, that’s sorted.” He turned back to Colleen and Edith on the couch. “What next?”
“I suppose we should let everyone present know what’s actually happening,” Colleen replied.
“Oh, I guess so, although I feel like everyone knows by now. But yeah, that makes sense. So, uh...I’m moving here, to Lakeside, to live with and date Colleen and Edith. And Kate. Sort of.”
She snorted. “Gee, thanks.”
“Oh whatever, those are your words.”
“When did I say we were sort of dating?”
“I mean the gist of it! Whatever, I’m moving here to date all three of you! And Susan and I have felt a very strong romantic spark. We also fucked and it was amazing.”
Susan made a noise that he couldn’t quite interpret. Everyone else looked deeply amused. Susan groaned and hid her face.
“Don’t look at me like that!”
“I’m sorry, you’re just blushing so badly,” Colleen replied.
“It’s hilarious,” Edith added.
“Oh thank you!” Susan cried, letting her hands drop.
“Sorry!”
“Atticus, what’s wrong?” Colleen murmured, her amusement somehow growing even more. “You have a look on your face.”
“What’s wrong?” Susan asked, immediately turning to face him.
“Nothing,” he replied, chuckling. “Just...I’m realizing that I’m willingly allowing four women into my life and three of them like fucking with me and you will probably fall into that habit, too.”
“Maybe,” she murmured.
He sighed. “Okay, focus. Does anyone in this room presently have a problem with me being sexually and deeply romantically involved with anyone else in this room?”
“No,” Colleen said simply.
“I’m cool with everyone here,” Kate replied.
“What does ‘deeply romantically involved’ actually mean?” Edith asked.
“I mean, Susan and I intend to date in the same way that you and I date, Edith,” he replied.
“Oh. Well, I mean, I sure like Susan, and I like you. So...yeah, that should be fine.”
“If you have an issue now’s the time,” Colleen said.
She sighed. “I just worry about time management.”
“I do too,” Atticus agreed.
“I think it’ll be hectic and chaotic at first,” Colleen said, “but then I think the truth of who we are will allow things to stabilize into something with more longevity.”
“What does that mean?” Edith asked.
“It means that, Edith dear, you and I discovered that we rather enjoy our alone time. We both love to just fuck off by ourselves with a book or a new TV show and just relax. Alone. I think Kate’s assertion about her own relationship with Atticus will be, to a lesser degree, applicable to you and me. I think it’ll even out. And if there’s problems, we’ll work together to solve them.”
“...that is true,” she murmured. “God, I’ve never had a relationship where I could actually fully trust the other person to work with me. Instead of just going ‘this is your problem to figure out’.”
“Jesus, was that what your marriage was like?” Kate asked.
“Yeah…” Edith murmured.
“Just so we’re all clear in here, Edith’s...family is a sore topic,” Colleen said.
“Oh. God. Fuck. I’m sorry, Edith,” Kate said immediately. “I didn’t know–”
“I know, it’s fine, Kate. We’re going to be having these little...these learning opportunities, and it’ll be fine. Colleen is right. We all trust each other. We’re all willing to listen to each other and compromise...right?”
“You know I am,” Colleen said.
“I for sure am. I am very agreeable with people I actually trust,” Kate said.
“I am very willing to compromise to make this work,” Susan said with an almost grave edge to her voice.
Well, Atticus thought, have to keep a watch on that.
He didn’t want her sacrificing herself again and again just to make everyone else happy.
“So, yes, I think this is going to work out and I want to keep going,” Edith said.
“I don’t have any problems with anyone in this room,” Susan said when they looked to her.
“Okay, sweet. So we’re in agreement then. Everyone is completely cool with everyone else seriously dating me.” They all nodded in agreement. “Okay, sweet. Now it’s time to address the next thing: living arrangements. Obviously Colleen and I are living here.” He looked to Colleen. “And we have potentially discussed the possibility of Edith moving here, but it was a very...cursory discussion.”
