Endless Love

Chapter 11

Blythe went back to her classroom after bus duty. She had a meeting before she could go home.

It had been a good week, if not a little lonely. She wished she could see her three guys more frequently, but it was really difficult to pull something together on a day that wasn't the weekend.

She wasn't going to be able to do anything but input grades this weekend seeing as it was the end of her school's third quarter.

She also just needed to catch up from her extended weekend at Denver's. She had lots of laundry, and needed groceries. She just needed a good refresh.

After her meeting, she went to the gym. She tried to go after work on Mondays and Fridays, and some Wednesdays.

She was running on the treadmill when Pax texted her.

Pax: You sure you don't want to come for dinner? Or I can bring you something.

She smiled. If she saw any of them, she would get distracted no doubt.

Blythe: I have quite a bit to do. Thanks though.

Pax: :(

After her run, she picked up some groceries and went home. She was in the laundry room when Denver called her.

"Hello?" she answered.

"Hey," he sighed. "I think I fucked up. I'm outside. Can you let me in?"

She frowned, stuffing her phone into her back pocket.

Denver was outside her door just like he said he was. He looked upset, or confused. She wasn't sure.

"What's wrong? Why aren't you at dinner with the guys?" she asked.

He pulled her in for a hug, stuffing his face in her neck. She rubbed his back, trying to soothe whatever was bothering him.

She took his hand, sitting next to him on her couch.

"We met up to go to the restaurant. It's Friday night, it's busy out. Paxton grabbed my hand, but I heard some people talking. They were just absolutely disgusted, and so I pulled away. I know I hurt Paxton's feelings, and Josiah got really pissed."

Denver scrubbed his face with his palm. Blythe had never heard him talk so much so fast. He was clearly upset with himself.

"I don't know what I'm doing, Bee. I really like you, and I like the guys too, but-"

"It's not as bad as you're making it out to be. You were trying to protect yourself. That's all."

"What if it's more than that? What if this is not who I am?"

Blythe tangled her hands together. "I don't know," she whispered. "I can't answer that."

It was quiet for a moment.

"Josiah was so upset. I think there was something more going on," Denver mumbled.

"You can't leave things like this. Can I tell them to come over?"

He nodded.

Blythe pulled out her phone, calling Josiah who answered on the second ring.

"Do you think you and Pax could come over to my place?" she asked hesitantly. "Denver is here."

"Of course he went to you," Josiah scoffed.

"Where else would he have gone? It's obvious he wanted to resolve whatever the issue is."

Josiah didn't say anything else.

"Just get over here, grouchy," Blythe said. Denver was right. Something was up with him.

"I'm sorry," Denver said after she hung up. "I know you have stuff you needed to do, and I didn't mean to put you in the middle of it."

"It's okay," she said, smiling cheekily. "Besides, being in the middle of all of you is exactly where I like to be."

Paxton was the next to arrive. He gave Blythe a tight hug, kissing her cheek.

Denver stood from the couch, surprisingly reaching over to Paxton and pulling him into his arms.

"I'm so fucking sorry," Denver whispered, pressing Paxton's face into his neck.

"I know, Denver. It's okay, really. You and Jo, you're making it way worse than it was. Let me breathe."

Denver loosened his grip. Paxton kissed his cheek.

"I was a little hurt when you pulled away, but I've known I was bisexual since highschool. I forgot how new this is for you, and people really do suck."

Paxton dropped onto the chair with a sigh.

"Did Josiah say anything to you?" Blythe asked curiously.

"No. He was unusually quiet actually."

Josiah's sharp features looked shadowed when she let him in. He looked exhausted, and not like his normal self.

"Hi, Bee," he said. She liked the nickname Denver had started.

"Hi," she said. She leaned up on her toes for a kiss.

The silence was a bit awkward as Blythe pulled a chair from her dining room table to sit in, forcing Jo and Denver to sit next to each other.

"You shouldn't have gotten so angry, Jo. Even I wasn't that upset," Pax said, breaking the ice.

"I'm sorry," Josiah said. "I was pissed at the situation, not at you, Denver. I shouldn't have taken it out on you. I realize this is an adjustment. I don't ever want to put pressure on this, not when you're trying to navigate all of it."

Denver nodded. "I just - I am trying to figure out my place in our relationship. I would never want to hold y'all back."

"Especially after last weekend, it was really easy to get caught up in our own little world," Paxton added.

Blythe nodded, catching Josiah's eye.

"I shouldn't have been short with you on the phone," he said to her.

She frowned. "I would never favor one of you over the other."

"Of course not," Paxton said, and the others agreed.

"What else is going on with you, Jo?" Denver asked.

Josiah shrugged. "I don't know. I feel like I've gained perspective being with all of you. I have always been working nonstop trying to reach another goal, or expand in some way, and I'm just tired of it."

In some ways, Blythe also felt like that. Being with them made her realize just how beautiful life was, and she wanted to slow down and enjoy it, instead of getting caught up in her exhausting routine.