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Josh should be dreading the day ahead—the meeting with his mother, the lack of employment...
Instead, he felt lighter than he had in... He couldn’t remember, but it was while he was still with Sydney. Before law school. Before the reality of expectation fully caught up with him.
Even sitting in the law firm lobby, with Sydney clutching his hand, him having no idea what they were about to walk into, he felt like everything was going to be all right.
“Ms. Hunter will see you now.” Her assistant led them to the conference room attached to Laurie’s office.
Dylan was seated at the round table. Josh’s mom stood at the front of the room, wearing a scowl.
Josh held out Sydney’s seat and pushed it back in as she sat, which earned him a deeper scowl.
Good. He picked the chair next to Sydney, which sandwiched her between him and Dylan.
“The only reason I’m seeing you is because I know the two of you don’t throw around panicky terms like this is critical lightly.” Mom’s voice was tight. “You don’t have much time to prove I made the right decision.”
Josh was ready to take the heat for this. “Aaron Jorgensen is manipulating contracts. Bait and switch—”
“Stop.” Laurie slammed her palms on the table. “I shouldn’t have to say this. I thought after my conversation with Dylan, a week or two ago, I didn’t need to. The two of you can’t be involved in Sydney’s contract. I don’t care what she told you.”
“We know.” Dylan nodded. “Conflict of interest. We’ve been working hard not to cross any lines.”
Mom barked a laugh. “Everything about this is a crossed line.”
“And not just for us,” Josh said. “She’s not the only one Aaron has done this to. We have proof. Dylan has proof, since I’m not supposed to be in those files anymore.”
Dylan slid a manila folder across the table. It contained several of the altered contracts—showing before and after—and associated complaints they’d found online. “All of these tell a similar story to Sydney’s. This isn’t a one-time mistake. He’s got a history of this.”
As Laurie Hunter flipped through the printouts, she paled. “Fuck me.” She sank into her seat. “How long... I can’t believe... You’ve tried to tell me he was a problem.”
“I thought he was just incompetent.” Josh had said it before, but it bore repeating. “This is worse. I stopped pushing, because you weren’t listening.”
“This could ruin the firm.” She scrubbed her face. “I’ve been sleeping with him. I never...” She exhaled through her fingers, then met Josh’s gaze. “I’m sorry for being blind to this. For yesterday. For everything that led up to it. And I’m so grateful you brought this to me, instead of going around me.”
Josh wasn’t as certain she’d listen as Dylan had been. “I’m glad we didn’t have to go around you.”
Mom turned to Sydney. “I still don’t know that you’re a good influence—”
Sydney cringed.
“—but I apologize for the way you were treated yesterday. And that you got caught up in this. I want to make this situation right for you. You can’t touch the money or the game, and I can’t change that. I can offer other things, though. While Josh’s law-school friends may be clever, this isn’t a get your feet wet kind of case. I’ll get you a real attorney, as long as these two promise to step back from this completely. I can’t have any more blurred lines.” She gestured to Josh and Dylan.
Sydney’s smile was tight. “Thank you.”
It wasn’t peace, but it was a decent ceasefire.
“Now if the two of you will excuse me, I need to talk to my son alone,” Mom said.
Dylan and Sydney shook her hand, then Dylan tangled his fingers with Sydney’s and led her from the room.
Josh would much rather join them, but this conversation needed to happen.
Mom turned to him again. “Does this mean you’re coming back to work?”
“No.” The answer flowed out easier than he thought possible. “My quitting wasn’t about this thing with Aaron. You know I’ve never been happy here.”
She frowned. “You spent all that time in law school for nothing?”
“No. I’ll still use it. I’ll still practice somehow. I haven’t figured out the details yet.” He definitely wouldn’t be working for the publisher he’d been eying. Not if this was how they fucked over people they bought from. “Besides, I paid for the schooling. I can waste it if I want.”
Laurie almost looked like she was in pain.
“I actually enjoy law,” he said. It might not reassure her, but it helped him feel better to say it aloud. “I have to do it for me, though. I can’t do this for you anymore.”
“I see.” She stood, and he did the same. “If you ever change your mind, you’re welcome to apply again. And promise me something.”
“All right.” He shouldn’t agree blindly, but he had a feeling it wouldn’t be an issue.
“I need you to swear to me you’ll step away from this case of Sydney’s. Hands off. You know how I feel about her—prove me wrong. But don’t fuck her out of her life’s work by interfering.”
“I promise.” That was something he could do with certainty. And maybe, by walking away like this, he could rebuild a healthier relationship with his mother at some point in the future.
****
SYDNEY WAS GRATEFUL the morning’s meeting didn’t end in a worst-case-scenario, but things were still pretty bad. They left Dylan at the office, and Josh dropped her off at her apartment, before heading home.
He promised they’d be back tonight.
She’d need to book more conventions. At least she had her other merchandise—toys, models, clothes—even if she didn’t have her game to sell. She looked at the boxes stacked in a closet, her gut churning. Acid rose in her throat.
She swallowed it down. The situation was what it was. She wouldn’t get anywhere stressing about things she couldn’t change. What she could do was make adjustments. Hell, she’d start doing freelance, or even get a part-time job if she had to.
By the time Josh and Dylan showed up that evening, she’d made a billion lists, but doubt lingered inside.
Sydney didn’t have a guaranteed next paycheck. She’d lost half her revenue stream. All the plans in the world might act as a band aid, but they wouldn’t fix the core problem.
She kissed both guys as she let them in.
Dylan drew his thumb across the lines in her forehead. “What’s wrong?”
She spilled everything she’d kept bottled for the last several hours. It felt good to let it out.
“I have another item to add to your list of things that may help,” Josh said.
She liked the confidence in his words. “I’m listening, because I need something.”
“Having one or two people to share the rent with would take a huge financial strain off you.”
His meaning sank in immediately.
She smiled. “Are you inviting yourself to move in?”
“I am. Not just me, but my roommate too. We’re kind of a package deal.”
Dylan waved.
Her smile grew. “Here, right? After all, that’s why we got the place.”
“Here.” Dylan pulled her close. “We’re not giving up that shower.”
She sighed happily and relaxed back into him. Maybe things would be all right after all.
Over the next couple of weeks, Josh and Dylan moved into Sydney’s apartment. It felt right having Josh here again. And incredible having Dylan here.
Sydney added more nearby conventions to her schedule—smaller locations she could get to inexpensively and still earn.
Josh didn’t have any trouble finding a new job. His mom offered a great recommendation, and he had his pick. He chose a small charity that wanted an on-staff advisor who wasn’t looking for a partner-level salary. It meant he worked more nights than he did days, but they were also willing to give him time off, to travel with Sydney.
They were also planning their next game. Getting into the details and building something. Sydney and Josh would have a handful of new samples to take with them for sale in a few months.
Dylan shared all sorts of stories of the fallout Aaron was dealing with. His name was showing up in legal journals. He was facing disbarment. His life was falling apart.
Sydney wished she could have been there, to see Laurie rip him a new one when she confronted him. Dylan assured her that, if the conference rooms weren’t soundproofed, the entire office probably would have heard it.
Josh was working late tonight, leaving Dylan and Sydney to hang out at home. The two were cuddled on the couch, half paying attention to the TV.
“Wash,” Dylan said. “No contest.”
Sydney hadn’t seen that coming. “I’m glad you didn’t say Jayne. That might be a relationship ender,” she teased. “And Wash is fun and all, but that’s who you’d be if you could be any one of them?”
“Were I unwed, I would take you in a manly fashion.”
She laughed. “‘Cause I’m pretty?”
“‘Cause you’re pretty.”
“So, you like him for the one-liners?” Sydney was trying to make sense of this.
Dylan shrugged. “That’s a lot of it, yeah.”
She twisted in her seat so she could see him. “You know you’re a way smoother talker than he is.”
“You take that back. No one has better lines than Wash.” His scowl would have carried more weight if he weren’t fighting a smile underneath.
She shook her head. “Nope. I said it. I meant it.”
“I can make you take it back.” He lunged and tickled her, trailing his fingers up her sides. Hitting every sensitive spot he’d discovered in the last several weeks.
She squealed, but didn’t try to break away. His touch was as enticing as it was giggle-inducing. “You’ll never change my mind,” she managed between laughs.
“Fine.” His sigh was exaggerated. He brushed his lips over hers and rested his hands on her hips instead. “You’ve got it all figured out, which Firefly character would you be?”
“Inara.”
He raised his brows. “Not what I would have guessed.”
“Kaylee is awesome, but I’m already an adorably optimistic genius in my own way.”
“No arguments here.”
“And Mal looks good in a dress, but if I’m going to be someone else, I want to shed some of the emotional baggage.”
Dylan seemed to consider this. “You’ve put a lot of thought into this.”
“I’m swapping my life for a fictional character’s. It’s got to be right,” she said.
“If you were Zoe, you could be my girl.”
She had to correct him there. “If I were Zoe, you’d be my guy. Which you already are, and I’m not giving you up. Even to be with Wash. But Inara... She’s beautiful and exotic and strong. She’s confident and knows what she wants and goes after it...”
He kissed her forehead, and her nose. “Sounds like you’re already there.”
“I’m not—”
Dylan brushed his lips over hers, silencing her protest. He deepened the kiss, and her insecurities flitted away. Each caress of his hands on her skin, or his mouth on hers, danced through her on fairy wings.
She let the conversation fade away in favor of kissing him back. They had so many nights like this. Everything was easier with Dylan.
“God, I love you,” she murmured against his lips. It was the first time she’d said it, but the words tasted as incredible as he did.
He grinned against her mouth. “Say it again.”
“I love you. So, so much.” She liked the sound of it too. It was better each time she said it.
“I love you too.” He sucked a line up her jaw, to her ear, and nibbled her earlobe.
A knock on the door interrupted. She groaned in disappointment.
He planted another kiss on her forehead, extracted himself, and went to answer.
“Ms. Hunter.” His voice was abruptly professional.
Tension clawed through Sydney, and she sat up straighter on the couch.
“Laurie is fine outside of the office.”
Since when?
Dylan stepped aside and opened the door wider. “Josh isn’t here, but you can come in if you’d like.”
“No, thank you.” Laurie looked at Sydney and gave her a tight smile. “Good evening, Sydney.”
“Hi.” Sydney was pleased her reply—brief as it was—didn’t come out as a squeak.
“Happy housewarming.” Laurie handed Dylan a basked wrapped in cellophane. She stepped past him and approached Sydney. “I’ve been thinking a lot. About you. About my son. About this entire situation. I haven’t treated you right, and it’s nearly cost me a great deal.”
Sydney’s response died in her throat. She couldn’t say, that’s all right, because it wasn’t.
Laurie gave her a real smile. “I hope, someday, you can forgive me.”
Sydney did have an answer to that. She stood and met Laurie halfway. “I think it’s a distinct possibility. And thank you for the gift, for everything you’ve done, and for raising an incredible son.”
“I’m still not down with all of this”—Laurie waved her hand—“but you both look happy, and Josh does too, when I see him. So it’s me, who has to figure that out.”
They made a little more small talk, and then Laurie was on her way.
The basket was filled with wine, crackers, and cheese. Sydney and Dylan set it aside for when Josh got home.
Sydney settled back against Dylan, on the couch. “Life isn’t that bad,” she said.
“My life is fucking incredible.”
She grinned. “All right. I can’t argue that.” Affection surged inside—a potent and delicious mixture of love and security and rightness. “Thank you. For sticking with me. For everything you’ve done. For loving both of us.”
He looked at her, brow furrowed. “You don’t have to thank me for that.”
“I do. Because I’m grateful. I never want to take either of you for granted. And I also want you to know I love you. Truly and completely. For everything that you are, that you bring out in me, and that you make possible in the future.”
“I love you too.” He squeezed her tight.
God, this was never going to get old. This here, with Dylan and Josh, was incredible. She loved everything about it, and she never wanted to go without either of them.
It tuned out life could be better than fantasy, and the three of them were the perfect proof, as far as Sydney was concerned.