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This is real

“Slon,” I hold out a hand “How does this even work?”

“I can explain everything,” Sulli says, “But et to choose our relationship We define the boundaries No one else” She grins “Wild, right?”

Banks smiles

I try hard not to feed off their excited energy, but I can feel ht not work,” I say realistically “I mean, what do we even call each other?”

She touches a hand to my chest “You’re my boyfriend” She puts a hand on Banks’ “You’re also my boyfriend”

I narrow my eyes at Banks “Does that make you my boyfriend?”

Sulli smiles “Not unless you like that term with each other,” she says “If you’re not romantically involved, it’s like a V-triad, I think that’s what Beckett said It’s not a triangle, and in a V, I’e between you two You can call each other metamours Closer than a friend but not quite a boyfriend”

Metamour

Banks is my metamour

Strange, but interesting I’ve literally never heard that word until today, and it sounds like so from a fantasy novel, not real life I’ain, Sulli said we should define our relationship

We could call each other Pop-Tarts for all it matters

Shit, I’ this in my head like it’s real Like I want this

Because you do, Nine

I breathe in deeply

The pain I’ve felt this entire trip has been fro one of them Banks or Sulli This outco to be the hardest for her I don’t want to burst her happy bubble, but I need toshe wants

“Sul,” I say “I can’t be your boyfriend in secret”

Hurt crosses her face “You wouldn’t be” She looks to Banks “Neither would you I would tell everyone that I’h I learned what that is this s for both of you that have existed far fucking before it”

“The media—”

“Fuck the media,” Sulli says

“Sulli,” Banks interjects “Akara is right You have to just give it a second thought This won’t be your nor to drive a lot of focus onto your life”

She ss hard “And I know it’s going to be tough Thee difference, and etic in his love for her They stayed together, despite the headlines, the lies, the rumors—they never let the media tell them who to love or what to do with their lives” Her eyes well up with conviction in her voice “I wouldn’t be a Meadows if I didn’t unapologetically go at life at a hundred-and-fifty- it safe”