Customer Satisfaction (3 page)

“They aren’t supportive?” Damon’s calm made Fisher feel better.

“My sisters are fine, and my mother loves Byron. Dad’s not thrilled I like dick so much, but he likes Byron. Small town, close family, and traditional views—not everyone does the sex parties. Gay the family has gotten over. Telling them I’m bisexual will make them think I’m crazy. Just some sex addicted lunatic who’ll fuck anything.” He drummed his fingers on the wood.

“So you left the people you love?” Damn stood and shook his head.

“I wanted you to know because they think I cheated with you. I’m sorry. I had to find a reason where they wouldn’t try to talk the issue to death.” He knew it was wrong and crazy, but he needed to regroup and think. Being in a triad of happiness and great sex that was barreling toward commitment freaked him out.

“If you’re not willing to face your family with a relationship then it probably isn’t the right one. Lying to Lizzie and Byron isn’t the right move though.” Damon went back to work.

The calm advice made sense to Fisher, Damon always made everything so much easier. “I did kiss you. Byron will figure out the truth. He’s been bugging me to tell my family about Lizzie, maybe move her in with us, and I’ve been stalling.”

“So it started getting serious, and you bolted. If it’s not right, don’t apologize for your feelings. I don’t like being part of your lies though.” Damon sighed. “You and Byron are great guys. I don’t want to be behind a breakup.”

“You’re not. Not really. I let them know I might need more experiences and time. I’ve been dating Byron for so long…and the more I got to know you the more I realized what I was missing. Just give it some time, and things will calm down.” Fisher hoped things would be fine.

“Do you really think you’ll be happier without them?”

The ache knotted in Fisher already. “No, but I can’t handle it. They deserve more, so this is better. You said if it’s not right, then I shouldn’t be in it.”

“Doesn’t mean you should lie to people.” Damon stared Fisher in the eyes.

“I was honest about most of it. I kissed you. That’s cheating to some people. I’d have gone down on you if you’d let me. Getting specific about how I cheated doesn’t make it better or worse. Byron and Lizzie can stick together and be happy.” Fisher wanted to drop one of the heavy tools on his toe to let the pain out.

“They won’t. Byron won’t be happy without you. You may think you’re not grown up enough for a serious relationship or settling down, but the feelings are real. The history is there. You can hurt people.”

“I don’t want to hurt anyone. That’s why I got out before it turned too serious.” Fisher hopped off the table.

“You hurt them. You got out before it hurt you too badly.” Damon shook his head. “But yeah, if you can’t face your family with a girl and a guy then they deserve someone who can.”

“I love them. That’s real. I wasn’t using them.” Fisher paced the room as he defended himself.

“I believe you. That’s why I think you should stay on good terms with Byron and Lizzie if possible. You have to work with them. Maybe you’ll find the courage to deal with the family?” Damon closed the box section of the mobile hive.

“You think I made a mistake?” Fisher asked.

Damon lifted a shoulder. “That’s up to you. Lucky Springs is a nice small town, but we grew up here. There isn’t much around. Some people get into their farms and jobs. Some people go to those kinky parties. Some people have a group relationship and focus on a large family and great sex.”

“Maybe I should get out of here? See the country a bit?” Fisher wondered aloud.

“Running away isn’t the answer. You could’ve gone away to college or something. If you wanted out, you’d be out. There’s a reason you want to be here. Close to your family is good. Loving more than one person isn’t wrong. Working out this situation isn’t the biggest problem in the world.”

“It feels as if it is.” Fisher studied Damon’s muscles and tight body. “They’re not the only ones I’m attracted to.”

“Cheating wasn’t the way to fix that. I like spending time with you, too. I didn’t let it go too far. I knew you came with more people.” Damon kept his distance.

“Did you want them all? Does Luke know I come around here and talk to you sometimes?” Fisher felt as if he’d stepped on a landmine. Had he totally misplayed this?

Damon nodded. “I don’t mind the idea of a group thing. I like women, too. For the record, my half-brother liked Lizzie just as much as I do. I’m not sure what’ll happen now.”

“What?” Fisher hadn’t seen this coming. “You’re the best advice I get. I feel safe and sane here. How are you so mellow and sure of things all the time?”

“I know who I am. Nothing like having a half-brother and our moms dueling for status and control all of our lives to teach you what’s important. My family sticks together. You need to go figure out what’s right for you.” Damon walked out of the shed.

Fisher was alone, even more alone than he thought. Damon’s advice was smart, but the sudden distance from everyone wouldn’t be easy. All his stuff was at Byron’s. If Fisher stayed with one of his sisters, they’d know something was wrong. His entire family loved Byron. Fisher had made a mess, and he had to figure out something quick.

Chapter Three

By Thursday, Lizzie felt insanely alone. The guys were talking to each other, and her at work, but the closeness was gone. She hadn’t spent an evening with them or even talked about anything personal all week. At least tonight she could hang out with the girls and talk over pizza.

Ash was a native who left Lucky Springs for more excitement. Coming home and finding four hot men had been pretty exciting, and she was the first to move out into a committed group. Zoe was a few years older than the others and swore she wasn’t small town material. That was until she met four hot salesmen who kept her happy and busy. The best part was Zoe had turned up pregnant and settled into her life. The baby was due very soon.

Crystal was home, straightening up since they were renting Ashley’s grandmother’s house.

“Are you doing okay? Those guys behaving?” Crystal asked.

“Nothing new. At work, it’s all work. I’m going to try and get them on the phone.” Lizzie slipped into her bedroom and grabbed her cell phone.

She tried Fisher’s phone, and it went to voicemail. Personal conversation at work had been shut down by the men. They insisted it wasn’t good to bring outside drama into the day job. Men! It was all about what was convenient for them. Finally she tried Byron’s phone, and he picked up.

“Hi Lizzie.” Byron sounded down.

“We need to talk. No one is happy.” Lizzie sat on her bed. The sunflower décor of her room felt too cheery at the moment.

“No, but break ups sort of do that.”

“You guys were together longer. Of course, you’re hurt more. I just think Fisher didn’t know how to talk about stuff, so he acted out.” She didn’t want to give up.

“You’re too nice, Lizzie. You are. So sweet and that’s part of why I love you. If he’d hooked up with another woman, would you be so calm and forgiving?” he asked.

A chill hit her. “No, I understand what you’re saying. And I didn’t forgive anything yet. But this weird silence and professional crap isn’t helping anything right now. If he fell for a Stinger, I mean we’ve all talked about how hot they are. If he’d brought up adding them…” She rolled her shoulders to relieve some of the tension.

“You’re jumping the gun and trying to make it okay. Fisher could’ve suggested that. He didn’t. He wanted out. Give it a little more time, and we’ll see how things go. Have a good night.” He disconnected.

She stared at her phone annoyed. “Men. I’m nuts. Two, now zero, and I’m still thinking about more.”

The doorbell rang, and she headed out to be friendly. Talking with people not in the grips of a breakup would help.

Ashley was a blonde doll and the Lucky Springs native. It had been her connections that had gotten the other three ladies interviews here at the expanding factory, after the group had been laid off during the recession from their jobs in Shreveport. The tons of men that flooded in as well made for a lot of fun. Ash had reconnected with a couple guys from high school and had ended up with four men.

Lizzie hugged Zoe over her big baby bump. She was due to pop in a week or so. “We ordered extra pizza,” Lizzie said.

“It won’t go to waste.” Zoe patted her belly.

“Plus breadsticks and cheese sticks,” Crystal added.

Lizzie couldn’t wait for Zoe’s little girl to be born. No one knew which of the four men Zoe was with was the biological father but that made it sweeter.

So two of the four women were happily settled. Lizzie looked at Crystal, a plus size woman with confidence, brains, and humor. Maybe she and Lizzie weren’t meant to find men so easily?

“What’s with the frown, Liz?” Ash asked as she opened a bottle of red from her grandmother’s wine collection.

“Nothing. The pizza should be here any second.” She didn’t want to throw a gloom over everything at once.

“Oh, please, you look as if you lost your best friend. We’re all here.” Zoe gestured to the ladies in the room. “I’m tired of debating baby girl names with the guys. Give me something else to think about. Once the kid is here, I’ll be occupied.”

“I still can’t believe you’re the first of us having a baby,” Crystal chuckled.

Lizzie agreed. Zoe was the driven career girl who no one thought would stay in a small town long. Love changed a lot.

“I’m not rushing into motherhood.” Ashley handed out the wine.

Lizzie grabbed Zoe a pink lemonade from the kitchen. The doorbell rang, and she helped Crystal carry in the food. They sat around as if it were old times as they stuffed their faces.

“Men trouble.” Zoe grabbed another breadstick and nodded at Lizzie.

Lizzie looked down and refilled her wine glass. “It’s so dumb. Fisher hooked up with another guy. Byron is hurt. It basically broke us up.”

“I can’t believe it.” Ash shook her head.

Zoe put down her slice of pizza. “Those guys are crazy about you.”

“It hasn’t even been a week. I think if you give it time, it’ll sort itself out.” Crystal nodded.

The guilt of whining about two men not working out when Crystal was still the single one nagged at Lizzie, but her friends were all trying to help. Technically, Lizzie was single at the moment. “Fisher is only twenty-five. I don’t know if he’s ready for a real family.”

“He never left Lucky Springs or went to college. Maybe he’s not?” Ash asked.

“Sounds like it. He’s young. Maybe he’s not the right one?” Zoe shrugged.

“Byron never left here either, and he’s not cheating or running around.” Crystal sighed and grabbed a cheese stick.

“Different types of men are what make this group thing fun.” Ash smiled. “I think you need to go find some new ones. Don’t settle for anything less than you deserve. Fisher doesn’t realize what he lost.”

Lizzie’s cheeks went hot. The Stinger brothers had been on her mind all week and plenty before then. She could go and talk to Damon. See what truly happened. Was it all just sex or were there feelings involved? “I’m not sure jumping into something else is the right move.”

“You need to find what works for you. Not mope around the house hoping those men will come to their senses,” Crystal said.

“You need to get out there, too,” Zoe said to Crystal.

“The right men will show up at the right time. I’m not forcing anything or chasing down men because they’re single. No moping here. I’ve got plenty going on.” Crystal started to clean up the plates.

Lizzie helped with the cleanup, and when they were alone in the kitchen, she sighed. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought it up.”

“Lizzie, relax. You have to do what makes you happy. Don’t worry about where other people are. You can’t make Fisher ready or fix things. You need to be you. I’m not in a rush to dive into a group relationship. It seems so intense. Plus, I got that promotion at work. I’m still swamped on the career front. Maybe I just need the one right guy whenever he shows up?” Crystal shrugged.

The scent of pizza hung in the air as Lizzie leaned on the counter. She admired Crystal. She lived her life without worrying when or if a man showed up. The confidence was wonderful. Still, Lizzie knew deep down Crystal had high standards but low expectations of men. Her size could be a problem for some men, but those were the wrong ones. Lizzie had to believe the right men would come along who appreciated Crystal, all of her.

Crystal was so calm about waiting for the right person it made Lizzie wonder about her own eagerness. Lizzie’s urge to settle down and make a family could be premature. “Maybe I’m just rushing things?”

“I think you know what you want. You need to believe you can have it and find a way to make it happen.” Crystal smiled.

“Do you think I should go talk to the Stinger brothers, too?” Lizzie asked.

“No harm in talking, is there?” Crystal grabbed the triple batch of homemade extra fudge brownies. “At least there won’t be extras left over to tempt me. Zoe could eat this all by herself.”

“True.” Lizzie giggled. They were all changing in various ways. Ash had embraced the town she’d left right after high school and had plans to start a support group for poly relationships. Zoe was going to be a mom. Crystal had been promoted at work. Good things were happening for them here. Lizzie had to believe she deserved good things and they’d come her way.

* * * *

The next day Lizzie woke with a splitting headache. Wine or stress? It didn’t matter. She called in sick and after some pain meds and a nap, she spent the morning on the early plans for a baby shower for Zoe.

They’d tried before, but the mom-to-be was superstitious and refused any party until the baby had arrived and Zoe was recovered enough to enjoy it. The little girl was due in a matter of weeks, so Lizzie had to get the ball rolling. Ash was in charge of the guest list. Crystal chose to handle the catering. Lizzie had to find a place big enough and deal with decorations.

Little princess was an easy theme, so fitting for Zoe and her offspring. Lizzie ordered the decorations online and felt productive. The location, however, required some scouting.