[ WP ] A couple finds out they 're cheating on each other with the same person .

Champagne was flowing, voices were chattering, people were reveling. I was talking to Sally, one of Robert ’ s coworkers. Everything was happy; everything was how it was supposed to be. 
 
 “ Where on earth is Robert? ” Sally asked, looking around. I followed her gaze, realizing I hadn ’ t seen my husband in a while. 
 
 “ Oh, probably passed out somewhere from too much whiskey, ” I replied, laughing. “ I ’ ll go sort him out. ” 
 
 I walked around the lavish apartment we were at for the party, looking in every room for him. Running out of places, I turned to the laundry room door on a whim. I slowly opened it and froze. My husband was up against the washing machine, passionately kissing another man. A man I knew quite intimately. 
 
 “ Robert? ” I breathed. “ James? ” 
 
 They broke apart and looked around at me. The look on their faces could only be described as utter shock. I didn ’ t know who to be more disgusted with – my husband, my lover, or myself. I let go of the doorknob and backed away, then ran for the door. People were staring, but I didn ’ t care. I made it out to street level before the tears started. 
 
 
 
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 “ I don ’ t know how to explain. ” 
 
 My husband sat across from me at our apartment with a look of shame. James sat to the side, not looking at either of us. 
 
 “ There ’ s nothing for you to explain right now, ” I replied. I turned my gaze to James. “ What I want to know is how you tricked both of us. ” 
 
 His head jerked up and his eyes met mine briefly before returning to the floor. My husband ’ s face turned to confusion. 
 
 “ Wait – you know him? ” 
 
 “ I don ’ t just know him, Robert. I ’ m fucking him. Oh don ’ t look indignant, it ’ s not like you ’ re any better than I am. It ’ s about time we all came clean. ” 
 
 James cleared his throat. “ I guess I should apologize to both of you. But in my defense, it ’ s not like I had much of a choice. ” 
 
 “ Excuse me? ” I retorted. “ What, you were forced into bed? You tripped and fell? What excuse is it? ” 
 
 “ I fell in love with both of you, ” James announced loudly. “ I never wanted to hurt either one of you; I just didn ’ t think you would understand. ” 
 
 “ And how long was it going to go on? How long did you think you could keep it up? ” I said, my voice getting steadily louder. 
 
 James looked at me with pleading eyes. “ Em, please understand. You know how amazing both of you are; did you really think someone else wasn ’ t capable of falling in love with you? ” 
 
 I leaned back on the couch, contemplating. I looked at the two men in my life, both of which I cared deeply for. I didn ’ t want to give either of them up. 
 
 “ Have you – have either of you heard of a polyamorous relationship? ” 
 
 Robert nodded. “ Yeah, that ’ s when there ’ s more than two people in a steady relationship, right? ” 
 
 “ Exactly. Well – what if that was us? ” 
 
 James looked startled. “ You mean try and make it work – the three of us? ” 
 
 I nodded, hardly believing what I was saying. “ I love you. Both of you. And I ’ m not giving that up. ” 

