how special they were becoming to me.
And of course, I wanted to give them time to check me out, too.
“Holy shit,” Jamie said, jumping up to pull my chair out. As I took my seat, he leaned down and kissed my ear. “You are stunning, baby.”
He walked around the other side of the table and settled in across from me, leaving me sitting between Benno and Chase.
I leaned toward Benno for a quick peck.
“Hello, stranger,” he laughed.
And then I turned to Chase, who put his hands on either side of my face and kissed me passionately.
“Hey Senna, you have a French test coming up,” he said.
I smiled. “Do you think you might be available to help me study?” I flirted.
He reached under the table and took my hand. “Anytime, darlin’.”
Jamie reached into a bucket and poured me a glass of champagne, then one for himself and the guys. “Cheers,” he said, and we all clinked glasses.
I looked around the table at three impossibly gorgeous men—Benno with his messy shock of hair and nerd glasses, Jamie with his dimples and bicep tattoos, and Chase with his heavy dark brow and small ponytail.
Jesus, had I died and gone to heaven? Because it sure felt like it.
The tension between Benno and me earlier in the day seemed to have been set aside, at least for the moment, as we talked and laughed and chose delicious things off the menu. I’d never had escargot, which Chase convinced me to try.
The guys were all so special to me in different ways. God, I loved being with them.
Shit, did I say love?
“So, Senna, there is something we want to talk to you about,” Jamie started.
I looked around at the three of them. “Okay. Let me have it.”
Chase continued. “We want to make our little arrangement a bit more formal.”
Formal? What the hell did that mean?
“What we’re saying, Senna,” Benno said, “is that we want to share you in a long-term sort of way. Like you’d be girlfriend to all of us.”
My stomach did a flip.
Geez. I hadn’t thought about what we were all doing beyond a day or two into the future. But it sure seemed like the guys had.
“Wow. Just wow,” I said, trying to get my jumbled thoughts straight. “I’m not sure what that means, but it sounds intriguing.”
Out of nervousness, I took a too-big gulp of champagne, catching the dribble that landed on my chin with a finger.
Smooth.
Luckily, before anyone could expect me to answer, the waiter arrived with our meals.
Jamie held his hands up. “Just think about it. No need to make any decisions now.”
I was so honored. No matter which direction things went in, I loved that these guys thought enough of me to welcome me into their lives.
I broke off a piece of my halibut, and with my bite halfway to my mouth, was interrupted by a familiar voice.
“Well, look who we have here.”
“Krishelle. Hello. I’d say it was nice to see you, but I try not to lie,” Benno said between gritted teeth.
I whipped around to see my academic advisor standing right behind me, her eyes narrowed, and her mouth twisted with disgust.
This was not going to be good.
I set my fork down and turned in my chair. “Ms. Abalone. Hello.”
She looked me up and down like I was covered in dirt. “Senna, what are you doing with these men?” she spat.
“Krishelle, I don’t think—” Benno began.
But I cut him off. I could handle my shit. “Why do you ask?”
My hands clenched into fists so tight my fingernails cut my palms. This woman had been horrible to me since day one, and I was about done putting up with it.
She glared at me. “You know why I’m asking.”
I shrugged. “Do you ask everyone you see in a restaurant why they are there? Seems kind of silly to me.” I laughed.
Her face went from pink to red and she looked at Benno. “You… you’re going to have to answer for this—”
But I cut her off. “Look, Krishelle, we’d ask you to sit down and have a seat with us”—her eyes bulged as I addressed her by her first name—“but… we don’t have any more room.”
I turned back to my plate and ate the bite of halibut that was still on my fork. I closed my eyes to enjoy the buttery fish and to try to get Ms. Abalone’s hateful face out of my mind. When I opened my eyes, the guys were looking over my shoulder, watching her retreat.
“Jesus Christ,”