An Awkward Breakfast

“So this is nice,” Eric said, looking around the kitchen table.

Lucy very clearly disagreed based on her expression of discomfort.

The five of you were sitting around the table. It hadn’t been a big ‘make breakfast for everyone’ event like you probably would have done on a weekend. Instead, you all just happened to hit the kitchen at the same time as you scrambled to get ready for work.

“How’s your eye feeling?” you asked Eric.

“Tender, and I can’t figure out if it feels better to keep it open or closed,” he said. “But we’re in court again so maybe I can just fall asleep with it half-open and find the right balance.”

Gemma snorted a chuckle. “I don’t know what’s worse, the idea of today being as boring as it promises, or it being as chaotic as yesterday.”

“Says the girl who got him punched to begin with,” Lucy muttered.

“Lucy!” Becca scolded.

“It wasn’t Gemma’s fault,” Eric said.

“Well, I did aggravate the situation,” Gemma said. “But I’m definitely not the reason.”

“How about we all just agree that Eric is awesome?” you suggested. “He took a punch for me and I appreciate that a lot. So thank you again.”

“You're welcome,” Eric said.

“Have you reached out to the podcasts to let them know and book some appearances?” you asked.

“Wait, what podcasts?” Becca asked.

“Mm,” Eric hummed, pulling his spoon out of his mouth. “I haven’t, Garrison said if I did that right away he wouldn’t represent me if we pursue anything. I have to talk to him first. And when this stuff first started I did a bunch of appearances on podcasts because DeezChains was a popular influencer. Do you know about the Man’o’sphere?”

“No,” Becca said, and you could see a trickster glint in her eye as she leaned forward. “Tell me all about it.”

Lucy ended up pulling Eric from the table in exasperation. Becca had just kept asking questions, stopping herself from refuting the various wild statistics that Eric had been spouting. She shot you and Gemma a look that said ‘I’m not done with this,’ but the three of you also needed to get moving.

Taking the bus to work with Gemma and Eric was a bit weird. You were colleagues so it felt like you should sit with each other, but you kind of just wanted time with Gemma. Still, Eric had taken a punch for you on top of everything else, so you spent the ride talking with him and Gemma about anything other than his man’o’sphere stuff.

At one point Gemma pivoted the conversation back to Lucy. “So, Eric, I’m just curious - are you and Lucy in a relationship now, or is it still something less firm?”

“I think it’s a situationship now?” Eric hedged. “Like, we aren’t together. And definitely not boyfriend/girlfriend.”

“Are you exclusive?” you asked.

“No,” he chuckled.

“OK, good,” Gemma sighed. “Because I’m pretty sure she’s gone out a couple of times and it wasn’t with you.”

“Well, maybe I’ve been going out too,” Eric shrugged.

“Have you?” you asked.

“Maybe,” he replied. You had a feeling he hadn’t.

“As long as you’re happy with where you’re at, that’s all we care about,” Gemma said. “You know Sabrina and I are willing to talk you through more dating stuff.”

“Hey,” you said.

“So if John,” Gemma smirked as she looked at you.

“I think my success rate speaks for itself here,” you pointed out.

“OK, that’s fair,” Gemma grinned, then looked back at Eric. “Sabrina and I can help you try and figure out what’s going on in a woman’s mind and how to attract them, John can help you with keeping them and making them very happy.”

Eric nodded and frowned for a moment before leaning in. “Do you have, uh, any tricks and tips for… y’know?”

You clenched your jaw for a moment without breaking your mild smile, glancing at Gemma as she shot you a ‘you asked for it!’ look with a laugh stuck behind her eyes. “I don’t know, Eric,” you said. “Tips and tricks for what?”

“Getting Lucy to have some, like, normal sex that doesn’t include her being weirdly loud like she wants everyone to hear?” Eric asked.

Gemma couldn’t control her laugh and covered it with a cough into her elbow.

“Well, you could talk to her about it,” you said. Eric made a face. “Or you could try a ball gag.”

Eric liked that idea a lot more and you had to dodge several questions about gags - ball and otherwise - for the rest of the ride to the courthouse. When you got there you split off from the others to go grab coffees for everyone, and when you got back Sabrina met you with a happy kiss good morning.

Garrison and the Associates showed up right on time thanks to their town car driver, and the four of you followed them into the court without any issues though Eric did get some looks from the security guards with his eye. You were sure it wasn’t the first or the last time they’d see someone coming to court looking less than presentable, but you had to admit Eric looked particularly rough if only because of the black and blue swelling due to its freshness.

The four of you sat in the back of the gallery this time as you waited for the Judge to make his entrance, and Sabrina grabbed your hand and squeezed it as she leaned in to whisper to you.

“How was this morning?” she asked.

“Fun,” you said. “Did Gemma tell you everything?”

Sabrina nodded with a little smile. “I’m good with it. Becca is on the approved list from my end, it’s just Gemma holding back.”

“I know,” you said and resisted the urge to lean in and kiss her. The three of you still hadn’t figured out whether it was worth reporting the relationship to HR, and with only a bit over a month left to go, it felt like it might cause more problems than not opening up the Polyamory can at work.

Sabrina gave you a smile that said she knew what you were thinking and wanted and agreed. “We’ll talk at the break,” she said, squeezing your hand since she could hold it well out of view of Garrison and the associates.

“OK,” you said and winked. She winked back.

When you looked to your right, Gemma was smiling a little at you and she gestured with her eyes to her other side at Eric.

He was sitting up straight, just slightly leaning back in his chair, and his eyes were mostly closed while his breathing was shallow and steady.

“Is he?” you asked quietly.

“I think so,” Gemma snickered.

Sabrina noticed what was going on and snorted. “Poor Eric,” she said. “Worn out by your crazy ex.”

That made you flush and need to cover your mouth to stop from laughing and drawing attention.

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