Chapter 12: The Three-Heart Problem.

February 5, 2024, 10:00 AM, Dreamside, "Jeremy and the Opossums" Golf Club.
In the middle of a vast green golf field stands Kate. She wears a pink short-sleeve shirt, dark blue leggings patterned with pink four-petal flowers, white golf gloves, and a white golf hat.
"Daria, the pink Lady B now!" she says cheerfully, eyes fixed on the distance.
Daria stands nearby with a bag full of golf clubs slung over her shoulder. She wears a blue fleece full-zip hoodie, a loose white T-shirt, and blue jeans. Her hoodie hangs open, revealing a silver chain necklace with a padlock pendant that rests against the white fabric.
Daria hands her the pink club. Kate spreads her legs, focuses for a few seconds, then swings. The ball flies several dozen feet and drops cleanly into the distant hole.
"Hm… Not bad today," Kate murmurs to herself, gazing off with clear satisfaction.
"I'd say it's way better than just ‘not bad'," Daria chuckles.
They play a little longer, then at 10:40 AM they head to the café inside the golf club, not far from the course.
"Hey, Kat," Daria says once they sit at a white table in the shade, sipping coffee. The café stays quiet on this Monday morning. Soft hip-hop plays in the background.
"I… just wanted to apologize for that thing this morning. I didn't know Becky was gonna organize that." Daria's voice sounds awkward.
Kate lets out a soft sigh and adjusts her hat as she takes another sip. She stays in a good mood, refusing to let the morning drag her down.
"Oh, don't worry about it," she says with a little shrug. "It was just funny. And honestly, if I'm being real..." She gives Daria a crooked grin. "I kinda liked having an audience. It was hot."
Daria shifts in her seat, clearly uncomfortable with the blunt admission. She sips her coffee, buying a moment.
"That's… cool," she says at last. "But yeah, Becky's got no shame. You know that."
Both of them remember the scene earlier that morning in Alex and Kate's room. Becky had pushed open the unlocked door with the white sign scribbled in bold red marker: "Do Not Disturb!" Below it read: "Alex, California's best erotic writer" and "Becky—go fuck yourself!"
Daria takes a quiet sip. She wants to ask Kate about her sex life with Alex, but the words won't come. Kate leans back, stretches her legs with lazy satisfaction, and swirls her coffee.
"You're wondering something," she states, nudging Daria's knee under the table. "I can tell."
Daria gives a nervous little laugh. "I mean… I don't really know what to ask, exactly. It was just… unexpected."
Kate chuckles. "Yeah, I guess it was kinda wild. But honestly? It was hot as hell."
Daria fidgets with the collar of her unzipped hoodie. "Well, I just… wasn't expecting that. You never told me he… you know… eats you out there." Her Russian accent grows stronger from the nerves. "So… umm… does that mean you… uhh… keep everything… regularly disinfected with an enema?"
She lets out a small giggle and sips her coffee again.
Kate snorts, nearly choking on her drink. She wipes her mouth with the back of her hand, sets the mug down with a thump, and leans forward on her elbows.
"Oh my god, Daria. You're so fucking cute when you're awkward." She grins, completely unbothered. "And yeah, of course I do. Not just for him—I do it for myself too. It's not just about looks. It's about feeling clean down there. Gotta keep the pipes running smoothly." She winks and takes another sip.
Daria chuckles nervously. "When I brought up topics about… umm… the butt at the table as a kid, my mom would always scold me."
After a brief pause, she adds, glancing around, "You know, sometimes it feels like some stories have way too many spectators, even if the stage is quiet. You know what I mean."
Kate barks out a laugh and leans back. "Oh my god, I love you, Daria. You're so fucking adorable when you're embarrassed." She shakes her head. "And yeah, I know exactly what you mean. It's kinda wild, right? One second we're just living our lives, the next..."
She gestures vaguely with fluttering fingers. "This whole thing just kinda… happened. One minute it was just me and Alex, and now..." She trails off with a soft hum, tapping her nails on the mug.
Daria glances at Kate's outfit again. "Why do you keep saying I'm embarrassed? I'm not embarrassed, it's just… it's kind of weird and sudden. You were with Alex for four years, and then a couple of days ago…" She makes a mind-blown gesture with her fingers. "Becky and Lila are really worried about it, by the way…"
Kate laughs and reaches across the table to tap Daria's wrist. "Oh god, you're too much. But yeah, I get it—it is weird. And I don't blame anyone for being worried." She crosses one leg over the other. "Alex and I… we've always been open with each other. There was never any lying or hiding, y'know? So when Aria suggested this..."
She bites her lip for a second. "At first, I thought she was joking. But the more we talked about it..." Kate exhales, her fingers drumming lightly on the table. "It felt… right. In a way I didn't expect. Like opening a door I didn't know was there." She pauses. "Brian's incredible, Daria. And I..." She clears her throat. "I don't know how to explain it. It's like a missing piece falling into place. And Alex… He's still my Baby Boy. That's not changing."
Daria coughs lightly. "It sounds beautiful, like something out of a novel. But, Kat… in real life, the brighter the firework, the faster it burns out. Don't take me wrong, I just…"
She pauses. "You had boyfriends before Alex, right? So… you know what I mean. And besides, you two aren't married."
Kate exhales slowly through her nose and studies Daria. "Yeah," she says, her voice lighter than expected. "I did have boyfriends before Alex. And yeah, I know what you mean." She taps a nail against the rim of her cup. "But this isn't like that. This is different."
Daria leans forward, chin on her palm. "Different how?" Her voice stays soft but persistent. "You and Alex have been together for four years. You moved into that giant mansion to live with him, and you both work together… you're an artist, and he's a writer. I mean, it's not like you just met yesterday." She twirls a lock of hair around her finger, her gold bracelet jingling. "I love seeing you happy, Kat. But…"
Kate exhales a quiet laugh. "You sound like my mom right now," she teases with affection. She leans back and stretches her legs beneath the table, crossing them at the ankles.
Kate traces the handle of her coffee mug with her fingers. "You know I love Alex," she says simply. "I adore him. He is my person."
A faint smile crosses her face. She sips her coffee slowly. Daria watches her carefully. Sunlight filters through the cafe window and catches the gold flecks in her brown irises.
"But," Kate continues as she sets her mug down with both hands, "I think we both know that people change." She rests her chin on her fist, elbow braced against the table. "We grow. And sometimes that means stretching yourself in new ways."
Daria hums softly. Her brow furrows slightly. She wraps both hands around her own mug and leans forward, resting her chin on her folded hands. The morning sun paints golden streaks through her dark bob. "So... you are saying you want something more?"
Kate adjusts the brim of her white golf hat. The pink short-sleeve shirt stretches lightly over her shoulders. Her dark blue leggings with pink flowers accentuate her legs. She lets out a soft breath through her nose. A small smile forms as she twirls her coffee cup between her palms. "Not more. Just... different."
Daria shifts slightly in her chair and leans closer. Her unzipped hoodie catches the sunlight. The silver padlock chain gleams faintly against her chest.
"I love what we have, Daria," Kate says. "Alex is my person. But there is a part of me that is curious about what else is out there."
Daria tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. "'What else is out there'? Or maybe you mean 'who'?" she says quietly. Her brown eyes meet Kate's blue ones with the same unreadable expression.
Kate exhales softly. She tilts her head as the morning light catches the delicate silver chain at her throat. She sips her coffee slowly, then sets the mug down with deliberate care.
"Yeah," she admits, meeting Daria's gaze evenly. "I mean who." Her fingers tighten slightly around her mug. "There is just... this thing. With Brian."
The name leaves her mouth like a secret she has held too close.
Daria leans forward. Her arms cross loosely over the table. Her fingers tap lightly against her arm as she studies Kate. Her dark bob frames her face. A small but knowing smile parts her lips.
"Brian," she repeats, testing the name. "He is... big." She lets the word hang between them. Her tone is not quite innocent.
Kate gives a slow nod. Her fingers stay curled around her mug. "Yeah," she says, her voice quiet but steady.
Daria giggles and rubs her cheek with her palm, a little embarrassed but still playful. "Um… Kat… I saw those pictures Aria showed everyone, too… Well, I mean Brian's 'unit'…"
She clears her throat slightly and glances around the café with a shy yet playful look.
"But… are you really interested in this?"
Kate watches Daria's reaction with a half-smile. She takes another slow sip of coffee. The heat spreads through her as she swallows.
"I did not think I was," she says finally. Her tone is thoughtful. "But then... I started thinking about it. A lot." Her blue eyes flick up to meet Daria's again. "And now I cannot stop."
"Oh…" Daria says and takes a sip of her coffee. "So your small talks with him about art at your parties… they turned into… this. Hmm…"
Daria adjusts the silver chain with the padlock on her chest. Her Russian accent grows stronger with a hint of nervousness. "Well… um… maybe it is because you are a little like Aria on the inside? Considering you have been friends with her since college." She pauses. "Well… Aria likes big guys… black guys… right? But Brian… he is… bigger than the others, right?"
Daria finishes her coffee in a few sips. "Ah… So… you are going to be Brian's girl now? Meaning Brian will have two girls—you and Aria… and Alex will be… Honestly, that is kinda new to me. I mean, in five years in the US, I have gotten used to a lot… but not everything."
Kate exhales softly through her nose. Her blue gaze stays steady. "Yeah," she says, her voice quiet but certain. "That is the gist of it." A faint smile tugs at the corner of her mouth.
"I do not know what it means yet. Not completely." She shifts in her chair and crosses her legs under the table. "But... yeah. I am Brian's girl now." She speaks the words carefully, as if testing their weight. "And I guess that makes Alex... well." She shrugs one shoulder. "Different."
Daria asks puzzledly, "Um… So? What does ‘different' mean?" Her voice stays serious even as she giggles. "Kate–are you okay with Alex? We are all worried about you and Alex, even if we do not always show it… You do have such an idyllic life with him…" She pauses. "I even kind of envy you… In a good way."
Kate lets out a slow breath. She studies Daria's face for a long moment. Her blue eyes flicker with something unreadable.
"Different," she echoes softly. "I am not sure what that means yet, either." She leans back in her chair and crosses her arms loosely over her chest. "But I do not... regret it. Not in the way you might think."
Daria tilts her head slightly. She bites her lower lip. Her words come quieter now. "Kate… Everyone has seen you with Brian at parties in your… our house, at Château des Rêves. Since September 2nd last year, when Aria introduced everyone to him. Then, in the past few months, at every party, you have been interacting only with him and Aria." She looks at her empty coffee cup. "It is obvious that you do not regret it. It is just that no one could have imagined that Aria would eventually… um… suggest that you two become… um… a couple? Or rather… um… how do you say it in English… Ah, right… a throuple? Well, considering Aria herself in addition to you two."
Daria leans back in her chair, stretches, then leans forward again. "And what about Alex? He is definitely not against it? Or is he, as always, agreeing to everything just so as not to upset you? Sorry if that is rude—I do not know your dynamic… I am just speaking from Becky's words."
Kate exhales through her nose. The corners of her mouth twitch upward slightly. She rests her chin against her palm. Her fingers tap lightly against her cheek.
"You know," she says after a beat, speaking quietly but steadily, "Alex and I have been together for four years. And in all that time... he has never once said no to me." She shifts in her seat and crosses her legs again. "Not really. Not in a way that mattered."
"But... that does not mean he never questions things," Kate continues, her voice gentler now. "Or that he likes everything." She studies Daria. "You know how he is. He is... not always comfortable with attention. And this—" She gestures vaguely. "This is a lot. Even for me."
She taps a finger against the rim of her coffee cup. "A lot," she echoes, her tone wry. "Yeah. That is one way to put it."
She exhales through her nose and shakes her head slightly. "Alex... he does not mind me being with Brian. He says he does not. And maybe he really does not." She pauses. "Or maybe he just does not know how to say no to me."
Daria looks at her phone as a notification comes in. "So… you have got a meeting with buyers soon… More precisely at 1:00 p.m. But that is Becky's duty already—to mess around with you together with the buyers of your paintings, isn't it?" She giggles. "Umm… But what do you mean when you say 'This is a lot'? You do not have much of a fighting spirit for someone who is supposed to have a date with Brian this evening at Topanga Canyon Inn. You are going to be there that evening for your date with Brian, right? And…" Daria pauses, awkwardly hiding a chuckle. "Naturally, you are going to have sex with Brian. And you said that Alex is okay with it. At least he pretends to be. Or do you still have doubts about Aria's whole idea?"
Kate lets out a soft laugh and shakes her head at Daria's directness. "I do not have doubts about Aria's idea," she says, swirling the last bit of coffee in her cup. "She knows what she is doing. Always has." A momentary glint appears in her eye.
"But yeah," she continues as she leans back slightly, "I am going to be there tonight. Brian and I... we have plans."
She leans forward, resting her elbows on the table, and speaks quietly with a teasing lilt. "You are awfully invested in this, aren't you?"
Daria sips her coffee with an innocent expression, but a glimmer of amusement sparkles in her brown eyes.
"I just want to know how you're handling it all," she says, setting her cup down. "You and Alex have been together forever, and now this arrangement."
"Arrangement," Kate repeats, rolling the word on her tongue like she tests its taste. She exhales softly. "Yeah, I guess that's one way to put it."
Daria calls the waiter over—a young red-haired guy around twenty-five. He refills her cup with fresh coffee and does the same for Kate, who gives him a quick nod.
After the waiter walks away, Daria takes a sip and speaks with playful innocence. "Oh, I suppose our dear Mr. Jackson already drools at the thought of your plans with him."
Kate laughs brightly and covers her mouth, leaning back a little. The motion makes her pink short-sleeve shirt stretch over her small but tempting breasts. The faint outline of her smooth white bra shows through the fabric.
Daria leans closer and drops her voice to a playful whisper. "Come on, Kat—how do you plan to split your time between Alex and Brian? Or do you put Alex on a... diet? You know I never tell Becky anything. So spill it."
Daria's outwardly innocent and sweet look—dark bobbed hair, round pretty face, unzipped blue fleece hoodie, loose white T-shirt, and soft Russian accent—makes the whole thing even funnier to Kate.
Kate tilts her head, her mouth curling into a smirk. "A diet?" She lets out a soft chuckle and shakes her head. "Jesus, you make it sound like I'm planning to starve the poor guy." She lifts her cup, takes a slow sip, and sets it down again. Steam curls between them.
Daria giggles and leans forward, elbows on the table. "Well, if you spend a lot of time with Brian, Alex obviously gets less of your attention." She says it with teasing pleasure. "That's obvious."
Kate's smirk widens. She leans back in her chair and stretches her arms behind her head. The movement makes her pink shirt ride up slightly, revealing a sliver of smooth stomach and the waistband of her dark blue leggings. She leaves the fabric where it is.
"Alex knows what he signed up for," she says easily, though a quiet edge lies beneath the words. "He's not some weak little thing who falls apart just because he doesn't get constant access."
Daria watches her with amusement and tilts her head. "Mmm. And yet..."
Kate exhales. "And yet what?"
Daria sips her coffee slowly, her expression mischievous. "He's your cuckold now. That means he has to handle it." She angles her face slightly, brown eyes twinkling. "And from what I've seen, Alex handles it. But he is not happy about it."
Kate hums thoughtfully. She glances toward the café entrance for a moment, then looks back at Daria. "He's not upset. He's adjusting."
Daria snorts and rests her chin on her palm. "He's adjusting like a cactus in the rainforest. But he'll survive."
Kate laughs and shakes her head. "You act like I'm turning him into some tragic figure." She gestures lightly in the air. "Alex has always known what he was getting into. I don't make decisions like this lightly."
Daria tilts her head and studies her with quiet curiosity. "I know. But you don't mind the way it affects him, do you?" Her tone stays soft, almost teasing. "You enjoy seeing him squirm a little."
Kate's smile holds steady, but something darker and more playful shifts in her eyes. "Wouldn't you?" she counters smoothly. She sips her coffee and holds Daria's gaze over the rim. "I'm not cruel about it. I love him too much for that. But yeah, if I'm honest..."
She sets the cup down. "Watching him process it, watching him figure out how to handle it... it's kind of hot. And maybe a little funny." She grins. "In a good way."
Daria sighs, her playfulness fading as her usual modesty returns. "Me? My relationships with guys were always calmer back in Russia. Here I haven't messed around with anyone yet." She takes a sip and glances cautiously at a few guys at the other end of the café. "Jokes aside, I don't think a dynamic like yours would suit me. Saratov isn't Moscow or Petersburg. Maybe it's about the mentality or something."
Daria giggles and looks at Kate. "I hope I'm not being too rude. I'm glad we're friends and that I live and work at your house, in Château des Rêves. Here in Dreamside it's better than in LA, though LA is still much better than the hole I came from."
She pauses. "Alex is also from the Russian-speaking crowd, though he hates everything connected with Russia, doesn't he? Apparently it was worse for him there than for me."
Kate leans back and crosses one leg over the other. She studies Daria with a thoughtful expression. "Yeah, Alex had it rough back there. But he doesn't like to talk about it much. I respect that."
She exhales through her nose, a small smile tugging at her lips. "And no, you're not being rude. I don't mind talking about this stuff. It's just complicated."
She tilts her head slightly. "You ever think about why you haven't dated anyone here? You've been here for a while now."
Daria shifts in her seat. She sips her coffee slowly, buying time. "Well, I guess I'm just picky," she says at last, fingers tracing the rim of her cup. "Back home I dated a few guys, but it was simple. Here it feels different. Expectations are different."
She glances away briefly, then back at Kate. "And maybe I'm still adjusting. Or maybe I'm too focused on work and other things." She gestures vaguely. "Like watching you and Alex and Brian and Aria. It's interesting. I wouldn't know how to handle that."
Daria takes another sip. "By the way, this morning before we came here and you started launching golf balls into the stratosphere, you said you set the exact date for the Vegas trip you and Alex want to organize. So when will it be? And who are you taking? I'm not imposing, just curious. You mentioned Ariel, Sarah, and Brian. Right? Who else from the staff and the friends of Château des Rêves are you planning to bring?"
Kate leans forward and rests her forearms on the table. She taps a finger against her coffee cup. "Yeah, that's the plan for now. Alex and I want to go in March—spring break for some of our friends and all that. We'll definitely take Brian and Ariel. Sarah too, maybe a couple of the newer staff members if they want to come."
She pauses, a small smirk forming. "And of course you're welcome to join if you want."
Daria giggles. "You are definitely the best employer and friend rolled into one!" She adjusts her unzipped blue fleece hoodie and loose white T-shirt. "So Sarah Cote—an administrative assistant in the art class at Dreamside High School, a guest at your parties, and Lila's friend. She's pretty nice. I often chat with her about video games, and she cooks amazingly. And Ariel Tremblay—host of the cooking show Hot and Delicious on YouTube, and an erotic model."
Daria adds with a touch of embarrassment, "Once again, a crowd of random guys will tear her apart for autographs."
She rolls her eyes in amusement. "Let me guess: Alex is against Becky coming with you? Just watch—if you take our gardener Ellis Rose... Well, you know. I don't even know if she's joking or not when she threatens to give Alex a blowjob."
Kate laughs and shakes her head as she sips her coffee. "Oh, don't worry about Ellis. She's just Ellis. But yeah, Alex isn't thrilled about Becky coming along. He thinks she'll cause trouble."
She leans back and stretches her arms behind her head. "But if she wants to come and behaves, I don't see why not."
Daria giggles. "That Becky... Yeah. A model and designer obsessed with teasing the dick of an erotic writer who happens to be her friend's boyfriend and employer rolled into one. Looks kind of wild."
Daria pauses, shifts nervously in her chair, then leans forward and speaks in a whisper. "So... can you tell me in secret... Um..."
She looks very embarrassed but still forces the words out. "Well... Alex really isn't that big down there... Or is it just Becky joking? Obviously Brian is bigger, it's just..."
Daria trails off, takes a sip of coffee, and looks at Kate with slight anxiety and keen curiosity.
Kate barks out a laugh and nearly chokes on her coffee. She wipes her mouth with the back of her hand, grinning widely. "Oh my god, Daria, you're ridiculous."
She leans forward, props her elbows on the table, and rests her chin on her hands. Her blue eyes sparkle with amusement. "I'm not gonna blurt out my boyfriend's dick size in a café, but I'll say this: Alex isn't small, but he's not Brian."
She exhales through her nose, still smiling. "And you're right, Becky loves to tease."
Daria smirks and stirs her coffee thoughtfully, staring into her cup. "'Alex isn't small, but he's not Brian,'" she repeats in a diplomatically mocking tone, sipping as if Kate has just confirmed her guess.
Kate leans back with a dramatic sigh and shakes her head at Daria's smirk. "Oh, you're enjoying this way too much," she teases, her tone light. She sips her coffee, stretches her legs under the table, and crosses them. "I don't know why I let you pull me into these conversations."
Daria leans forward, elbows on the table. "Because I'm cute and you love me?" she suggests, batting her eyelashes with exaggerated innocence.
Kate snorts. "Yeah, that must be it." She watches Daria for a moment, then smirks. "Come on, Daria. You really want me to confirm that? You already know the answer."
Daria shrugs, feigning nonchalance, but a glint of amusement shines in her brown eyes. "I just like hearing it from you," she admits, stirring her coffee. "Alex is Alex. And Brian is..."
She trails off, letting the implication hang in the air.
Kate exhales through her nose and shakes her head with a soft chuckle. "Oh god, you're shameless," she mutters, but she smiles.