After The Date
By: Elle Beau
Tags: Polyamory, Relationships, Love, Elle Beau, Short Story

James and I hang around in bed, basking in the afterglow and enjoying just being free adults

Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash

Tamara left a couple of hours ago. We’ve been seeing her for over 2 years and we typically have dates during the day while our young adult son with autism is off with his caregiver. He usually is home by 4:30, but today Hugh won’t be home until 6. Tamara had to leave early to pick up her niece from school but we still had a wonderful time with her, as we always do.

There’s always a lot of Hot Tetris, as well as a lot of laughing and chatting. When the three of us are together, there is never anything but fun, sex and love. I’ve written quite a bit about those times, but have not written before about what happens afterward when the party breaks up.

Today we were taking a break from inventing new ways for the three of us to please each other and stopped to smoke a blunt that Tamara had brought. Neither James nor I have much weed experience, so we are still figuring it all out. He had a job that wasn’t very conducive to smoking, and so we just didn’t indulge. Now that James is retired, we can join Tamara in passing one around to share. Afterward, James lies between us and Tam and I each lay with our heads on his chest. It’s a really sweet moment. I like looking across and seeing her beautiful face right there, her shoulder cradled in James’ other arm as he pulls me close.

I make the choice not to have another drink when we light up because the last time I kept drinking when we smoked, I nearly fell asleep in my dinner. It’s a bit funny to be weed newbies in our 50s but we got together at our place today and we don’t have to drive anywhere, so James and I enjoy experimenting. Tam is such an old hand that a third of blunt isn’t going to impair her very much.

We are another story. When Tamara heads out, we kiss goodbye and see her to the door, and then James and I head back to our bedroom. It was fun, although I’m not sure that the weed really added to our sexual experience, as so many have written that it does. I think it’s been more the element of sharing something that brings a sense of connection that is the real upside for me.

In between all the athletic activity and the weed, I’m feeling a bit tired and mellow. I climb back under the covers and quickly check my messages. My other partner, Nat, said hello earlier so I write him a quick note back. Then James and I just continue hanging out and listening to music. He rubs my feet and pets one of the dogs who has crawled up on the bed. We sing along with the music on the stereo and feel a bit in a limbo place. It’s that after the party feel, although it’s only 3 o’clock in the afternoon.

One of our favorite songs by The National comes on and James begins dancing around the room. This is the weed in play — he doesn’t usually dance by himself, but it’s also sweet to see him just enjoying and expressing himself. I stay hunkered down in bed, just watching him. After the song is over, we decide to order some food.

We’d thought about going out somewhere to eat, but at this point, I’m still in lingerie and don’t have the energy to dress. Plus, I don’t really want to deal with anyone else at this moment. It’s just a nice reprieve from everyday life to be here with just the two of us, with no requirements for several more hours. It just feels very languid and decadent to hang out in bed half-naked in the middle of the afternoon.

“I always look forward to seeing Hugh,” James says, “but still, I wish that he was coming home tomorrow morning.” I nod in agreement. Hugh is 21 and although we love him dearly, it’s been a lot of years of high-intensity parenting and we are tired. We haven’t both had a night away in several months. It’s time to get something on the calendar.

We order some food and I put on some more presentable clothes. In the kitchen, waiting for dinner to arrive, James and I begin dancing. He twirls me a couple of times and we kiss. We took dance lessons last summer, but life has gotten in the way since then, and although we aren’t very good, we do enjoy it anyhow. Maybe we’ll be able to start lessons again soon now that things are settling down a bit.

“I’m sorry,” I say, hugging James close with tears forming in the corners of my eyes. “I’m sorry that I’m not always as good to you as I want to be.”

“It’s OK,” James replies, pulling me closer and planting a kiss on my lips. The whole interlude has a surreal feel. Our lives so rarely get to focus on just us like this. Plus, we are fairly high. In a strange way that only polyamorists truly understand, having a sexy afternoon with Tamara actually makes us value each other and our relationship more.

When she gets home, Tamara sends us a note saying what a great time she had and how we need to plan dinner or a movie some time soon. We are all for it. It’s been fun to slowly take our relationship from being exclusively in the bedroom to more public meet-ups and dates. It was great to get to meet her mom a few months ago, particularly since she is one of the few people who knows that we are involved with each other.

James sends us all a GIF of a cat eating popcorn and we laugh. Tamara loves funny GIFs and sends back one with Austen Powers saying, Yeah, baby, yeah! Being with Tamara is always a celebration, even though it’s also always low key and easy. Being together with James after she goes home is an affirmation of the life that we have built together, one that sometimes includes other loves and lovers.

By the time Hugh comes home, James and I have sobered up and are back to being attentive and responsible parents. We’re happy to see him, but the ambiance of the afternoon still lingers on, infusing our everyday life with a little bit of romance and magic. For a few hours, we’ve gotten to be adults, having grown up conversations and doing the things that lovers do. It was much needed and I look forward to the next time.