WIP: Harem House Chapter 25 Part 1

“Arty?” Lynn’s voice called out from somewhere behind Deb. She’d heard his voice and stepped around the grill to find him.

Arthur and the young women with him stood in front of Deb, the small group surrounded by the parties in the parking lot where everyone was tailgating for homecoming. Lynn didn’t know who they were, but she knew Arthur on sight now. He looked even better than she remembered from their brief encounter at the house. Though he’d been wearing remarkably less then. His sleeveless shirt showed off his arms nicely, though he was holding hands with two of the girls with him. She dismissed that. They probably thought he was gay because he enjoyed theater. Lynn knew better.

Arthur’s spine stiffened at hearing Lynn’s voice. Mindy and Kat, holding his hands, stiffened with him as his grip around their hands tightened unconsciously.

“Arthur.” Kat said pleadingly, squeezing his hand back quickly. “You’re uh…” She tugged at his grip, trying to free her hand.

Arthur released her and Mindy’s hands, and Kat rubbed hers for a second and looked at Arthur with worry. Mindy moved closer to Arthur, hugging his side with her arm around his waist.

Lynn stepped out from the crowd around the grill, where Arthur noticed her parents were talking with his father. She wore a tight blue tank top that hugged her torso nicely, showing off the taper from bust to waist. It ended several inches above her waist, showing off a softly toned stomach with a hint of abs behind her tanned Latina skin. The scooped neckline showed several inches of cleavage along her F-cup bust. The bra beneath did the Lord’s work, holding her breasts high.

Her denim shorts might as well have been bikini briefs. The frayed cutoff legs flared over her round hips, two halves of a perfect circle. The back of the shorts came low enough that it showed a promise of her cheeks when she moved the right way. Her ass was a perfectly round peach, and the lines between her thighs and her cheeks drew attention as she walked.

Her long bronze bare legs were toned from her thigh gap to her ankles. She wore strappy sandals with strings that crisscrossed halfway up her calves. She was enjoying the warmer weather as though they were in July instead of October. The weather was warm today, but Arthur didn’t think it was that warm.

The girls watched her as she stepped closer. Each unconsciously tugged at different parts of their clothes, straightening, flattening, and making themselves look more presentable. Arthur was a god among men to behold, and Lynn was a goddess.

In Kelly’s estimation, she was even hotter than Kelly in ways she didn’t think she could compete with, at least not without undergoing plastic surgery. Kelly worked hard for her body, and it showed. Lynn’s beauty was toned but natural. She made it look effortless, from her makeup to her long, thick, onyx hair. They were different people with different bodies, and Kelly suddenly saw every insecurity her reflection ever showed flash across her mind. The other girls appeared to be dealing with the same intrusive thoughts.

Lynn gave an almost predatory smile as she approached. Spotting the other girls, she moved in to give Arthur a hug. Arthur saw her coming and stepped back. Selene and Kelly stepped forward, closing ranks in front of him automatically. Selene looked like she was ten seconds from scratching someone like a feral cat, her fingers curled. Kelly had a smile that matched Lynn’s.

Lynn looked up at Kelly, who was a bit taller than her, and she slowed her approach. Clearly, Kelly was the only one of the group that Lynn clocked as an equal or perhaps even a threat. The question of Kelly’s relationship to Arthur was obvious on Lynn’s face.

“I’m sorry. I tried to warn you.” Deb admitted sheepishly to Arthur. “Please don't run away or lash out in front of everyone.” She whispered to Arthur while sparing a glance at the girls surrounding him. “Lynn, you know Arthur, of course. These are his friends: Selene, Katerine, Mindy, Kelly, and Rani. They’ll be your housemates.”

“Oh, it’s so nice to meet all of you!” Lynn said enthusiastically. “Arty -Sorry- Arthur hasn’t mentioned you. Did you get my emails, by any chance?” She looked over at Arthur. “I’ve been trying to get in touch.”

“He got them.” Selene said, surprising everyone with the vitriol in her voice. Kat put a hand on Selene’s arm and squeezed.

Lynn looked genuinely shocked at Selene as though she’d made some kind of rude outburst. “Can we…” She looked past Selene at Arthur. “Can we talk? Maybe somewhere private? I know it’s been a while, but…” She looked at Deb as if silently pleading for help.

“You girls must be hungry.” Deb said, having to restrain her surprise at Selene’s expression. Selene glared as though Deb’s maiden name was Judas. “Come on, George has been grilling for the last hour, and we’ve got more than enough food to go around.”

The girls all looked at Arthur, who definitely looked uncomfortable, but he nodded his permission, and Deb led the way back to the grill, where she introduced the girls to her husband as friends of Arthur’s and potential renters.

Lynn and Arthur stood alone—well, not alone, given how surrounded they were by people. With all the noise and din, they could speak without being overheard unless someone was trying to listen in on them. All of his girlfriends were listening, with Selene lingering the closest.

“Have you been telling your friends about what a bitch I used to be to you in high school?” Lynn asked. Her tone wasn’t accusatory. She sounded as though she were trying to make a joke about it.

Arthur stared at her. “Basically, yeah.”

“I did say in the email that I was sorry, didn’t I?” Lynn asked, her eyes wide and pleading.

“You did.” Arthur agreed. His tone was as flat as his expression.

“Well…” Lynn twisted her foot back and forth as if nervously trying to drill through the pavement with it. “I am sorry, Arty.” She said. “Arthur. Sorry. I’ll get used to calling you Arthur, I promise. I've just called you Arty for so many years. I’ve always thought of you as Arty in my head. Since we were what, three?”

“It’s Arthur.” Arthur said flatly.

“Right.” Lynn nodded. “I’m sorry. Like I said. And I know I apologized in the email already, but I’m sorry for everything. All the names we used to call you, everything we used to tease you about. It was… well, I won’t say it wasn’t my fault. A lot of it was. My friends and I… we were not nice people in high school. We were mean to you. I admit that. I was a total bitch to you.”

“Yeah.” Arthur agreed.

“But I’m not like that anymore.” Lynn stepped forward, almost reaching for his hand but stopping herself short. “I promise. I won’t tease you again. I won’t be mean to you. I won’t prank you.”

Arthur scoffed. “You’ve said that kind of thing before. Usually right before you do something cruel to get a laugh out of your friends.”

“They’re not here.” Lynn pointed out. “I’m not messing with you. I really am, genuinely, absolutely sorry for everything.”

“Yeah?” Arthur asked.

“Yeah.” Lynn said, stepping even closer. “Is there anything I can do to make it up to you? Maybe I can take you to dinner, or… we could just walk and talk?” She asked, gesturing toward the campus.

“There is one thing.” Arthur admitted after a moment of silence.

“What is it?” Lynn asked quickly. “Anything you want, I’ll do it.”

“Anything?” Arthur asked, raising an eyebrow.

Lynn swallowed and shyly looked up at him from beneath gently hooded eyes. “Anything.”

Arthur hesitated as if working up the courage to say what he wanted. Then he took a deep breath, leaned forward, and said it in a low, commanding tone. “Go fuck yourself.”

Arthur didn’t wait for a response. He walked past her and joined the girls around the grill. Kelly put her hand low on Arthur’s back and hugged him with one arm. Lynn’s eyes narrowed as she turned and observed the girls. She showed no signs of getting angry but took a deep breath, frowned, and returned to the grill to join the others.

“So, you’ll be staying at the house too?” Lynn asked everyone and no one, just as Mindy bit into a cheeseburger.

“Yeah.” Rani piped up. “We were just discussing the rooming situation, actually.” She said. “Us and Katelyn.”

Kat didn’t say anything. She kept her focus on the burger George was plating for her. The thick Colby cheddar melted onto the patty like a smothering blanket.

“Oh, there’s another girl too?” Lynn asked. “Are you all doubling up on rooms?”

“Yeah.” Rani answered her again. “Kelly and Katelyn, Kat and Selene, Mindy and me. I think.” She gestured. “Though we might switch it up. Selene and Kat are sisters, so them sharing a room might not be the best idea.”

Selene and Kat said nothing except “Thank you” when Arthur’s dad handed Kat a burger and Selene a grilled veggie burger.

“I think the plan was for me to stay in the in-law suite downstairs.” Lynn looked to Deb, who nodded.

“Yes, that’s right.” Deb nodded.

“Which would give Arty, sorry, Arthur, the Master bedroom upstairs?” Lynn asked. She put an extra emphasis on Arthur that time through.

“Sounds reasonable.” Rani shrugged.

“Does it?” Lynn asked. “Wouldn’t it be better if we had the house for us girls and Arthur lived in the apartment downstairs?”

“I dunno.” Rani admitted. “I like the idea of his bedroom being right down the hall from mine. How am I supposed to fuck my boyfriend if he’s in the basement all the time?”

George, Arthur’s father, spit out his sip of beer.

Deb laughed and went over to pat his father on the back, helping him recover. Lynn’s parents were too far away to have heard that, but George was just close enough, and he was doing his best to recover without explaining why he’d misted Smithwicks next to the grill. George and Deb stepped out of earshot to talk to the party next to theirs for a few moments.

“Oh, you’re Arthur’s girlfriend?” Lynn asked, surprised. She glanced quickly at Kelly, then looked Rani up and down in a way that insulted everything she wore and Rani as a person. Her disbelief and disdain for Arthur’s alleged taste in women were clear.

“Well, yeah.” Rani said. “He likes my taste in jewelry, he’s hung like a horse, and he fucks like a damn jackhammer. I want him nearby.”

Arthur nearly choked on nothing. Kelly slapped him gently on his back, and Rani looked between him and Lynn with a triumphant smirk.

“Oh, I get it. You’re fucking with me.” Lynn laughed it off. “Good one.”

“Ah, you got me.” Rani chuckled. “He’s never actually complimented my taste in jewelry.”

Mindy giggled.

“I have too.” Arthur said defensively.

“He’s actually my boyfriend.” Mindy spoke up. “But I don’t mind rooming with Rani since she likes to join in.”

The girls were all holding back laughter now, subduing it into an easy chuckle as they smiled. Lynn and Arthur weren’t laughing, but the rest seemed to be having a good time.

“He’s my boyfriend.” Selene said seriously. “We started fucking earlier this semester, and when he offered me a room at the house he’d be managing, I jumped at it. I’d rather room with him, though, than my sister.”

“He’s my boyfriend. I can attest to the jackhammer bit.” Kat winked at Rani. “But I’d rather Selene room with him than with me, too.” She added.

“He’s my boyfriend.” Kelly interjected. “We’ve been talking about getting married soon. Isn’t that right, Mister?” She kissed Arthur just to make her point.

The girls all smiled and laughed between themselves as if finding amusement in the situation. Even Arthur found himself smiling a little because, with Selene’s hand on his ass and Kelly’s lips on his face, it was impossible to feel miserable. He defied anyone to try.

Lynn frowned and looked between them all. She knew they were making fun of her. None of them had a chance with Arthur except maybe Kelly, and she was the only one to kiss him. Lynn's gaze evaluated each of them one at a time. Kat glanced at Arthur with a slight widening of her smile. Sure, Kat might have a crush on him, but who wouldn’t? She didn’t seem Arthur’s type. Too much pink and not fit enough, in Lynn’s opinion.

Mindy was cute, sure, and she had great tits, but she wanted it too much. She was too young, too. Arthur might fuck her for a fling but as a girlfriend? There was no way. He needed someone more mature, in Lynn’s opinion.

Rani was a mess, and she looked like a slob. Her jeans were faded, and while she might be pretty if she put some effort into her appearance, there was no way Arthur would ask her out with any other options. She was a prime target for a good makeover. Lynn made a mental note. It would be easy to win her over to her side if Lynn could help her feel pretty and break out of her shell. The thought alone was a clear indicator that Lynn didn’t know Rani.

Selene was a diminutive, feral mouse. There was no other phrase Lynn could think of to describe her. She had no style, but her hoodie was cute. She, like the other girls Arthur hung out with, all wore chokers. For a moment, Lynn wondered if it was a conscious decision and a coordinated effort. They all seemed to wear chokers that matched their outfits, so maybe they’d decided to do it for homecoming? Or maybe Arthur liked chokers, none of them were really his girlfriend, and all of them were trying to seduce him.

Kelly was the only one Lynn saw as competition. She was sexy and knew it. Her makeup and hair were perfect, and her body was professionally sculpted. Lynn wondered who her trainer was and if she’d be willing to give Lynn the info.

“I’m willing to bet you’re his real girlfriend.” She said to Kelly. “But seriously, if you want to move into the in-law suite together, that’d be a great idea. Proximity always helps people figure out the longevity of their relationship.” Her tone suggested it would be a brief cohabitation. She eyed Kelly up and down like she had Rani earlier, but there was less to insult.

“We’ll take the Master bedroom.” Kelly assured her.

“Why would you want to live upstairs anyway, rather than have your own apartment?” Rani asked.

“Well, all the cool stuff is upstairs.” Lynn said. “The in-law suite is tucked away in the basement. Sure, it’s got its own stuff, but it’s so isolated. That’s why I thought it would be better for Arty. I mean, Arthur. You don’t want him perving on you constantly, do you?” She asked the girls in general. She looked around at each of them to see if the idea took root in any of them.

“Arthur can perv on me anytime he wants to.” Rani shrugged. “I’ll take my clothes off right now if he tells me to.” She looked at Arthur expectantly.

Arthur scoffed. He didn’t know if Rani would do it, but something told him not to test it. She might not usually, but to fuck with somebody? The last thing he needed was for them to get escorted off campus.

“He’s not a perv, either.” Selene spat the words. She wished she could spit knives at Lynn. “You don’t know anything about him.”

Lynn looked at Arthur like she’d forgotten he was there. “Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean to suggest that Arthur is a perv.” She said quickly. “He’s not, of course. I just meant he’s a straight guy living with a bunch of us girls, right? Or are you…?” She let the unfinished suggestion ask the question.

“He’s very straight.” Mindy said. “Well, a little curved, but hetero.”

“Can confirm.” Kat added, which made Rani, Mindy, Kat, and Kelly giggle.

“If you don’t want to live in the basement, you can always live elsewhere, Lynn.” Arthur said with a shrug. “It’s a decent in-law suite with its own entrance. It’s got its own kitchen, living room, bedroom, and bathroom, and you can use the second bedroom down there for whatever you want. It’ll have everything you need. You and I will never have to see each other.”

Lynn shrugged. “Sure, I guess. But-”

“Do you want the place or not?” Arthur asked sharply. “Because if you don’t, I can find someone else who needs a place to live.”

“No, I-” Lynn looked at Arthur, and Selene did her best to keep from rolling her eyes as Lynn acted wounded. “Do you not want me to live there?”

“Of course I don’t.” Arthur said matter-of-factly. “What part of our interaction last week, or just now, makes you think I want to ever see you again?”

Lynn looked hurt like Arthur had slapped her across the face. She looked to the girls for sympathy but found none. They didn’t know her, but they knew Arthur. He was acting differently toward Lynn than he did toward anyone else who’d wronged him. He was willing to give Sanjay every chance. He was willing to forgive Jace for hitting him. He was fair and forgiving to anyone who wronged him. Yet here he was, drawing a line in the sand with Lynn. They all recognized the difference and realized he had his reasons. If he acted this way, it was because he’d already given Lynn those same opportunities, and she’d broken him.

Lynn sniffled, appearing as though she were on the edge of tears. “I said I was sorry, Arthur. I’m… I’m trying here, and you’re making it incredibly difficult.”

“Crocodile tears.” Arthur narrowed his eyes. “You forget I’ve seen you do this kind of thing over and over again for years.” He shook his head. “You cry, lure your prey in, and then -snap- you devour them whole. You don’t even chew. I’m not falling for it this time. I’ll put up with you living in the basement, but only because I have to. Because it’s my parent’s house, and they’re friends with yours.” He leaned in close. “You and I? We’re not friends. We’re not making up and putting the past behind us. At best, we’re strangers. You don’t know me, I don’t know you, and we’re not part of each other’s lives. You don’t even deserve me explaining this to you. Got it?”

Lynn’s expression flickered through disbelief, sorrow, regret, admiration, and shame. It was almost enough to break the others standing with him, but it didn’t break Arthur, and they trusted him more than they empathized with Lynn. If Arthur said this girl was a liar, then she was a liar. Sisterhood was one thing, but they all loved, trusted, and respected Arthur, and they’d seen Lynn try to undermine him multiple times in their conversation.

Lynn looked at Rani, Mindy, Selene, Kat, and Kelly for sympathy or support and found none. For an infinitesimal moment, Lynn sympathized with all those losers on the receiving end of her and her clique’s disdain. These girls and Arthur were a clique of their own, and that was what she saw in their faces now, disdain. These girls didn’t even know her, but they loathed her because Arthur loathed her.

She had to wonder what bond he possibly had with them. A loser like him? She couldn’t understand it. Did he blackmail them or something? Or was he dating Kelly, and the other girls deferred to their queen bee?

That must be it, Lynn decided. Kelly was the queen here, and he probably had her trainer to thank for his glow-up. So long as she ruled the hive, Arthur was in the clear. The girls would defer to Kelly and parrot her views on him. That was fine. Queen bees didn’t bother Lynn because she knew from experience they could be dethroned. Once that happened, the buzzing bees sought a new queen like Lynn. Her eyes focused on Kelly for a moment, and her tears faded.

“Got it.” Lynn said to Arthur, her voice tight. “I’m sorry to have bothered you.” She nodded to him. “It was nice to meet you all, and uh… I’m sorry to have bothered you, too.” She said to the girls. “I’m going to see if I can get a campus tour before it’s too late.” She nodded toward the campus walk where the admissions booths were. “I’ll see you later, I guess.”

And with that, Lynn made as graceful an exit as she could.

Arthur breathed a sigh of relief as soon as she was gone, and Kelly, Selene, and Kat hugged him from three different angles. Mindy patted his back, unable to find room in the huddle. Rani gave him a thumbs-up.

“Well… she uh…” Rani hesitated to say it for Arthur’s sake, but in true Rani fashion, she steamrolled through it. “Was it just me, or did she give off manipulative bitch vibes to anyone else?”

Selene nodded.

After a moment or two of standing around, agreeing with Rani, and consoling Arthur, they rejoined Arthur’s parents and talked with Lynn’s parents. They ate, drank (except Mindy), and chatted as the early afternoon ticked on.

Sitting too far away to have overheard the conversation, Lynn's parents introduced themselves as Gabriel and Mariana, shortened to Gabe and Mari.

“We’ve known Arthur since he was knee-high, and look at him now! You’re so grown up!” Mari looked up to the towering youth with a pleasant smile.

“And you look just as young as I remember you.” Arthur smirked in a pleasant response.

“Oh ho!” Mari chuckled. “You have a charmer on your hands, Deb.”

“You’ve no idea.” Deb gave Kelly and the others a passing glance, but her smile wasn’t one of condemnation or forced politeness. She seemed happy for her son, so long as he was happy, which was something some of the others had difficulty relating to.

On the other hand, George had apparently decided it was not his business, so he was eager to talk football or business with Gabe, Arthur, or whoever would listen. To Arthur’s surprise, that ended up being Mindy, who listened raptly to anything the older man had to say about ‘when I was in school,’ how to impress people in an office setting with work ethic and corporate cunning, football tactics, college football traditions, and such things.

Arthur and the girls took their time eating up the food George grilled for them. Eventually, their party spread out a little, with Gabe and Mari going off to find a restroom and Arthur, Kat, Mindy, and George standing around the grill. Rani and Selene went to the food trucks to get some vegan food.

Deb took the opportunity to sit beside Kelly and start a small conversation.

“So all of you are dating my son?” She asked, though she already knew the answer.

“Yes.” Kelly said, smiling as she watched Arthur make his father laugh.

“And he makes you happy?” Deb asked.

“Yes. Very happy. He makes all of us happy.” Kelly assured her. “And we do our best to make him happy.”

“Oh, I’m sure he’s thrilled.” Deb chuckled. “He never was much of a ladies' man when he was younger. I have trouble believing he’s gone from zero to five like this.”

“Well, he and Lori were a good couple.” Kelly pointed out. “I think he learned a lot from that, and we’ve been figuring the rest out together.”

“And you’re okay living in the same house with him?” Deb asked. “You wouldn’t prefer him live somewhere else or be a little more remote so you all can have your privacy? Just how serious is your relationship with my son?”

Kelly smiled despite herself. “It’s…” She hesitated. “It varies, I suppose.” She admitted. “Selene is probably the closest to him. They’ve said I love you, and things like that. He’s growing on Kat, I think, but that’s just from my observations. You’d have to ask her. Rani is probably the least devoted, but she’s also the newest. Mindy and I are somewhere in the middle, I think. Mindy is young and absolutely smitten.” Kelly shrugged.

“And you?” Deb asked.

“I’m trying my best to keep things casual.” Kelly said, almost wistfully. She hesitated, but something in Deb’s earnest expression and soft demeanor spoke to a maternal presence that resonated with Kelly.

“I tend to fall head over heels and make a fool of myself by getting too serious too soon. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve started wedding Pinterest boards based on people who never even asked me out.” Kelly chuckled at herself. “So I’m trying to take things slow with Arthur, even though I plan to move into the same house as him. Not sharing a room with him will help, I think. Having my own space. And, of course, we’re paying rent to you and George, not to Arthur, so it’s not like we’ll try and skip out on the rent because we’re dating him. It’s more like dating the maintenance guy than the landlord.”

“All valid points.” Deb nodded. “You seem to have thought about this quite a bit.”

“We’ve all discussed it—the girls and I. We discuss everything.” Kelly nodded. We’re all looking forward to brunch tomorrow.”

“I am, too, now.” Deb nodded. “It'll be nice to talk without the boys around. I can’t wait to get to know my son’s girlfriends more. You seem like an interesting bunch.”

“You’re not weirded out by the fact that we’re polyamorous?” Kelly asked.

“It’s unconventional.” Deb admitted. “But the way I see it, it’d be no different than if he turned out to be gay, bi, or plus.” She shrugged. “I’d still love and support my son. I love him more than I love my default heteronormative expectations for him.” She smiled. The terminology was awkward, but that only added to the light humor of the genuine statement.

Kelly laughed, and for a moment, there was a shimmer of moisture in her eyes. She blinked it away as she watched Rani and Selene return and join the conversation at the grill.

“I also take a bit of pride in him.” Deb said. “I raised a young man who has won the hearts of not one, but five beautiful, intelligent young ladies? Maybe I didn’t do such a bad job after all.”

“I’d say you did an outstanding job raising Arthur.” Kelly admitted. “He's the perfect gentleman. I hope I can do half as good a job when I have children.”

“Well thank you.” Deb said, giving her a look. “Is that in your plans? Giving me grandchildren?”

Kelly blushed, realizing what she said.

“It’s okay, dear.” Deb assured her. “It just means you’re my favorite.” She laughed, and Kelly laughed with her. Arthur smiled at her from across the tarmac, and Kelly failed to suppress the butterflies in her stomach. Casual might not last as long as she’d convinced herself it should.

Selene looked over to see Deb and Kelly laughing together and smiled. The afternoon was going well, and the game would be starting soon. Not that she wasn’t enjoying the free food, but she wanted Arthur beside her, not distracted. Rani and the others were doing pretty well, though.

She heard her phone buzz and checked it.

Maria: Where did you run off to? I wanted to talk to you real quick.

Selene: Long story. Where are you?

Maria: Brad wanted to try to win Jen a Superman stuffie, so we’re back at the darts game. Do you have a second? Can I steal you away from Arthur with the promise of Boba?

Selene: I’ll meet you on the walk.

Selene whispered her departure to Arthur while George told the girls a story of Arthur’s first time on stage that Arthur had told her before. “I’ll be back in a minute. Maria wants something.”

Arthur nodded, and Selene made her departure.