The Power of Female Friendship

Aynsley clenched her phone in one hand, her other hovering over the dial pad, ready to call Nick. She glared daggers at Nick's mom. It wasn’t just the woman’s audacity that pushed Aynsley so far—though it was audacious to make a play for her and Madison’s boyfriend. No, it was the disgusting notion that she would think of her own son's friend in that manner. What kind of mother wouldn't think about how her romantic choices affected her son? The betrayal Nick would feel, hearing his mom and his best friend were sneaking around behind his back? The kind that belonged in prison.

Nick's mom just stood there, perfectly composed in her sleek professional outfit, like she wasn’t spouting absolute insanity. Like the claim she was making for Joey's attention, was perfectly okay. Before she knew the nature of Joey's relationship to the older woman, Aynsley had thought that she was just some old kook who had fallen for Aynsley's boyfriend. And while she had been prepared to fight for her man, she got it. Joey was rather wonderful, the kind of guy a girl would be lucky to be with.

But now that she knew who the woman was? Now that she knew that it was Nick's mom?

Disgusting.

And the younger woman with her... Jesus, where did Joey even find her? She stood next to Nick's mom with the same quiet confidence, acting as if nothing was wrong with what was being said, her huge tits practically hanging out of her shirt like they were an "open for business" sign.

It was disgusting.

Aynsley was ready to make the call. She knew it would ruin Nick's mother's life, but she didn't care. How dare this older woman come after Joey? How dare she jeopardize his psychological wellbeing? She didn't deserve to be in Joey's life. She moved her thumb over the dial pad, about to press the first number...

Then Joey spoke.

“Um… actually…” His voice cracked, barely above a strangled croak, but the instant the words left his mouth, Aynsley felt something shift, "You're not supposed to fight over me! You're all supposed to be on the same side! You should be supporting each other!"

What was this nonsense Joey was spouting? How could Aynsley buy into that? Didn't he know what was at stake? What was being done to him? She’d make sure Nick's mom paid. And that the younger woman—just for supporting her—never saw him again.

"You’re not supposed to fight over me!"

Aynsley’s breath caught. The anger burning in her chest flickered, wavered.

Not supposed to fight over him? But these women wanted to take him away from her! And one of them was a gross MILF-next-door, who happened to be his best friend's mom! She had to fight, tooth and nail, to hold onto what she needed. What she wanted.

Although, the more Joey's words rattled around in her brain, the more they began to make sense.

Joey was the best possible thing for girls like Madison and Aynsley, that much was certain, and he'd been more than happy to accept their affection. In fact, he'd given no indication at all that he would leave them for greener pastures. And if he could be happy with the two of them, if he could be loyal to them without being exclusive to either one of them, maybe there was a way for him to be loyal and not be exclusive to other women too.

The thought felt true in a way that made her stomach twist. Of course they shouldn’t be fighting over Joey. Joey wasn't a pet. He wasn't Aynsley's property. Joey was a man. His own man with needs, desires, ambitions, and dreams. Why would she fight to quell that? The whole idea was ridiculous. Joey was valuable, but she needed to let him be his own man. Aynsley could be loyal to him, and even if Joey was with other women, she knew he would be loyal to her at the same time.

So why had they been acting like that was a problem?

Why was it a problem Ms. Matthews decided to make Joey the focus of her entire life?

She glanced at Madison and saw a flicker of hesitation, like her anger wasn’t quite fitting the way it had before.

Nick's mom and the younger woman also hesitated, their sharp expressions smoothing just a little, as if they too were struggling with something that didn’t quite line up.

Even Miss Matthews, standing next to Joey, had an odd, hesitant look to her eyes.

“You’re all supposed to be on the same side!”

Oh.

Aynsley shivered. The truth of it slid into place like a puzzle piece locking in. A perfect fit.

The remnants of any anger faded completely. Not because it wasn’t justified, but because it was misplaced. It wasn't just that they weren’t supposed to be arguing. They weren’t supposed to be against each other at all.

They were all on the same side.

Aynsley’s stomach dipped as she truly felt what that meant. She looked at Madison, at Nick's mom, at the younger woman. Even at Miss Matthews. For the first time, she didn’t see opponents.

She saw allies.

Her fingers loosened on her phone, her shoulders easing from their tense coil. She wasn’t here to tear anyone down. None of them were. They were here for Joey.

She licked her lips, trying to steady herself. “So… we shouldn’t be fighting,” she said, testing the words.

“No,” Nick's mom said slowly, eyes dark, thoughtful. “We shouldn’t.”

Madison let out a breath, nodding. “Right.”

"We should be teaching each other, and learning. Whatever's best for Joey." Ms. Matthews said, giving Aynsley a warm smile.

Even the younger woman looked pensive now, arms no longer crossed so tightly.

Aynsley ventured a small smile, testing the waters. The others looked her in the eye and returned it, a careful, gentle smile that said "I'm willing to try."

That was all she could hope for, really. Women had it hard enough in the world. If they could remember that it was no good to fight each other, that they were all on the same side, how much easier would life be?

Looking at the four other women in the room, the women on her side, the women whose side Aynsley herself was on, she knew that the fight was over.

"You should be supporting each other!"

Aynsley’s pulse jumped. A warmth—low, deep, electric—spread through her, curling at the edges of her thoughts.

Supporting each other.

Yes. That was it. That was exactly right. It wasn't enough to stop fighting. It wasn't enough to recognize whose side they were on. Women needed advocates. They needed to be built up. They needed be be uplifted as they worked together.

To make sure Joey had everything he needed.

She could see the same realization rippling through the other women, see it in the way Madison’s gaze softened, in the way Nick's mom’s lips parted slightly, as if tasting the idea for the first time. The way Miss Matthew was watching Joey with hunger in her eyes.

Aynsley’s skin prickled, heat pooling in her groin.

Supporting each other meant… sharing.

And sharing Joey meant...

She let out a shaky exhale, her mind spinning, her heart pounding. So what if Nick's mother and the younger woman thought that they got to take care of Joey sexually? So what if Madison wanted to make out with Joey in front of the whole school? So what if Miss Matthews wanted to make supporting Joey her whole job? After all, that's what she and Madison wanted to do as his girlfriends. Aynsley would support them in their endeavors. It was what she was supposed to do. It was what they were all supposed to do.

She looked and Ms. Matthews, at Madison and they all knew that they accepted that they were all part of Joey's life now.

Joey was important to her. More important than any other love interest. And so she would support each and every woman in the room at having their time with him, encouraging them to enjoy him. The air in the room felt heavier, suddenly charged with this new idea, something that might have seemed dangerous, but now felt exhilarating.

Joey still looked overwhelmed, but Aynsley could see it—the way his wide eyes flickered between them, the way his breath came a little too fast... he felt it too.

"Okay," Madison was the first to speak, "You're right, Joey. We'll share." Then, to Nick's mother, "I'm sorry Mrs Fowler. I'm sorry everyone. We need to start talking, start communicating. We all have a role to play in Joey's life. Me and Aynsley are obviously his girlfriends. Mrs. Fowler and uh I'm so sorry I don't know your name yet, but you two said you're responsible for his sexual gratification, and Ms. Matthews is responsible for his success and becoming a man. I love all of that, but if we're going to support each other we can't forget supporting Joey. He's what's most important. And that means we need to organize and clarify not just our roles but understand our places in Joey's life, and in each other's."

Joey's face went from overwhelmed to ashen as Madison continued her monologue. Aynsley didn't know why. They had, after all, stopped fighting. Wasn't that what he wanted?