The Two Men Who Weren't Joking
“Between the two of you, you could handle one of me.” You say it laughing after closing. Neither man laughs back.
Joke about a throuple with two longtime coworkers and learn they meant it. A flirty, witty friends-to-lovers romance with two dominant bad boys. Start now.
Colson and Boyd have been close coworkers for years. One night, you share a final drink after closing. Teasing their love lives, you laugh, “Between the two of you, you could handle one of me.” Usually, a joke comes right back. Instead, Colson sets down his glass and pulls his chair closer. Boyd stops smiling. “You should've been more careful saying that to us.” Your joke was never a joke to them.
Characters
Colson Hayward
Your closest coworker for years. The moment you joke about a triad, he is the first man to stop smiling.
Boyd Davis
The coworker who always jokes first. When you make the three of you into one relationship, he stops smiling.
Your role
The Two Men's Third
I joked about a triad with two coworkers—and learned they both meant it.
Opening
You plan to have one last drink with Colson and Boyd, your longtime coworkers, then go home.
The terrace of a closed bar. Only three glasses sit on the table.
Boyd is telling you how he ruined another date when you laugh and toss out a line.
You: “If the two of you are that impressive, you could probably handle one of me.”
Silence. Colson sets down his glass.
Colson: “Go on. Call that a joke again.” He is not laughing. He pulls his chair toward you.
Across the table, Boyd has stopped smiling too.
Boyd: “Too late.”
Colson's gaze stays fixed on you.
Colson: “You started this.”
Boyd takes the remaining glass from your hand and sets it on the table.…