Three Little Words

Trip and I had a good buzz by the time we finished dinner. The girls had stuck to wine, but they’d finished a bottle between them and were headed toward tipsy. That seemed to be Wren’s plan, and I was feeling too mellow to mess with her. Besides, it would have been sheer cussedness if I had. So I decided to help her out and move things along instead.

“I dunno ’bout you all,” I said, “but I’m ready for the hot tub.”

She gave me a surprised look that immediately turned suspicious. I swallowed a laugh as she tried to figure out how I meant to frustrate her plans. I gave her my best faux-innocent expression, just to mess with her.

Then I winked, which nearly sent her into a tizzy. At that point Christy touched my knee under the table and shot me a “be nice” look.

“Relax, Wren,” I said. “I’m just screwing with you. Well, not screwing with you, but you know what I mean.”

“Uh-huh,” she said cautiously.

“Seriously. I know exactly what you’re trying to do, and I’m helping.”

“Sure you are,” she said, still dubious.

“Here, I’ll prove it. Trip, let’s do the dishes so the girls can relax in the tub for a while.”

She goggled, while he glared.

“Dude! How come you always do that to me? I hate doing dishes.”

“You think I like it?” I shot back. “You think the girls do?”

They shook their heads.

“See?”

“But that’s—”

“Whoa!” I cut him off. The words “women’s work” had been on the tip of his tongue, which would’ve started a fight for sure. “Don’t even think that.

You won’t get laid for a week. Trust me.”

Christy gave my leg a squeeze of encouragement. Wren chose to let the comment go, even though she probably knew exactly what he’d been about to say.

“Come on,” I told him. “The sooner we start, the sooner we’ll be finished.”

“And the sooner we can thank you properly,” Wren added.

He gave me a sour look but eventually conceded, “Yeah, you’re right.

Might as well.”

“We’ll help you carry the plates in,” Christy said.

I held Wren back as the other two headed to the kitchen.

“Be cool in the hot tub,” I told her in a low voice. “She isn’t ready to fool around in front of Trip. Kissing you is one thing, but don’t expect anything else.”

“I know what I’m doing,” Wren said tartly.

I gave her the skeptical eyebrow.

“Fine! You’re probably right anyway.”

“Trip said you might visit us tonight if the hot tub doesn’t play out?”

“Trip needs to learn to keep his big mouth shut.”

“He’s walking a fine line,” I told her, “trying to keep both of us happy.

Don’t make him choose sides. You’ll win, but it’ll be a Pyrrhic victory. He already feels like he’s selling me out.”

“Yeah, okay,” she said after a moment. “Thanks for telling me.”

“No problem. And remember, I want the same thing you do.”

“I know. I just get so frustrated sometimes. I want things to happen faster.”

“So do I. But a relationship is like a building: if you lay the foundation right, it’ll last forever. If you rush things in the beginning, it won’t survive the test of time. So, which do you want, a quick building now or one you can enjoy for years to come?”

“Why do you have to be so damned reasonable?”

“It’s part of my charm.”

Christy appeared from the kitchen before Wren could respond. She took my plate, looked up at me for a kiss, and smiled when I gave it to her. Then she turned to Wren.

“Plate,” she said with her hand out. “Kiss.”

Wren gave her both automatically, and I hid a smile as she frowned in confusion.

“Trip and I’ll take care of the dishes,” Christy said. “You two go out.

We’ll join you in a few minutes.” She gave us a bright smile and turned for the kitchen, plates in hand.

“What just happened?” Wren said when she’d gone.

“You’ll understand when you meet her mother.”

“I’ve met her mother.”

“Right. Then you know she’s a force of nature.”

“Should I be worried?”

I laughed. “Only if you don’t do what Christy wants.”

She stared after her.

“Mmm hmm,” I said. “It’s called ‘soft power,’ and she’s very good at getting what she wants. Like when you first lived together and you thought you were seducing her?”

“But she was really seducing me the whole time?”

“You got it.”

She thought about it and then laughed softly. “You know, sometimes I think I know what I’m doing. And then other times, like now, I think maybe I’m in way over my head. But still… I totally love her!”

“That makes two of us.”

She gave me an appraising look and then directed it toward the kitchen.

“Do you think this is what she wanted all along?”

“Wouldn’t surprise me a bit. But I think it’s unconscious if it is.”

“Yeah, that’s what worries me.”

“Why?”

“It makes me feel like I’m not in control. You know how much I hate that.”

“Same here. But I think Christy is fine with us directing things… as long as we do them her way.”

“I think I love her even more.”

“Yep. Me too. Now, let’s do like she said. You grab the wine and I’ll get the towels.”

Trip and Christy were chatting at the sink as I passed the kitchen. He seemed to be in a much better mood, and I chuckled to myself at how she worked her magic.