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Olli Herman’s words echoed in Joel’s head, as he trudged down the leaf-covered street.
Jori, you did so well, with your summer job at Radio Rock, the singer had said, like a proud father. As a reward for your hard work…will you let me set you up with someone?
It was a completely blind date. All Olli had told him, was to go to a certain bar at seven o clock. He said that his date would be waiting for him there. And he would be wearing a red and black striped shirt, so that Joel could recognize him easily.
I haven’t been to a bar, since I decided to get sober, back in April, Joel thought to himself, as he walked into the cocktail lounge. But, I guess I could order a Shirley Temple, or a soda, or something.
Soon enough, he spotted the man he was there to meet, seated on a bar stool. His back was to Joel, as he hunched over the wine glass in front of him. But, he had long blonde hair, and a striped shirt, in the exact colors he’d been told to look for.
“Hey,” Joel said shyly, tapping the man on the shoulder. “I think you’re my blind date?”
The man turned around, and Joel’s jaw dropped. The face of his date was familiar to him. It was someone he already knew - his radio show co-host, Sami.
“Joel?” Sami gasped. He evidently hadn’t been expecting this, either.
For a moment, they simply stared at each other.
“That damn Olli,” Sami sighed. “What the hell was he thinking, setting me up with a man half my age?”
“That’s…That’s not what I’m concerned about!” Joel sputtered. “Sami, you’re taken! Cheating is wrong, and…”
“Joel, calm down,” Sami shushed him, putting a firm hand on his shoulder. “I’m in an open relationship. My partner knows I’m here. She’s actually on a date with her girlfriend, as we speak.”
“…Oh,” Joel blinked, sinking down on a bar stool beside Sami in shock. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were polyamorous.”
He also hadn’t known until just now, that Sami was interested in going on dates with men. But that was beside the point.
“Olli really didn’t tell you anything?” Sami mumbled, looking embarrassed.
“No,” Joel shook his head. “He didn’t.”
“I went crying to Olli, when my boyfriend broke up with me a few months ago,” Sami explained. “I still had my girlfriend by my side. But, that doesn’t mean I wasn’t heartbroken. He basically suggested that I try to get over him, by letting someone new get under me. He said he knew a cute guy that I might be interested in. But he didn’t tell me it was you.”
“Sorry to hear about your ex boyfriend,” Joel said sympathetically. “How long were you together?”
He thought he knew Sami pretty well. But clearly, there were sides of his friend’s life that he hadn’t been aware of at all.
“About a year,” Sami frowned, as if the memory still stung. “He got scared when I talked about commitment. I…I wanted him to meet my daughter. He refused.”
“Does your daughter know about your…lifestyle?” Joel asked, raising a curious eyebrow.
“She’s sixteen now,” Sami shrugged. “I thought, maybe she’s old enough to understand.”
“I’m sure you’ve raised her to be accepting of queer people,” Joel replied.
“She already knows that her father is bisexual,” Sami nodded. “She just doesn’t know that I’m…acting on it.”
“That makes sense,” Joel said softly, trying his best to wrap his head around all the information he’d just learned. He wished he had known sooner, that his co-host was going through a breakup. Sami had only ever told him about his female partner. He hadn’t known that the male one existed. If nothing else, Joel would’ve tried to console him, as a friend.
“But, Joel..,” Sami asked hesitantly, as he took a sip of his wine, “Is this even something you’d be interested in? Like. Would you be okay with dating someone who also has another partner?”
“Yeah,” Joel said quickly. “Why not? I’ve done it before.”
“You…what?” Sami’s eyes widened in surprise, as he nearly choked on his drink.
“Years ago,” Joel explained, chuckling at this reaction, “There was this girl, who was dating my friend, Joonas. And, with his permission, I dated her, too.”
“It didn’t make you jealous, that she was also sleeping with Joonas?” Sami asked curiously.
“Hm…it did, a little,” Joel admitted. “But not enough to make me want to break up with her. I was just happy to be wanted.”
“So, why didn’t it work out?” Sami asked curiously.
“Well, our band was touring a lot,” Joel recalled. “So, she broke up with us. She said there was no point in having two boyfriends, if both of them were going to be gone all the time.”
“I guess that’s fair,” Sami shrugged. “Nowadays, you’re not a touring musician anymore. So, you have more time and energy to devote to a partner.”
“Right, exactly. That’s why I agreed to go on this blind date.”
“But, Joel…,” Sami hesitated. “Even if you’re okay with polyamory, in general. Do you really want to date me? I would understand completely, if you’d prefer to be with someone a little younger.”
“No!” Joel cried. “Sami, I…I always thought you were handsome.”
“Really?” Sami blushed. “Like…since you met me?”
“Since before then, when I saw you on television,” Joel admitted, turning red. “I never thought I would have a chance with you, but…I’d love to try. If you’re willing.”
“In that case,” Sami smirked, “can I buy you a drink?”