The Committed Three

Chapter 1

Josey brushed the loose grass off their checker board and smiled up at Percy. "Ready when you are."

The two were sitting out in the garden. Lounging on their tartan blanket, they were enjoying the sunshine and birdsong of the tranquil environment. Ice cubes tinkled in her glass as Josey sipped lemonade. Clouds drifted above, here and there blocking out fingers of God that poked their backs.

This early in the season some heat was present, but it had not yet reached full zenith. Its presence was a warm hug after a long winter of snow and ice and being stuck inside more often than not.

When a ladybug drifted onto her arm Josey grinned, lifting it up to the nearest stem of St. John's Wart along the edge of the flower bed to her side. Perfectly camouflaged, the ladybug disappeared into the berry patch to find a new place to explore.

"Ok," Percy replied playfully, loosely fingering the black pieces, jostling them in his closed palm. "Time to get your butt handed to you." Percy placed the playing disks on Josey's side of the board with a smug grin that bespoke of his confidence in winning the game.

"Yeah, well, we'll just see about that, Mister," Josey replied with a laugh. "Today is the day. I can feel it. Prepare to go down; I'm coming for you."

Rolling his eyes, Percy sat back on his outstretched arms, palms down on the blue and brown-patterned blanket behind him, and yawned. "Whatever you say, Jose. It's your cooking duty that's on the line."

"Or your laundry duty," she retaliated joyously. "If you lose, you're doing it all for a month. Now, go ahead. Make your move, Perce. You first this time."

Moving a red piece diagonally to the left, Percy waited for Josey's countermove.

Time passed quickly as Percy and Josey moved their pieces around the checker board. Engrossed in the game as she was, Josey almost missed her other husband's arrival. Startled, she looked up from her stack of pieces and found Cole smiling over her, the board still perched between them.

Lighting up like a firefly, Josey jumped over the blanket to give Cole a hug. Knowing how much she loved her time with Cole, as infrequent as it was, Percy regaled himself into the background, allowing Cole to take over.

"Mind if we change things up a bit?" Cole asked Josey quietly while Percy retreated inside to bide his time. Normally, you'd think a man like Percy would mind, but he and Cole had an understanding. There was no room for jealousy between the three of them. A bit unconventional, Percy understood how Cole felt, for he was often walking in the same shoes himself.

As a firm asexual man, however, Percy did his best to understand the urges his wife had. He could never forsake the pleasure he knew she took with Cole. Percy loved Josey with all of his heart, and they had a great friendship between them, but he was no fool. He knew Josey needed more. Never able to deny her anything, Percy turned away while Josey indulged her passionate side with Cole.

Josey moved the checker board aside and looked over at Cole with the sense of longing one has when they're sure their time together will be short.

"Not at all," Josey replied. "You know Percy always beats me. I was just trying to hold on long enough for you to get here and rescue me." she teased. "Last time we played I almost had to do all of the toilets in the house for a month. This time it would have been the cooking."

Cole laughed and shook his head.

"What?" Josey asked him, giving him the side eye.

"It would've been his funeral," Cole joked, ducking when Josey reached out to playfully tap him on the shoulder.

"Oh, you," she reprimanded him. "I can cook."

"Mmm-hmm."

The moments passing, Cole grew silent and Josey closed her eyes when she caught a whiff of his aftershave. A light woodland musk swept over her and she smiled.

Cole sighed contently, happy to be there with her. "I would never disappoint you, Baby. You know I'll always come and rescue you from him."

Leaning forward for a soft kiss on the lips, Josey reveled in Cole's strong embrace when he reached out to hold onto her. "I do. I love you so much, Cole."

"I love you, too," he whispered, cradling Josey in his arms, relaxing in the feel of her touch and at the sound of her heartbeat moving in time with his own.

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