Four Letter Word (Love Logic #2) - K.M. Neuhold Page 0,34
at me before pressing a kiss to Leo’s cheek. It lingers far longer than a friendly kiss, Leo’s arms going around Bishop’s waist to hold him close for several beats. Looks like I was right about him. I’m two for two on calling guys with feelings for Bishop, and I am absolutely going to give him a good dose of I told you so at my earliest convenience.
I watch the two of them until they part, my heart feeling light at the way they smile at each other. The only thing I love more than making my partner happy, is seeing someone else make them just as happy. How can anyone ever think there’s anything ugly about love?
“Ready to go?” I ask when Bishop turns back to me.
“I’m ready.”
I hold my hand out, and he laces his fingers with mine. “Catch you later, Leo,” I say, winking at him. “So…” I say smugly as we head down the hallway to the stairs.
“Fine, yes, you totally called it,” he admits, the levity in his voice making me feel even bubblier. “Was it, um...I don’t know how this usually works, but should I not be affectionate with other people in front of you? I wasn’t sure, but then I figured Leo saw the two of us kiss, so it was probably fine?”
“I don’t mind at all. I’m a total compersion whore, so I’ll always be happy to see you happy.”
“Compersion? What’s that?”
“It’s that happy feeling you get when you see someone else’s joy. In the polyamory community, it’s usually used to refer to seeing your partner with another partner. I love seeing people I care about all squishy and smiley, even if it’s not directed at me,” I explain as we reach my car, parked right in front of the building. I drop Bishop’s hand and open the passenger door for him.
I go around the car and climb in on the driver’s side, but before I can put it into drive, I notice Bishop chewing on his bottom lip with a faraway look in his eyes.
“What’s wrong?”
“What if I don’t feel that way? Like, what if eventually I see you with someone else and all I feel is jealous?”
I reach over and put my hand over his, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “Then you tell me, and we talk about it. Open communication is important in all relationships, but even more so in polyamorous relationships.”
He nods, flipping his hand around so we’re palm to palm, squeezing my hand back. “I can live with that.”
“Good.” I lean over and steal a quick kiss before starting the car and pulling away from the curb.
Bishop rolls down his window and leans back in his seat, closing his eyes, a soft smile on his lips as the sun washes over his face.
“God, it’s a beautiful day,” he says.
“Yes, it is,” I agree, my voice huskier than intended as I sneak glances over at him when I can risk taking my eyes off the road for a second.
It takes about forty-five minutes to get to our date destination, and when we pull in, I can hardly contain my excitement, waiting to see what Bishop will think of what I have planned.
“Where are we?” he asks, climbing out of the car and looking around at the marina. “Do you have a boat?”
“Nope,” I answer, opening the trunk to grab the bag I packed and then taking his hand again. I can tell the moment he sees the sign because he sucks in a breath, and his entire energy changes.
“Oh my god, are we going on a dolphin cruise?”
“Yup.” I grin over at him, getting that same giddy feeling again as his whole face lights up and he starts to bounce on his toes like a little kid at Disneyland.
“I’ve always wanted to go on one, but they’re kind of expensive.”
I shrug at the comment, hoping he won’t press for the actual cost, seeing as how I opted to buy out the full cruise so it would just be the two of us and the captain. It’s not as if my real job is a secret, but people tend to act differently once they find out. It always takes me back to being that dorky kid getting picked on for all my sci-fi graphic tees and the fact that I was always writing in my notebooks instead of doing normal kid things. I’ll tell him, just not on the first date.