Harem House Chapter 38 Part 2

Katelyn left the classroom behind her, her stomach reminding her it was time for dinner. Classes were done for today, and her heavy backpack slumped to her butt behind her with its ton of books and her computer. Slinging it over one shoulder made it droop further, and she was working hard to maintain her posture, but it was a lost cause. 

Otherwise, She felt pretty today, with her brown hair in a braid behind her. She couldn’t reach behind her with her wounded shoulder, but Kelly had been kind enough to help her. Her white tank top left several inches of her stomach bare above her powder blue skinny jeans, which clung to her legs like a second skin. The pink cardigan she wore over it acted like a jacket but was lighter and open with the afternoon heat. Her white sneakers were bright in the dimming sun, and the walk to her car from the Education building wasn’t far. She dumped her bag, changed her phone, keys, and wallet into her purse, and locked up. 

The walk to the dining hall was longer, but she didn’t mind. It gave her a chance to enjoy the autumn air. The crisp leaves scattered across campus in the dry, gentle breeze. She checked her phone for new messages, but the chats had been quiet since the confirmation of the girls’ night at Lynn’s. Katelyn felt like she was marching into battle by joining that dinner, but she had a feeling she’d spend most of it trying to keep Kelly from challenging Lynn to a boxing match. 

In Katelyn’s experience, Kelly wasn’t a violent person. On the contrary, Kelly acted as a pseudo-maternal figure. She wasn’t a mother, but she was the mom of every friend group she had. There was no stopping that. Katelyn actually relied on it sometimes. She didn’t know what she’d do without Kelly in her life, so she was glad she was now part of the polycule. They were more than roommates now, but it wasn’t like they were dating each other. 

Katelyn didn’t know how she felt about the others in an intimate way. Sex was one thing, she supposed. She’d experimented a little in the safety of the harem and enjoyed herself, but she didn’t see herself going on dates with Kelly or the others. Even if she cared for Kelly, she wasn’t romantically interested in her, not the way she was in Arthur. Was bisexual but heteroromantic a thing? Did she need to define it? 

She wasn’t sure, but she pondered as she checked socials and walked toward the cafeteria. 

She jumped when a familiar voice called out her name from closer than she expected. 

“Katelyn!” 

Katelyn spun to find Ava, one of the twins from her intramural volleyball team, running up to her. “Hey!” Katelyn said, smiling.

“Heading to dinner?” Ava asked. “Mind if I join you?” 

“Please.” Katelyn said. “Save me from scrolling and walking. I’m likely to walk straight out into traffic and get another injury.” 

Ava laughed. “Is that how you got that one? I thought you got drunk and tried to ride a bull?” 

“It was a mechanical bull, thank you very much. You’re supposed to ride it.” Katelyn said. It was a funny story now, she supposed, but it made her feel ashamed when it happened. She still felt guilty over Kat’s car and vomiting in the back seat. 

“And how did that work out for you?” Ava asked. 

“Shut up.” Katelyn said, rolling her eyes. She adjusted her purse strap on her shoulder, jostling the square bag at her hip. 

“Want me to carry that for you?” Ava asked. 

“I’ve got it.” Katelyn said. “I’m not a total invalid.” 

“I know.” Ava said, assuring her. “I get it. I hurt my knee in high school, had to be in a wheelchair for a few weeks, and as nice as everyone tried to be, the doting got on my nerves.” 

That injury probably explained why Ava wasn’t on the school team and played intramural. 

“Yeah. I wouldn’t say it’s on my nerves, but I’m a big girl. I can carry my purse.” Katelyn said. 

“Are you comin’ to the game next week?” Ava asked. 

“Of course.” Katelyn said. “I can warm the bench and cheer you on.” 

Ava nodded, smiling as they joined the crowd heading toward the dining hall. Swept away by the wash of people, Katelyn stuck close behind Ava, watching her dreads to keep her eye on her friend amidst the shuffle of students heading to eat dinner at peak dining hours. 

Unfortunately, Katelyn saw someone that made her lose her appetite. Sean bashfully approached, his eyes low as he stepped in front of her. He looked upset but otherwise whole in his jeans and Wolves jersey. 

“Hey, can we talk?” Sean asked. 

“I have nothing to say to you.” Katelyn said. 

“Come on, Kate. Don’t be that way.” Sean said. “I just want to–” 

“Lady said no.” Ava’s voice rose above the din of the crowd, causing several eyes to turn their way. 

Sean looked annoyed at Ava’s interference. “This doesn’t concern you.” 

“Katelyn, do you want to talk to this asshole?” Ava asked, well aware of Sean’s cheating on her friend and teammate. 

“I don’t.” Katelyn answered. 

“Take no for an answer.” Ava said. 

“Please, Kate.” Sean said. “Just talk to me?” 

“Why?” Katelyn asked. “Why don’t you go talk to your new girlfriend, the one you started sleeping with while dating me?” 

“I messed up.” Sean said. “I know that, but can’t we–” 

“She dumped your ass for somebody else, didn’t she?” Ava asked, interrupting Sean. 

“I’m talking with–” Sean started to say, but Ava cut him off again with laughter. 

“No, you’re harassing your ex-girlfriend.” Ava said. “Let me guess, the blonde bimbo you cheated on her with cheated on you? Tale as old as time.” 

Sean went red-faced, but it was tough to tell if it was out of embarrassment or anger. 

“So now, what? You want to try to patch things up with Katelyn?” Ava asked. 

“I miss you.” Sean said, reaching for Katelyn’s free hand. “Can’t we just talk like adults?” 

Katelyn pulled her hand out of his reach and put it in her pocket. “I don’t miss you.” Katelyn said, though she knew it to be a lie. A part of her missed the familiarity with Sean, but then she remembered his betrayal, and none of that mattered. “I’ve moved on.” 

“Have you?” Sean asked, raising his voice slightly. “Already? That was fast.” 

“That’s what happens when you fucking cheat on me!” Katelyn yelled, and if anyone else in the lobby hadn’t already been aware of the scene, they were watching it now. 

“What the fuck is going on here?” Rani’s voice joined the fray from ahead in the line. She, Mindy, and Kelly were near the scanner when the commotion caught their attention. They abandoned their place in line, and Rani joined Katelyn’s side just as Kelly stuck herself between Sean and Katelyn. 

“I’m just trying to talk to my–” Sean tried explaining. 

“She’s not your anything.” Kelly corrected him. 

“My ex-girlfriend.” Sean said, finishing his sentence despite Kelly’s interruption. “I just want to talk to her, that’s all.” 

Kelly looked behind her, checking Katelyn’s expression for approval or dismissal. 

“I already told him I didn’t want to talk.” Katelyn said. 

“Looks like you have your answer then.” Kelly said, pointing her thumb toward the door. “The back of the line’s over there.” 

Rani and Mindy flanked Katelyn, and Rani slid her hand into Katelyn’s in silent support. Sean’s eyes flicked over them in confusion, then recognition. 

“Wait a minute. You’re that Indian chick she was with at the bar, right?” Sean asked. His confusion was understandable given the change in appearance Rani affected whenever she dressed down on campus. Her baggy jeans and oversized hoodie, with her hair pulled into a simple ponytail, were a far cry from the cowgirl outfit she’d worn on their girls’ night. “Are you bi now?” 

“So what if I am?” Katelyn asked. “It’s not your business.” 

“Are you two dating?” Sean asked, unable to hide his interest. “When did you meet? How soon after–” 

“We’re both dating the same guy.” Rani said, answering his question. “We’re poly. And yeah, sometimes we fuck.” She threw Sean a wink that made Katelyn blush crimson. 

Sean stammered, his eyes flicking between the girls. Kelly glared at him, making him step backward a step. The observing crowd started whispering, and Katelyn closed her eyes, wishing Rani had kept her mouth shut or been slightly more discreet. She hadn’t lied, exactly, but Katelyn found it embarrassing to suddenly have her private sex life laid out in front of strangers. Rani might not have any shame, but Katelyn did. 

“Go jack off about it and leave Katelyn alone.” Rani said, laughing at Sean’s flustered reaction. “Go cheat on someone else.” 

Sean looked confused. “But if you’re open to dating multiple people… that’s all I wanted. I was just trying to–” 

“No.” Katelyn said. “There’s a huge difference, Sean! You can’t cheat on your girlfriend and then say you were exploring polyamory. That’s not how that works. Now fuck off and leave me alone!” 

Despite the harsh words, Kelly didn’t berate her for her use of language. She simply nodded at Sean and pointed. “You heard the lady. Now get out of her sight, or so help me God, I will drag you by the earlobe.” 

“Okay, okay, Christ.” Sean said, raising his hands and walking away. “Y’all are freaks.” 

Mindy stuck her tongue out Sean’s back as he walked away. Kelly, Rani, Mindy, and Ava encircled Katelyn, checking on her. 

“I’m fine.” Katelyn said. “Let’s just… get some dinner.” 

The others nodded, and together, they made their way through the line. Kelly helped Katelyn get her food and generally doted on her. Ava gave Katelyn a knowing smirk, but Katelyn didn’t mind Kelly’s help. She wasn’t condescending about it. Given half a chance, she might even do it without Katelyn’s arm being in a sling. 

That didn’t stop the others who overheard their scene in the lobby from side-eying her. So this was what it was like to be one of them, she thought. To know that people were whispering, conjecturing, and condemning without so much as a conversation. None of the onlookers asked Katelyn for clarification or checked to see if she was okay. Sean was a cheater, so obviously, public opinion was against him, but she’d responded to his cheating by turning into some kind of sex-cult freak. So fuck her, right? 

Katelyn didn’t know what to do about any of it. She liked Arthur. He made her feel safe in ways Sean never did. She even loved Kelly and Kat. They were her friends. The sexy times were amazing behind closed doors. Processing last night and this morning took time. A club meeting, a sexy surprise for Arthur, and fun for everyone involved. Then came the emotional whirlwind, Arthur strapping her down and giving orgasms until she couldn’t take it anymore, sleep, breakfast with everyone, and resuming daily life. 

“Don’t worry.” Rani said, bumping Katelyn with her hip. 

Katelyn looked startled and spun to look at Rani, who’d surprised her. “Don’t worry about what?” 

“The whispers.” Rani said, gesturing with her eyes toward everyone around them. “You get used to them. Besides, what they think we do behind closed doors is what they wish they could do in the same situation.” She shrugged. “It’d blow their minds to learn what really happens.” 

Katelyn giggled. She supposed Rani had a point. 

“Come on. Selene’s waving to us.” Kelly said, pointing toward a table on the far wall, near the window overlooking the campus walk. 

Katelyn followed, and together, they made their way to Selene, who was sitting with Kat already. Ava had split off during the food lines to join her sister. So Kelly, Rani, Mindy, Selene, Kat, and Katelyn enjoyed a table to themselves. The harem had its own table, minus Arthur, of course. He wasn’t joining them tonight. He was having dinner somewhere else. 

~~~

Arthur parked in the parking garage’s guest spot and made his way to the elevator. The drive here had been a long one, but he knew it pretty well, and the rush hour traffic was heaviest on its way out of the city. He didn’t want to do this, but he had to, so he swallowed his nerves and stepped into the elevator. Any prayers he might have offered that it would get stuck and delay the conversation were silent. He pressed the 16 button and waited as the elevator carried him to his parent’s floor. 

He’d grown up in this building. In a lot of ways, it was like returning home. All these years, the four he’d been away, it was still more or less the same. The 16 button lit the same. The elevator still hiccuped after reaching the floor, then settled down before opening its doors. He exited and turned right. The elevator across the way led to the main floor lobby. The neighbors to the left were friendly enough, from what he remembered. He didn’t know them particularly well. 

These apartments weren’t like his apartment. This building was outside his income zone, but his parents had bought their apartment before he was born. They’d sublet it while they lived at the house. Now, they were renting the house while living in the apartment to be closer to work. 

His most recent memories of this place were visits with Lori. The Christmas lights, wreaths, and garlands that decorated the hallway the last time he’d been here were missing. He stopped outside his parents’ door, 16A, ignoring the door behind him. 16B: The Barrera’s. He knocked. 

When the door opened, he momentarily worried he’d knocked on the wrong one. Mari Barrera, Lynn’s mother, opened the door wide and gave him a bright smile. She was a stockier Latina woman who pulled Arthur into a hug before he could recover. 

“Oh! Look at you!” Mari said. “Every time I see you, you’re more handsome. You must tell me your secret. I’ll give it to Gabriel.” She laughed as she released him and pulled him into the apartment before closing the door. 

It was his parent’s apartment, and though their layouts were very similar, the decorations his mother had on the walls were unmistakable. Mari decorated her apartment with colorful souvenirs from life. Arthur’s mother preferred elegance, which meant matching decor and artistic displays, vases, and hardwood floors.

The door opened to an ample open space, with the kitchen and island directly ahead. The dining area and lowered living room sat to the left. The far wall had a bedroom door on the far left, Arthur’s old bedroom. A windowed patio ran the length of the dining room and kitchen, with sliding glass doors for entrances onto the concrete, brick, and iron-girded haven. 

Deb emerged with open arms from the hallway to the right between them and the kitchen, which led to the master bedroom, home office, hall closet, and guest bathroom. 

“Arthur!” Deb said, hugging Arthur tight. “Was it a long drive?” 

“Eh.” Arthur shrugged. “About an hour. It’s always just enough time to listen to the Pimpernel soundtrack if I start it when I leave campus.” 

Mari and Deb smiled. 

“Mari and I were just–” 

“Having our daily bitch fest about work.” Mari finished the sentence for Deb, who looked shocked. “What? He’s all grown up. He can handle a few bad words.” The two empty wine-stained glasses on the island supported her story. 

Deb rolled her eyes. “Well, she’s not wrong.” Deb said. “But we’ll talk more later, right, Mari?” 

Mari nodded. “Sounds like I’m being given the bum rush now that you’re here.” She patted Arthur’s arm. “You should stop by on your way out. Lynn’s visiting tonight, I assume she’s going out, but I know she’d love to see you if she’s around later.” 

“Oh, uh… thanks.” Arthur said. “But I’ll probably have to head back straight after dinner. It’s an even longer drive back to my apartment.” 

“Well… if you have time, you’re always welcome.” Mari shrugged, blew a kiss to Deb on her way out, and left them alone as she made her exit, closing the front door behind her. 

“You’ve no intention of visiting after, right?” Deb asked. 

“None whatsoever.” Arthur said. “It’d be a cold day in hell before I voluntarily approach Lynn.” 

“Mmm.” Deb nodded. “You should know I filled Mari in on Lynn’s little escapade with the Tae’s. They’re speaking to her about what she did to poor Mindy.” 

Arthur grunted in response. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Mari and Gabe to speak to their daughter. It’s that he doubted their efficacy. So far, their parenting style with Lynn had been to give her whatever she wanted, and consequently, they’d created a monster. He could no more imagine them rebuking her than he could imagine his mother punching him in the face. It just wasn’t in their wheelhouse. As frustrating as it was to have his father say no over the years, he understood why better now that he was older. 

“Oh, before I forget, I have a copy of the new house keys for you.” Arthur said, presenting her with the keys. 

Deb looked confused but took the keys. 

“I changed the locks since it became obvious that Lynn had access to the main house.” Arthur said.

“Ah.” Deb said. “Right. Sorry about that.” She sighed. “I know it’s a lost cause, but I can’t help wishing the two of you got along better.” 

“Well… that’s something I wanted to talk about tonight.” Arthur said, taking off his suit jacket and draping it over the back of one of the island’s chairs. “But first, I need to ask you a favor about next week. Kat, Selene, and I are moving in, and I thought it might be less time-consuming if I rented a U-Haul to move everything in one trip, maybe two.” 

Deb smiled. “That seems reasonable.” 

“Unfortunately, I can’t rent one until I’m twenty-five, so I need someone older than twenty-five to rent and drive it.” Arthur explained. 

“Ah, I see where the favor part comes in.” Deb said, stroking her chin. “Well… I’m not sure about next week. I’ve got some things due at work with the end of our fiscal year, and it’s not really a great time to take PTO. Would Saturday work?” 

“The thirty-first might be cutting it a little close.” Arthur said, shaking his head. 

“No, I meant this Saturday.” Deb said, leaning on the counter. 

“Oh…” Arthur said. “No, even if we weren’t going to the Ren Faire this Saturday, there’d be no way to get everything packed in time.” 

“Oh, that sounds fun!” Deb said. “We took you there when you were little. You loved it.” 

“I think I remember that?” Arthur said. “I’ve gone with the drama club, for sure.” 

“I have an album of our trip there. You in your little King Arthur costume, Lynn in her Guinevere dress.” Deb said. “I think we digitized it. I’m not sure. Your father’s in charge of all that.” 

“So that’s a no on the U-Haul idea?” Arthur asked. 

Deb bit her lip. Arthur could tell she wanted to help, but he understood the end of the fiscal year was his parents’ crunch time. 

“Why can’t you rent it on your own?” Deb asked as she moved into the open kitchen. “You shouldn’t need me to rent it for you.”

“When I Googled it, it said you had to be twenty-five to rent a car.” Arthur said, shaking his head. 

“Did you check U-Haul’s specific policy?” Deb asked. “You should know better than to trust the results summary. But if you still can’t, maybe hire a moving company? I’m sure Selene and Kat could split the cost with you if you’re worried about money.” 

Arthur frowned. Kat and Selene definitely couldn’t afford to hire a moving company. Even splitting the bill, it’d come to two or three thousand dollars by the end of the day. He could afford it, but with the money he’d been spending, it was more than he should have removed from the account within a month. Every withdrawal from the principal hurt his future, as it supported his present and cost him more than the money he withdrew. He had to stop spending from his savings. 

“No, they’re good for the rent, but they don’t have much in the way of savings.” Arthur said. He pulled out his phone, though, and checked the U-Haul website. “Oh, you’re right, though. U-Haul is different. I can rent it on my own.” Arthur shook his head and closed his phone. “I should have looked that up myself.” 

“You can’t be right all the time, or life would be boring.” Deb said, patting Arthur’s shoulder. She squeezed it and started pulling ingredients from the shelves. 

Arthur chuckled as he unbuttoned his cuffs and rolled his sleeves to the elbow. “Yeah, I guess so.” 

“What’s the next item on your agenda?” Deb asked, producing the cutting board from a cabinet and laying it on the island. 

“Agenda?” Arthur asked as he moved to the sink to wash his hands. 

Deb chuckled. “You’ve got a list of things to talk about, right? Or was the U-Haul why you asked for the dinner conversation? Is everything okay with the girls?” 

“Everything’s good with the girls.” Arthur confirmed, smiling to himself as he washed his hands. 

Deb watched his smile and matched it with her own. “They’re good to you?” 

“They are.” Arthur said, nodding. “Things have been going way better than I deserve.” 

“I’m sure they feel the same way.” Deb said. “Though, hopefully, that continues. We tried with the Tae’s, but old college friends can only interfere in parenting decisions to a degree.” 

“Yeah.” Arthur nodded. “Rani and I are more concerned than Mindy, but we have time. We’re meeting her parents on Monday. If we can make a good impression, maybe they’ll be okay with her moving in.” 

“Well, let me know if I can be of any help.” Deb said, pulling ingredients from the fridge and moving them to the counter. “It was great to catch up again, but it was a late night when all was said and done.” 

“Okay.” Arthur agreed. He didn’t know if his mom could do anything to help, but he’d give it a shot. 

“So, what else is on your mind?” Deb asked. 

“Well, first things first…” Arthur said, surveying the ingredients his mother assembled. “What are we making?” 

“Mari gave me a new empanada recipe!” Deb said, excited to try it. “It’s more carbs than you usually eat, I’m sure, but I bought gluten-free pie crusts, so the worst ingredient for you is the cheese.” 

Arthur nodded, and Deb set her phone on the counter with the recipe pulled up. He started chopping vegetables while his mother washed her hands and prepped the stove to cook the meat. They worked together for several moments in silence before Deb broke the peace. 

“Do you need to put any of your things in my storage unit?” Deb asked. “I know you have furniture that you got for you and uh…” She hesitated to name his ex-girlfriend, so instead, she said: “And your apartment, that you won’t need anymore.” 

“I was going to ask you, yeah. I’m sure the girls have storage needs as well. Would there be room for all that?” Arthur asked. 

“Depends on how much there is.” Deb said. “I’d appreciate not having to house every nick-nack, but there should be room enough for the beds or more expensive furniture items they’re not willing to throw away.” 

“Perfect.” Arthur said, and silence fell again. His chopping was slow and methodical. He used the beats between slices to build his courage. His mom, though, knew when he was stalling, and her patience gave way to curiosity. 

“So…” Deb segued. “What’s been on your mind, hon?” 

Arthur steeled himself, holding the knife. “It’s uh… a lot.” Arthur said. “Are you in an okay headspace?” 

“What?” Deb asked, confused. 

“I don’t want to overburden you if you don’t have room for the burden.” Arthur explained. 

Deb laughed. “Honey, I’m your mother. It’s my job to worry about your burdens, not the other way around.” 

Arthur nodded, but he disagreed. He dropped it rather than argue. She’d tell him to stop talking if she didn’t want to hear anymore. 

“Are you okay?” Deb asked. 

“It’s just… I have a lot going on, and I’m having trouble sorting it out. I had a confrontation with someone earlier, which drove me to realize I needed to take control of my life. Acting, not just reacting, you know?” 

Deb nodded. “You want to be proactive.” 

“Yes.” Arthur said. “Even though I’m worried about what might happen if Lynn lashes out about this.” 

“So it’s about Lynn?” Deb asked. 

“Yeah.” Arthur said, chopping the pepper with more force than necessary. “But before we get into it, I need you to promise not to immediately lash out. Whatever reaction you have, you need to be cautious. If she lashes out at the girls, she could hurt them. Not physically, necessarily, but like she tried to hurt Mindy. I don’t want their relationship with me to ruin their lives or their relationships with their families.” 

Deb shook her head. “According to Lynn, what happened at the Tae’s was accide–” 

“–Do you really believe that?” Arthur asked, cutting his mother off, which was so uncharacteristic that she physically stopped stirring the beef in the pan. 

They stood back to back, slightly offset, in the strip of kitchen between the island counter and the kitchen counter. Arthur faced the dining room and living room, while Deb faced the wall between the kitchen and the home office. She turned and looked at him with her eyebrow raised. 

“I believe her apology.” Deb said. “As for whether it was an accident, I have my doubts. I think she was mad at Mindy for something Mindy said Sunday and lashed out. Either way, she admitted what she did was wrong and is hosting the girls for an apology dinner tomorrow night.” 

Arthur turned to stare at his mother. It was his turn to show surprise. “I’m sorry, she’s what?” 

“She…” Deb hesitated, familiar with the look in Arthur’s eyes. “Arthur, why are you angry? Her apologizing is a good thing, isn’t it? She’s taking responsibility for her actions.” 

“The girls are planning on going to this dinner? You’ve talked to them?” Arthur asked. The annoyance in his voice was akin to a buzzsaw. 

“No. Lynn and I discussed it on the phone and in texts. She wanted to invite me along to mediate in case things got out of hand.” Deb said. 

“Well, none of them have mentioned anything about that to me.” Arthur said, shaking his head. “So if Lynn told you they were coming, she’s lying. I doubt she’s even invited them in the first place. She probably just wants to pretend she did so you can be there when no one shows up, and she can claim she tried.” 

Deb was silent. “You think Lynn’s capable of something like that? You always think the best of people, don’t you?” 

“Not her.” Arthur said, returning to chopping the vegetables with more force than necessary. 

“Are you ready to tell me why that is?” Deb asked. “What happened between you two in high school?”

Arthur’s shoulders tightened, his jaw clenched, and his knuckles around the knife handle were white. “That’s why I’m here.” 

Deb stopped and moved beside Arthur, putting her hand on his arm to stop his chopping. He stopped, released the knife, and turned to face her. She met his eyes and held his gaze, searching it. He tried to speak, but no words came out. 

“Should we sit?” She asked, nodding toward the stools. 

Arthur shook his head and cleared his throat. “No, it’s uh… probably best if I have something to distract myself and don’t look right at you as I try to say this.” 

Deb looked worried, but she released his forearm and turned away, letting Arthur look out over the living room as he started his story. She returned to the stove, adding seasoning and browning the beef in the pan. 

Arthur pulled a deep inhale through his nostrils, the tell-tale start to his storytelling mode. The habit almost brought a smile to Deb’s lips, but it never materialized. 

“You know, things changed when we got to high school.” Arthur said, summarizing. “Lynn started hanging with different friends, and during our Freshman year, it didn’t take her long to become an entirely different person.” 

To her credit, Deb listened. She didn’t interject and tell him that, yes, she knew that already. She let him speak, knowing that he was building to a point. 

“There was this girl, Angie, who had some kind of problem with me. I don’t know why. I was an easy target, though. Ugly, awkward, shy, the whole nine yards.” Arthur continued. 

“You were never ugly.” Deb argued, unable to help herself. 

“Mom.” Arthur sighed. “There are photos. It’s okay. It’s not like my self-esteem is still tied up with my middle school or high school self-image. It’s just… it’s what made me an easy target for bullying at school.” 

“It’s your story.” Deb said, raising her hands in surrender, even though their backs were turned to each other. “Just don’t disparage yourself too much, or I’ll interrupt again.” 

“Thanks? I guess?” Arthur said, shaking his head slightly. “Anyway… the bullying at school was mostly Lynn and her circle of friends. It got pretty bad, but she kept it separate from our out-of-school time together. For the most part. At least… in front of you guys.” 

“What do you mean?” Deb asked, slightly confused. “In front of me and your father?” 

“And Gabe and Mari.” Arthur answered. “She played nice to you four, but to me… she was brutal as soon as we stepped foot on school grounds. After school, we’d hang out as usual, but she started threatening to tell people that I… she threatened to lie and tell people that I, the school creep, forced her to do things she didn’t want to do. So, soon enough, she had me doing things for her that I didn’t want to do.” 

“Like what?” Deb asked. 

“Like cheating on her homework and exams.” Arthur said. “I did her high school assignments for her. All of her homework.” 

“You tutored her after school, sure, but that’s not–” 

“Mom.” Arthur said, cutting her off again. 

Deb shut up. 

“I know the difference, alright? I’m telling you. If you check my old computer from high school, you’ll find every homework assignment done in duplicate, with enough of the wording to change to make it sound as though Lynn wrote her own.” Arthur nodded toward his old bedroom door. 

“I believe you.” Deb said, though she tried to interject with humor. “I don’t want the scars that come with searching on my son’s teenage-era computer.” 

Arthur rolled his eyes at that and cleared the chopping board, adding the veggies to a bowl and mixing in spices. The hot peppers he’d cut made him wash his hands for a second time after handling them, but he was back at the island a moment later, laying out pie crusts on the baking sheets. Meanwhile, Deb’s smile faded as she processed what Arthur told her. 

“So that’s what caused the rift between you two? She made you help her cheat her way through high school?” Deb asked. The hope in her voice made it clear she hoped that was the answer to all the questions she’d had over the years. It made a certain amount of sense. Arthur’s moral outrage could be fierce. It was surprising to think he was capable of such deception and performing that level of immoral activity. However, she also knew how much her son had loved Lynn at the time. If anyone could have made him do something like that, it was Lynn and only Lynn. And if she’d threatened him like that, he’d buckle in an instant. 

“You believe me?” Arthur asked. 

Deb put her cooking utensils on the counter. She turned off the heat on the stove and moved the pan to a cold burner. Turning to face Arthur, she cocked her hip and put her hand on it. “Honey, of course, I believe you. I know how much you cared about her. I know you know it was wrong, which is probably why you didn’t tell me about it at the time. Because, oh boy, you’d still be grounded if I found out you helped her cheat. But…” She hesitated, her voice trailing off as she noticed the look in her son’s eyes. “But that’s not all you have to tell me… is it?” She asked with sudden realization. 

“No.” Arthur shook his head. “By Senior–” 

The front door clicked as a key turned in the lock, and the door swung open to reveal George, Arthur’s father, as he stepped through with his briefcase and lunch bag. “Hey! I made it!” George said, sounding almost as surprised as Arthur appeared. 

Deb left the aisle between the island and the kitchen counter to hug George hello. They shared a brief kiss as George set his lunch bag on the corner of the island and the briefcase on the chair that held Arthur’s suit jacket. 

“Where are your groupies?” George asked as he placed his suit jacket beside Arthur’s. 

“My girlfriends?” Arthur asked, confused for a moment, but his father’s jovial greeting was kindly meant. “They’re on campus, doing their own things tonight.” Though he assumed Kat or Selene, or both, would be at his apartment later. It seemed someone always was. 

“Yeah, your girlfriends.” George chuckled. “How many are you up to now?” 

“Six.” Arthur answered. “Katelyn officially joined the polycule.” He explained to his mother as she passed him. 

“Are you treating them well?” George asked. 

“As best as I can.” Arthur said, smiling slightly. 

“Well, do your best. I don’t envy you if they all get mad at you at the same time.” George chuckled. “What’s for dinner?” He asked as he took the position across the island from Arthur. “Anything I can do to help?” 

“You don’t have to work?” Arthur asked, confused. 

“Not tonight.” George said. “I’ll probably put in some hours from the home office tomorrow and Saturday, though. It’s crunch time.” 

Arthur nodded. His father’s appearance was a surprise, but his not hiding away in the home office while he and his mother cooked was a bigger one. 

“Besides, your mother told me you were coming to dinner tonight, so I thought I’d make some time.” George said. “I’ve been wanting to catch up with you.” He surveyed the food preparation and gestured toward the pie crusts Arthur laid out. “Empanadas?” He asked. “Are the Barrero’s coming over? Have you convinced Lynn to join your girl gang yet?” 

“George.” Deb said, catching his father’s attention with a practiced pronunciation for that purpose. Not angry, but enough to make George look up in surprise.

“Sorry.” George said, apologizing to Arthur. “I’m just… I’m not sure how to refer to your uh… group of girlfriends.” 

Arthur wasn’t about to tell his father that the girls referred to themselves as a harem. “The technical term is polycule.” He said. 

“Polycule.” George repeated as if tasting the word. “I guess that’s better than gaggle or flock.” He chuckled. 

“The Barreras won’t be joining us tonight.” Deb said, answering George’s other question. “But Mari gave me the recipe. You like Mexican, don’t you?” 

“Sure.” George said. “I’ll eat pretty much anything, even if I pay for it in the morning.” He patted his stomach and gave Arthur a wink. 

Arthur chuckled slightly. 

“Arthur was just filling me in on some of his issues with Lynn.” Deb said. “Did you know that she made Arthur do her homework for her in high school?” 

George’s smile faded. He looked at Arthur with an appraising eye. “I hope you got tit for tat.” 

“George!” Deb said, turning his name into a reproving expletive. 

George raised his hands in surrender. “Sorry, sorry. I shouldn’t joke.” He eyed Arthur, who wasn’t offended. He knew his father’s first response to most things was to try to lighten them. For many issues, it was a good instinct. However, there were times when he needed to get serious. “That’s quite an issue. Though, it explains how she went from a promising four-point-oh in high school to flunking out of college. I assume she’s approached you about continuing to do that for her next semester?” 

Arthur looked surprised at how quickly his father accepted the information, assimilated it, and used it to predict the next logical move. 

“No, but I assume that’s why she wants to get close to me.” Arthur said. 

“Well, maybe.” George said, stroking his chin. “It’s a definite possibility if you were her source of good grades in high school, but cheating in college has serious ramifications. I hope you know better than to help her like that again.” 

“Of course.” Arthur said, almost snapping but keeping his voice tight and restrained. “I don’t want anything to do with Lynn. That’s… why I’m here.” 

“I know you don’t want her living in the basement.” George said. “But we promised her parents that–” 

“George.” Deb said, holding her hand up in a stop signal for George to stop talking. “Let’s hear him out. Okay?” 

George raised an eyebrow. “Are you willing to entertain the idea of kicking Lynn out?” George asked Deb. 

“It depends.” Deb said. “From what Arthur’s told me so far, it was more than just helping her with her homework assignments. Cheating on projects, writing her assignments, that kind of thing, and she blackmailed him, extorted him, to do it.” 

“Really?” George asked. “Why would a girl like that resort to blackmail and extortion when she’s got…” 

Deb’s eyebrows were far more communicative than any words might be. 

“Other methods?” George finished his sentence with words that were obviously a replacement for whatever he was going to say. “You get more flies with honey, right?” 

“Possibly because I was gross and chubby in high school.” Arthur said. “I don’t know.” 

“Hm.” George said, taking it into consideration. “Okay… so what else did she do? What else caused this rift between you that you won’t man up and get over?” 

Arthur took another deep breath. That was his father’s answer for most of life’s emotional hurdles. Man up. Get over it. He loved his father, but he didn’t feel an incredibly close emotional bond with the man. It wasn’t George’s fault. He was a product of his generation, but Arthur still felt lost as to how to explain why it didn’t work that way when his father was so sure it did. Anecdotal evidence was never universal. 

“It’s… it’s complicated.” Arthur said, trying to get back into the groove of his story. “Lynn made my life hell during high school. She was my bully. At home, she was nice to you guys and even to me sometimes. It was a Jekyll and Hyde routine. I was quiet about it and withdrawn. I didn’t know how to tell you what was going on without opening myself to more ridicule at home, and I was already getting enough of it at school.” 

“Heh. You were always a bit emotional.” George said. “A bit of a–” 

Deb’s glare told him to stop talking, so he did. George swallowed his words and shook his head. “I’m sorry, son. Go ahead.” George nodded. “I promise I won’t make fun of you for admitting a girl beat you up.” 

“Well, she didn’t physically beat me up. At least, not usually. Not like that. It was all… words.” Arthur said. “Accusations.” 

“Hm.” George said, taking a seat as Deb and Arthur resumed their preparations. “Just wait until you get into the real business world. You’ll have to be extra careful to avoid that kind of thing.” 

Arthur frowned. He knew that well enough, he supposed, with Liz putting strain on his relationships with Mindy and Beth at the office. Still, it was a grim reminder that he’d never escape the fear of someone accusing him and not needing proof to ruin his life forever. 

“Go on, honey.” Deb said. “You were saying?” 

Arthur nodded, trying to regain his place in the story, but his father was now in his line of sight, and try as he might, it was tough to look at his father and admit his weaknesses. He kept his eyes on his hands as he worked, trying to snap out of it. He should have brought one of the girls along. A hand on his back, a silent signal of solidarity, would have gone a long way in stoking his courage. Instead, he had to brave both his parents on his own. 

“You mentioned something about Senior year?” His mother prompted hopefully. 

“Yeah.” Arthur said, swallowing. “So… senior year… she uh…” 

A knock at the door caused them all to turn toward it. Arthur didn’t know whether to feel relief or frustration at the interruption. Both? He felt both. 

“Are you expecting anyone?” George asked Deb. 

Deb shook her head. “Not unless Mari forgot something. Can you see who it is, dear? I’m a little busy here.” She said as she mixed the meat, vegetables, and spices together in a large bowl. 

George nodded and hopped from the raised chair at the island to the floor. He walked to the apartment’s front door and opened it wide before narrowing it again. “Well!” George said. “Speak of the devil.” 

Lynn stood on the other side. Dressed in a tight, plaid buttoned shirt that showed her cleavage with half its buttons undone. It tucked into a tight pair of ocean blue denim jeans. Her brown cowgirl boots matched her wide belt, and the silver buckle caught the light from the entrance. 

She smiled and gave George a hug, kissing a cheek. “Oh, Uncle George. I know Auntie Deb is mad at me, but I’m not that bad, am I?” 

George coughed and looked over his shoulder at Deb, who glared in Lynn’s direction. Beyond Arthur’s recent confessions, they had other disagreements between them, like Mindy’s parents, even if Lynn was trying to make things right. 

“Mammi said that Arty was here?” Lynn asked, looking around George to spot Arthur standing at the island. “Do you mind if I borrow him for a moment?” 

“We’re actually in the middle of something.” George said, still standing in the doorway enough to block Lynn’s entrance despite her attempt to brush him aside. Something that struck everyone in attendance as unusual. George was usually very ready to stand aside. “We’re getting ready to have dinner, you see, and there’s something I need to discuss with Arthur privately. Can you come back later?” 

“Oh.” Lynn said, surprised. George had never sent her away before. “But… aren’t I family?” 

George smiled softly. “Come back later. I’m sure Deb will be happy to see you after dinner.” 

Deb nodded, and Lynn took her rejection in shock and surprise. George closed the door, turning the deadbolt as softly as he could before he returned to the kitchen. 

Arthur stared at the door, unsure if Lynn was trying to listen from the other side. The apartment was well soundproofed; part of the luxury they offered was not hearing the neighbors, unlike what Arthur had to deal with at his complex. But if she pressed her ear to the door, she might be able to make out what they were discussing. He checked the peephole for himself and was satisfied to see her disappearing into her parent’s apartment. 

He sighed as he returned to the island. “It’s like I can’t escape her. Everywhere I go, she pops up just to annoy me.” 

Deb shook her head. “I’m sorry, honey.” She said as she gestured for him to step aside. She spooned the mixture in the bowl into the waiting pie crusts. She and Arthur then mixed in the cheese and folded the crusts over, forming the empanadas. 

“So… senior year.” Arthur said, not looking at either of his parents. “Things escalated to the breaking point.”