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“Besides jerking off to cartoon people? Are you sure?” I teased. “I know it’s already being investigated for military and medical training purposes.”
Jax led us to the bar, and ordered two Cokes, and a seltzer with lime.
“You’re going to raise eyebrows if you’re not drinking when there’s an open bar. And thank you.” I took my soda from him.
The seltzer was for Grayson. He dipped his head to rest his lips near my ear. “Let them talk. We want you sober tonight.”
“Applications specifically for you.” Jax talked over the questions that tried to bubble up in my head. The demand for answers. “Imagine being able to see a 3D mockup of your outfits before you started sewing, with no more work than what you do now, when you design them in Photoshop.”
I liked the thought, and I loved that they were thinking about my work that way. “It’s not that simple. Is it?”
Grayson sipped his drink. “Not yet. But it’s getting there.” He nodded across the room. “The guy over there with the neon purple hair? He’s the head of digital output at that new studio. The one giving ILM and Weta Workshop a run for their money. He uses the hardware to storyboard.”
“They did the effects for that new horror movie.” I’d heard the guy was insanely brilliant. Like, talked above most people’s heads, but came up with such groundbreaking ideas that no one minded. “The combination of digital and physical are supposed to be surreal.”
Jax smiled. “That’s him.Supposed to be? You haven’t seen it yet?”
I gave him a look of disbelief smattered withduh? I loved horror movies, but Anne and Lyn weren’t fans. I’d rather see the spectacular films with friends, so we could alloohandahat the same time. I usually went with Grayson, but he’d been busy. “Not yet.”
“We should go,” Grayson said. “Christmas afternoon?”
“And you might be able to convince me to go.” Jax didn’t sound enthusiastic.
I was surprised he made the offer at all. “You can hide behind your popcorn during the scary scenes.”
“I can squeal in terror and hide my face in your shoulder.” Jax mimicked hiding behind me, brushing a light kiss on my shoulder in the process. “As long as you promise not to tell anyone I covered my eyes through half the movie.
A flash of need pulsed between my legs. How much longer did we have to be here? “Everyone already knows.”
“Good point. I’m in anyway.” Jax straightened again.
Aside from the questions their behavior was planting in my head, about what I was to them, this was nice. Normal. The way things usually were with us.
But those questions bounced against the reminder they were a couple, and regardless of anything else, that wasn’t going to change. I certainly couldn’t choose between them, or push them apart.
It didn’t matter how much teasing and flirting there was. I needed to be happy with being a horror movie buddy. Nothing more.
When Jax and Grayson were pulled into separate conversations, my mind had room to wander. I could either focus on the impending inbox explosions waiting for me on all of my accounts, or direct my attention what was going on with the guys. It seemed more likely I could act on the second one first, and it was a more pleasant thought.
Grayson said we’d talk about what we all were. How we introduced ourselves to people. That didn’t make sense. This wasn’t exactly the kind of society where someone saidthis is my boyfriend, and this is our fuck buddy.
Was he talking me being more to them? I couldn’t wrap my brain around that. Sure, they hooked up with other people, but it was never a long-term thing. And yeah, there was polyamory, and multiple person relationships. But that wasn’t something I could see myself doing.
Aside from the awkwardness of explaining it to Chase, which they seemed a lot more concerned with than I was, I’d always seen myself as a one-guy girl. It always came back to my dream future. Find the perfect guy. Have the perfect wedding. Settle into a life that wasn’t perfect, because no life was, but we’d make it work, because we loved each other.
Jax and Grayson had already found the perfect guys, in each other. I was outside fun. I was enjoying it; this definitely wasn’t a one-sided arrangement. Did I want to be their booty-call long term, though?
“Sadie?” An unfamiliar voice called my name, startling me, and I turned toward the man. He wasn’t anyone I recognized from Rinslet. “It is you. Wow.”
I pasted on a neutral smile. “It is. I’m sorry, I don’t recall your name.” Was he a colleague of Chase’s? Anne’s?
“Chet.” He extended his hand. “I’m a huge fan of your work.”
“Thank you.” I let some warmth bleed into my expression and returned the handshake. I was cautious about meeting fans in person, especially male fans. But I also appreciated flattery. Grayson and Jax were close enough that I had a back-up escape if needed.
“No. Thankyou. The way you bring flat drawings to life in a real world setting is brilliant. That takes some serious talent. I’m not just saying that. I speak from experience.”
Possible connection? I never passed on one of those. “Are you in costume design?”
