Where the Heart is

Roy had no idea why he felt nervous. Well, that wasn't entirely true. He knew exactly why. Logic simply insisted the feeling didn't make any sense.

His life had become governed by a wish that seemed determined to surround him with women who loved him completely. Women who trusted him without reservation. Women who believed in him so thoroughly that doubt almost seemed impossible. By every rational measure, tonight should have been easy. Instead, his stomach had been tied in knots since he'd texted the invitations.

It wasn't the idea of seeing Elaine that made him nervous. Or Michelle. Or Zara. Or Jessica.

It was the idea of seeing all of them together.

There had been small overlaps before. Elaine and Michelle had shared dinner together. Claire had been at Elaine's house while the wish still held her in its grip. Iris had briefly crossed paths with Zara.

This was different. This was everyone. Or at least everyone who seemed destined to remain part of his life.

And, of course, Jessica. The newest complication. Roy still hadn't figured out what to do about her. They'd shared a lovely evening, and a great breakfast, but that hadn't settled Roy's mind.

She was thoughtful. Funny. Brilliant. Easy to talk to. Every minute spent across the table from her had made the decision more difficult instead of easier. The morally correct path still seemed obvious. Become intimate with her, let the wish move on, allow reality to restore her life.

Only...

That would also mean losing whatever relationship had begun to grow between them. And selfishly, Roy wasn't ready for that. Since when was Roy the kind of man who would even consider slowing things down just to add another woman to his growing list of girlfriends? Was he becoming too comfortable with the idea that he didn't need consent? That he didn't need permission?

There was another complication, too. Jessica wasn't simply another woman caught in the wish. She was Ava's mother. Ava who had just barely turned eighteen. Ava who had been ensnared by the same magic as the rest of the women. Ava who had only just gotten free by spending a few minutes in Roy's car, her head in his lap, showing him what she'd learned from her high school boyfriend.

The thought of eventually attending family dinners across the table from someone who had once been the previous target of the wish made Roy's face warm with embarrassment. Ava would remember nothing. Neither would Jessica. Reality would erase every trace except from his own mind.

Only Roy would carry the awkwardness. Only Roy would remember.

Thankfully, tonight wasn't about solving Jessica. Tonight was about being a good host. Which somehow felt just as intimidating.

Would the women get along?

Would conversation flow naturally?

Would anyone feel ignored if he focused on just one woman for too long?

The questions chased each other endlessly through his thoughts. It amazed him how quickly life had become normal while remaining completely absurd. Only a couple of weeks earlier he'd never been in a romantic relationship. Now he was worrying about dividing his attention fairly between four girlfriends while hosting dinner.

Life was strange.

Perhaps the wish had done something to help him adapt. Otherwise, surely he'd have suffered a complete nervous breakdown by now. Instead he was setting the table as if it were any other night, any other dinner.

Michelle, meanwhile, seemed delighted by the entire idea. When Roy had returned from the bar earlier that afternoon and explained his plan, she'd lit up immediately.

"Oh! Everyone together?"

The excitement in her voice had been infectious. Apparently, while Roy had been out on his date with Zara a few days earlier, Michelle had invited Elaine over for dinner. The evening had gone wonderfully, and ever since then she'd been hoping everyone could gather properly.

She already knew every girlfriend's name: Elaine, Zara, and now Jessica. Faces, personalities and stories remained mysteries for two of them, but that didn't seem to matter to the young woman.

"They're important to you," Michelle had said while pulling vegetables from the refrigerator. "That's enough for me."

Now they worked side by side in the kitchen. The apartment hardly resembled the lonely bachelor space Roy had lived in for years. Fresh herbs sat on the counter. A loaf of bread cooled beside the stove. Music played quietly from Michelle's phone while something delicious simmered in a pot nearby.

Home.

The word arrived unexpectedly. Not apartment. Not condo. Home. His home.

Their home.

The correction happened instinctively now. Living with Michelle had transformed the place in countless tiny ways. Extra shoes by the door. More mugs in the cupboard. Hair products in the bathroom. A blanket draped across the couch that Roy would've never thought to put out.

Each little change made the place warmer. More alive. And every time he noticed one of them, he found another reason to smile.

"So," Michelle asked while chopping carrots into neat little coins, "how was your date with Jessica?"

Roy looked up from slicing peppers.

"Wonderful."

"I knew it would be."

"But I spent the night with Elaine. I really missed her."

Michelle nodded as though the statement were the most natural thing in the world.

"I'm glad you got to spend the night."

"So am I."

She smiled warmly.

"I missed you, too, though."

Roy couldn't help himself. Knife safely set aside, he stepped around the counter and slipped an arm around her waist.

"I missed you, too."

Michelle laughed softly before leaning into him for a quick kiss.

"There," she said. "Much better."

It wasn't the only kiss they stole while making dinner. Some happened while passing ingredients. Others came during quiet pauses in conversation. A hand would brush another. Someone would smile. Then somehow they were kissing again. None of it felt forced. None of it felt theatrical. It simply felt like two people who genuinely enjoyed being close to one another.

And it wasn't just the physical affection that made him feel close to her. While batter rested in a mixing bowl before becoming dessert, Roy asked about her work schedule for the coming week. Monday was busy. Tuesday looked easier. One of her coworkers had offered to swap shifts if necessary.

Later, while laying out plates and cutlery, Michelle mentioned that she'd thought about calling her mother earlier that morning. She still wasn't ready, but thought she could soon. Maybe later in the week.

Normal things. Comfortably ordinary things.

Listening to her talk, Roy found himself smiling again. This wasn't a fantasy anymore. These weren't shallow conversations invented to imitate a relationship. This was an actual relationship. Real conversations. Real affection. Real concern for each other's lives. The thought rested on his shoulders like a warm jacket on a cold night.

He loved her.

Not because the wish demanded it. Not because it seemed convenient. Because somewhere along the way, loving Michelle had become as natural as breathing. And the frightening part...

He felt exactly the same way about Elaine. And Zara.

His heart had somehow stretched itself around three extraordinary women without seeming to divide at all. The idea of losing any one of them felt unbearable.

Eventually dinner reached the point where nothing more could be done until guests arrived.

"I should change," Roy said.

"You definitely should," Michelle grinned mischievously. "I was trying to think of a nicer way to say that."

"Oh?"

"You've got flour on your shirt."

Roy looked down.

"So I do."

"And somehow tomato sauce on your sleeve."

"I have no idea how that happened."

"I do," Michelle laughed. "Maybe if you paid more attention to the food and a little less on girlfriend, you'd be a bit cleaner."

Together they headed toward the bedroom. Each of them stripped down to their underwear, not in an exciting pre-sex ritual, but in a comfortable, cohabitating sense. Roy reached for a clean pair of trousers while Michelle stood before the bed, studying three dresses she'd carefully laid across the comforter. One blue. One green. One floral. She lifted each in turn, considering them thoughtfully.

"You know," Roy said, "I think you'd look beautiful in any of them."

Michelle looked over her shoulder.

"That answer was suspiciously diplomatic."

"It's also true."

She smiled.

"You've become very good at boyfriend answers."

"I'm trying."

Standing there watching her, another thought appeared unexpectedly. Maybe they should go shopping together. Not because she needed clothes, although when she'd moved in just days earlier her entire life had fit into one suitcase. And not because he wanted to change anything about her. Simply because he'd love spending the afternoon helping her pick things she'd enjoy wearing.

Money had never mattered much to Roy. He'd always lived modestly. His savings account had grown almost accidentally over the years. What better use for it than making someone he loved smile? Would she enjoy that?

Hopefully. He wanted to give her everything. Time. Affection. Security. Little surprises. Whatever made her happy.

Before he realized he was moving, Roy had crossed the room. Michelle had just finished laying out the floral dress when gentle hands settled on her waist. She turned with a curious smile.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm not entirely sure."

He drew her closer.

"I just..."

The sentence never finished. Instead, he kissed her. She answered immediately, wrapping her arms around his shoulders as they stood together in the quiet bedroom. Neither seemed particularly concerned that they were both only in their underwear. There wasn't an ounce of self-consciousness between them anymore. Only comfort. Only affection.

When the kiss finally ended, Michelle looked up at him with amused eyes.

"What was that for?"

Roy rested his forehead lightly against hers.

"I couldn't stop myself," he said, a small laugh escaping. "I just realized something."

"Oh?"

"I love you more today than I did yesterday."

Her cheeks coloured.

"And tomorrow," Roy continued softly, "I'm pretty sure I'll love you even more."

"Oh, stop."

She giggled despite herself, rising onto her toes for one more quick kiss.

"You're going to spoil me, Mister Man."

"You deserve to be spoiled."

"I'll happily hold you to that," Michelle said, giving his chest a playful pat before stepping back toward the dresses. "But you'll have to wait."

"I had a feeling you were going to say that," Roy said with a dramatic sigh.

"We have guests coming," she said with a smile. "Which means I have hostess duties." She bent and picked up the blue dress. "So behave yourself."

Roy laughed.

"I'll do my best."

Michelle pointed at him with mock seriousness.

"You'd better."

He raised both hands in surrender.

"I promise."

Only after she'd slipped the dress over her head did she look back at him.

"Later, though..."

Roy smiled.

"Later?"

"Once everyone's gone..."

She walked over, straightened the collar of his clean shirt, then gave him one last affectionate kiss.

"...then you can spoil me."

Roy grinned as she leaned forward and put her lips right up to his ear.

"You can spoil me all night long."

A knock sounded at the apartment door. Both of them froze. Michelle glanced toward the hallway. Roy checked the clock. Twenty minutes early.

The evening had officially begun.