Page 247 of What We Bury

I nod, and he puts a twenty on the counter. “For your trouble.”

“Micah. That’s too much.”

He gives me another wink. “See you tonight, baby girl.”

When he’s gone, I let out a dreamy sigh and realize I need to get it together.

Jamie lets out a low whistle. “That man is so hot for you, it’s not even remotely subtle. I love this for you, Sage.”

“It’s not—” I start, but there’s no way to finish the sentence that isn’t a lie.

“Oh, it is. And you look so happy about it I want to bottle the energy and sell it. But I have to ask . . .” I set his pie in front of him as he looks around the diner conspiratorially. “The others—are they cool? Do they know about each other? Because I don’t want to be a bad friend and accidentally say the wrong thing if this is a secret.”

“It’s not a secret. They know about each other.”

Jamie’s relief is immediate and visible. Then he frowns. “Wait. Is it just three? Or did I see you with another one?” His eyes lift to the ceiling as he tries to count interactions on his fingers.

I try not to smile but fail.

“No.” His jaw drops again. “No! There are more? How many?”

“You have to promise not to judge me.”

“Oh my God. Sage. I promise.” He does the sign of the cross then holds his hands together in prayer. “This is a judgment-free zone.”

Biting my lip to keep from laughing, I lift my hand and hold up five fingers.

He stares at them, then at me, then back at my hand. He sets his coffee down very carefully, as though afraid he’s going to spill it in all the excitement.

“Sage. That is . . . That’s not just a love life. That’s a love octopus. Are you a succubus?”

I laugh despite myself. “It’s not like that. They’re just . . . all really good guys. Or, well, good to me. It’s complicated but it works.”

He makes a little delighted sound and pats my hand. “You. Are. An. Inspiration.” Then he lowers his voice to a whisper and grins. “Do you see them one at a time? Or is this, like . . . a group thing?”

“Both. Sometimes.”

“Both.Sometimes?” He sits back. Runs a hand through his hair. Looks at me with an expression that cycles through shock, disbelief, and something that settles firmly into admiration. “Sage. Honey. I need you to know that I mean this with my entire chest—you are an icon.”

I laugh, the tight knot in my chest loosening. “I don’t know about that. It’s complicated.”

“It sounds complicated. It also sounds like the most unhinged and incredible thing I’ve ever heard, and I went to art school.” He grabs his coffee. “Tell me everything. Don’t leave anything out. Start from the beginning.”

“I can’t tell you everything. Some of it is—” I search for the word. “Private. To them.”

“That’s fair. Tell me what you can.”

So I do, in pieces, in the gaps between customers. I tell him we met on the beach—leaving out the events, of course—and how they circled in gradually, each one distinct, each one impossible to refuse. I tell him about Holden’s bad-decisions energy and Knox being a teddy bear. About Milo’s chaos and Micah’s steadiness and Eli, who makes everything harder than it needs to be because he’s built that way and possibly doesn’t know how to stop.

Jamie listens. He asks good questions. He doesn’t make a single face I feel like I have to apologize for.

When I finish, he grins and points at me. “You’re in love.”

“I think I am.”

“Youare.” He taps the counter for emphasis. “Don’t qualify it. You’re in love with multiple men. Own it.” He leans back, satisfied. “This is the most exciting thing that’s happened to me in months—years. I feel like I’m in a novel.” He waves a hand. “Your secret love life is safe. I’m just going to need ongoing updates. Regularly.”

The bell jangles.