Theory of Attachment [18+] [mxm]

39. Relationships 4 Dummies: By Micah (Not To Be Taken Seriously)

The following Wednesday, Micah brought Rory to brunch with Benny and Kennedy.

At first awkward, Rory was quickly won over by Benny's excitement for the two of them and about Rory's job. Micah was grateful his friends weren't bashing his dating app habits in front of Rory, though he supposed they were too fascinated by Micah having a boyfriend to risk sabotaging it.

After introduction, standard brunch therapy commenced. "So Micah told me he told you about him and Lennon," Kennedy said.

"What! You did? You're allowed to do that?" Benny said.

"Yes, Benny, it's called healthy communication, apparently," Micah said.

Benny stared at Rory. "And you were okay with that?"

Rory blushed. "Is this a standard brunch topic, or are you just bringing it up because I'm here?"

"Oh! No, sweetie, we talk about everything at brunch," Kennedy reassured.

"Then..." Rory glanced at Micah before admitting, "I suppose I... also know you three. Had a thing."

Kennedy swatted Micah's arm. "Smart move."

"You're the one who gave me the Empathy Flashcards," Micah said.

"I know. I just didn't think you'd use 'em."

"Empathy Flashcards?" Rory repeated.

"Those notecards I was reading before your mom's thing," Micah explained, which earned him a simple, "Ah."

Benny held Rory by the arm. "I just want you to know that Micah and I are not compatible at all. We haven't slept together or dated since the threesome, and that was, like, four years ago now."

"Yeah, I know," Rory laughed, squeezing Benny's hand back. "Micah explained that you're a hopeless romantic."

"And he's intolerable about it," Micah added.

"Well, I wasn't going to mention that," Rory said.

"Intolerable!" Benny collapsed to the side, fake-sobbing. Kennedy rubbed the top of his head in attempted comfort.

"Am I allowed to ask..." Rory started, and the entire table was already nodding. "Is it true Micah's slept with over three hundred people?"

"Low-baller," Kennedy said.

"That's definitely a low number," Benny agreed.

"I gave him a range of three-to-four hundred," Micah said.

"I think it's more toward six hundred. Think about it: Freshmen year you were apeshit. At least four people a week, multiply that by fifty-two... We're already at two hundred."

"And sophomore year I was coping poorly," Micah said, With Hunter, "so that was more like three people per weekend, not including the weekdays."

"What..." Rory breathed in horror.

"Yeah, so we'll give sophomore year a generous 250," Kennedy agreed.

"But you have repeats sometimes. Like one person for one week, another for the next," Benny corrected. "So the number is probably lower for both years."

"True, true..."

"We'll round freshmen and sophomore year to three hundred," Micah said. "Junior year maybe a hundred. I calmed down a little."

"Calmed down..." Rory whispered, eyes wide.

"And now we're here!" Kennedy said. "What's the number? You tell us."