To say that Scott and I grew closer would be an understatement. I understood why he had been so guarded. Both of us were used to getting our hearts stomped on whenever we had cared about someone before. I knew that I wasn't going to do that to Scott, and he didn't want to do it to me, so it was a good match. Now, don't think for a second he softened up about me touching his screwdrivers when I had a set of my own. Finding your soul mate might be grand, but love didn't count for a thing in the garage.

Although there wasn't as much garage-time anyway. I know, business got slow again, big deal. But this was different. Really different. See, this jerk on the TV was killing our customer base. Not literally, though with some of these guys, I'm not sure. Eyes Only was reporting all these things, cool to hear for the do-gooders of the world, but a pain for me. See, I had an idea on who our clients were. After the last Eyes Only hack, a city councilman was on TV, getting out of his car while a bunch of reporters were trying to question him. I didn't hear the questions because I was focused on the car. I knew that car. It was the last one that we had done for Mr. T.A. Barron. Curiosity made me go to a library and do some research. The pay for public officials is public record. There was no way that he could have afforded that car. So, yeah, problems were abounding when the people that had once bought our services were now afraid to show that they had money beyond what was on their paychecks.

Granted, I didn't care about the slack in work at first. That just left more time for Scott and me. And let me tell you, the boy was determined to make up for all of the celibacy he had endured over the last year or two. I wouldn't have thought it possible, but he had actually worn me out a few times. Good times. Great times. We even started to talk about future-type things we could do. Like the bathroom in the garage. It had a toilet and an overhead shower fixture. Not a proper shower, just the fixture. There was no hot water. So you could stay clean, but seriously, have you ever tried to clean grease with cold water? So, I'd have to stand under a cold spray, scrubbing away. We talked about doing a real bathroom together as soon as another big job came in. It was weird, but hey, it was better than anything else we had ever had in our lives.

There was just one thing I missed. Scott was great in bed. Or on the floor. Or against the wall. Or, well, you get the point. But there were some things that I missed. Not because Scott wasn't willing, but because he wasn't equipped. I never said a word about it, but after a few months, Scott finally asked if I missed being with a girl.

I sighed, wanting to be honest, but not wanting to hurt him. "You're great," I said. "And no matter what I've been offered at any parties, I haven't said yes once. I'm not going to say yes. But, yeah, there are things I miss. But hey, if I have to give that up for you, then that's life."

He was quiet for a minute. "Well, maybe you don't have to."

I froze. I thought about what he had just said. And thought about it again. And once more for good measure. I could only interpret what he said one way, and there was no way he was saying what I thought he was saying. I looked at him cautiously. "What the hell do you mean by that?"

He shrugged. "I know you like girls too. And I want you to be happy."

"So you're saying you wouldn't mind if I picked up girls at a party?" I was getting a little pissed, now. I had been totally monogamous with him. Now he was acting like I was some nympho that could barely hold out.

"No," he snapped. "I would be pissed if my girlfriend started having sex with random strangers."

"Then be specific here."

"I'd have a problem if you met someone and had a quickie in the bathroom," he said. I glared at him. Just like him to throw my little bathroom fetish in my face. "But, if like you and Rachel came home and the three of us…" His words trailed off. I'd have said something right then, but my jaw was on the floor. Scott turned red. "Forget it," he muttered.

"No forgetting," I said. "It's just…after all the times Rachel offered, begged even, now you're willing? What changed?"

He looked at me like I was an idiot. "I wasn't sleeping with you before. I thought then that if we all did, it would wreck us." He gave me his most charming smile. "Now, I know it won't. And considering how many times I did fantasize about the three of us, and that you miss it, I thought that maybe…if Rachel was willing…" His blush was scarlet.

Would Rachel be willing? I thought so. I wasn't positive, though. I mean, she had used the L-word. She hadn't made a move on me since Scott and I got together, even though we still partied and danced together. I thought about what Scott was offering though. Yeah, I missed it real bad. I wasn't sure if Scott would be willing with a chick he didn't know, so Rachel was the only hope. God, please let her be willing.

It's what I asked her that night at a party. Scott had actually made a couple of friends, car-buffs of course, and was at the other end of the bar talking to them. Rachel was at our end, choking and sputtering on her drink. She looked up at me, her eyes huge.

"Scott asked?"

I nodded. "He said he always thought it would be hot, but you know. Too much other crap." I paused. "And I'm not saying we would have to be exclusive or every night, you know. Just, you know, whenever the three of us were in the mood and…and…what the hell are you doing?"

Rachel was frantically digging through her purse. She finally pulled out some cash and threw it on the bar. She jumped off of her stool, and grabbed my hand, pulling me with her as she yelled towards Ian that she would settle up later. Scott's buddies cheered as she grabbed him on the way past, dragging us both into the parking lot.