Lifetime

Wager

I was shivering, walking on my tiptoes to the bedroom with Taehyung chuckling behind me. He lifted the comforter for me to climb back into the center, Jungkook's body tensing as the chill of my hands met his bare torso. I slid them up to his neck, giggling when his shoulders raised in response to the touch, his lips pouting and brow furrowing to form a tired frown. The mattress dipped, balancing out as Taehyung slipped into the other side. He turned my head to kiss me again and I let their body heat bring me back to a normal temperature.

The week of being cut off from Taehyung felt like chaos, opposite of the peaceful feeling he usually radiated. Now, in the middle of them, with him open to me again, that eclipse of the galaxy within me and tranquil exterior returned.

Over the next week he blabbered as if he'd been holding on to every small thing he missed out on telling me in his anger. I could barely get a word in on our walks to and from work, often stopping his constant chatter with my lips against his for a second of quiet.

He replaced the dead vase of flowers on the kitchen counter for sunflowers that made me smile every day and apologized for his behavior in extremes, with all of my favorite things, extravagant and meticulously planned date nights, and inside of me.

We spent the rest of the year with a few more firsts, celebrating the holidays together, finishing out Jungkook's adventures, and with a three-way New Year's kiss that I wanted every year now and forever.

In the next we hustled harder than ever before, having set intentions to see growth in our careers since we all enjoyed our work but wanted to expand our reach. Taehyung joined a jazz band, gigging more and securing a job as a music instrustor that allowed him to leave behind his work in retail. He loved nothing more than working with children and watching their success. Jungkook's art around the city caught the attention of a magazine editor, giving him an entryway into an interview that would change the trajectory of his career. Seeing him blow up, going viral on social media and then booking a spot in several art shows allowed me to witness a different side to him. He was shy with all of the attention that came his way but it only increased people's attraction to his humble artistry.

I was still figuring things out, successful in my work as my first year with Margo provided me the skill to do my job without flaw and anticipate the speed bumps that naturally accompanied the industry. I appreciated the opportunities that were coming my way, but there were still things that I dreamed of. I hoped that the work I was doing now would give me a necessary boost into attaining the life I imagined.

We built ways of being in our relationship that kept me in a place of joy even when we were stressed out and stretched thin. The digital calendar we shared was constantly packed with tasks, meetings, and events that kept us busy from sunrise until deep into the night. Between the schedules that kept us occupied and separate for more hours than not, we put our focus into each other, blocking out the entire world in every moment together.

It wasn't perfect all of the time. With three people we had plenty of room for bickering and arguments. Taehyung was sensitive to being apart so often, clinging to me when we were together so that Jungkook felt slighted at times. In a smaller issue Jungkook scolded me when I cut the bottoms off of the plain t-shirts he wore around the house and painted in, but dressed in them every day after observing the way I responded to the look.

I'd seen Jungkook irritated and upset over small things, but nothing prepared me for the night of my office Christmas party. It'd been well over a year since running into Jimin and the fiasco that was Taehyung's jealousy, and with Margo's announcement of her departure from Vogue, I was being promoted to her position as the new director of photography. The celebration was a concoction of the holiday, her departure, my promotion, and the year's success.

After so much time together I felt confident walking into the party on the arms of two men, unbothered by the curious eyes that flickered our way. Taehyung had been eagerly curating our outfits for the past month, right in his assertion that the ruby dress and lipstick I wore wouldn't clash with the chic leopard print ensembles they sported.

It was always easy for them to capture the attention of a room, my colleagues eager to meet my partners. We mingled for a while before Jungkook's social clock expired and he gravitated toward the wall of food tables, allowing him security on the outside of the crowd. Taehyung quickly immersed himself in conversing with those who complimented his modelesque looks and bold choice of adorning leopard spots on his shirt and pants. I chatted with associates and photographers that I was sure I'd be booking in the coming year, accepting congratulations from those aware of my achievement.

I ventured back to Jungkook, giggling at the vision of his cheek stuffed with a miniature pig in the blanket as he popped another into his mouth. He turned around, wide eyed like a kid who'd been caught with their hand in a cookie jar.

He was kept from speaking until he swallowed, giving the perfect amount of time for a woman to approach from our right.

"I think I saw an article about you in Mousse Magazine." She ignored me to greet him, referring to the interview that was released about his recent showcase.

"Jungkook." He introduced himself curtly. She offered one of the champagne filled flutes balanced between her fingers to him and he glanced at me before passing it over.

She recovered quickly from the declined gesture and continued praising his work. "I loved the way you talked about painting the human form, men and women's bodies and the beauty in every one." She cooed. "I'm Jade. I do content creation. Maybe we can talk more over dinner sometime."

He wasn't given a chance to respond before she'd pulled a card from her clutch, slipping her contact information between two of his fingers and sauntering off without another word.

"I'm starting to think you hire these women to come up to you every time we're out together." I raised a brow as I took a sip from the glass.

"Maybe I do, just so I can see that jealous look on your face." He leaned down so that our faces were only a few inches apart, assessing the tightness in my lips and slight squint in my eyes. "Lets have some fun." He lowered his voice.

My neck warmed at his suggestive tone. "We can't. I'd say yes if this wasn't a work party and the bathroom didn't have a constant line–"

He chuckled. "I think we had two different things in mind." He replied, pinching at my ear when it reddened with embarrassment at my assumption. "I was going to propose a game." He grinned, holding up Jade's card.

"A game?" I snatched it away, ready to crumple it into the trash but he took it back, tucking it into the small pocket of his leather pants.

"Lets see who can get the most phone numbers tonight." He presented his idea, already scanning the room as if we'd started.

I used a finger to direct his focus back to me, that competitive spark already glimmering in his eyes. "We need rules first. The number has to be given so we can't be the ones asking for them. It has to be flirtacious and not about work. All genders included."

"Should we get Tae to join?" He questioned.

I shook my head. "He'd get more than both of us combined. It wouldn't be a fair fight." I laughed, spotting Taehyung in the crowd. He led a conversation with a group of partygoers who all looked enchanted by him.

"What's the prize?" He wondered aloud, though the pull at the corner of his lips told me he already had an idea.

I pondered for a moment, requesting a sexual favor that he proclaimed would be a reward for both of us.

Without hesitation he leaned into my ear, pulling his voice to a whisper. "Okay, but if I win you let me smear that pretty red lipstick off you tonight." He defined, tugging his bottom lip through his teeth.

I flushed at the anticipation of fun that would fill the last two hours of the party and continue once we returned home, holding out my hand for a friendly shake. "Let the game begin."