36. Sofia
36
SOFIA
W ith the semester finally over, we’ve all settled at Braxton’s place. He and Noah made a late lunch, and now Birdie and Noah are off playing.
I lean against Brax’s big side, my head pillowed on his shoulder as a movie plays on his big screen TV. I’m drifting in and out as Cedric rubs my calves, ankles, and feet. For once, I haven’t been on my feet all day, but I’m not complaining.
Although if he were to ask, I’d take those hands on my lower back. Maybe on my breasts, too. They’re swollen and aching from the hormone fluctuations, but I’m sure they'll stay achy after these three get their hands and mouths on them.
The thought has me wriggling. Braxton gives me a small, soft smile, but Cedric’s hands tighten around my ankle, the dark look in those Mediterranean eyes promising me all sorts of delights.
We might have a lot more things to figure out together. How the four of us fit together long-term. Where we’re all going to sleep, for one, but we have the more important things figured out. Like how we all want to make this work.
No one’s running for the hills.
Each of them is invested in me. In us. I never thought it would happen, that it would end like this.
Meaning, it’s not ending at all. Well, my second-guessing is over. My flippant look at our sexcapades is over.
I shouldn’t have questioned it at all. Not with the way Cedric and Braxton are always so serious.
Orion, too, though now that I’ve gotten to see more of him beyond the flirty attitude and sex appeal, he might even be the most serious of the three now that he’s gotten me to let him in.
Tomorrow, he drives down to talk with Izzy. I’m going, too, because I’m officially her right-hand woman. I signed my contract with her a few days ago.
I wanted to make it a full family outing, but Birdie and Noah still have school. Dad could send them off, but Brax isn’t quite ready to ask him for any favors given recent events. Brax still hasn’t forgiven himself for the way Dad found out.
I haven’t let them know it yet, but Mom and I planned a poker night for them. A chance for Cedric and Orion to get to know him better and a chance for Dad and Brax to settle into this new relationship of not only friends…
I know it’s weird, but it’s not like we planned any of this.
Things just kind of fell into place. Plenty of people out there would call me selfish or a slut, and maybe I’m both of those things. It doesn’t really matter.
I’ve never been happier.
Orion bustles in with a new beer for Brax, Cedric, and himself and hands me a hot, honeyed herbal tea. They each stocked up on it since they found out about the baby. No more caffeine for me!
I might die from withdrawals.
I take a long, slow sip before he takes it from me and places it on the coffee table. Then, Orion slumps on the floor in front of me. My hand immediately sinks into his curls, the only one of them who has hair long enough to truly play with—although they all have length enough for me to pull. This makes it a nice way to connect with all three of them at the same time.
You know, without being naked.
As my body starts to slump in relaxation again, my lids getting heavy even though I’m not close to sleep, my phone pings with a notification.
I push myself upright, curling my feet under me. Cedric hands me my phone, and his pings as well. Then Braxton’s. And Orion’s.
What the hell? Why would we all get notifications? This can’t be good.
I swipe open my messages more quickly than they do, scrolling and scanning. It’s an alert for a viral local news story.
brEAKING: Tenured Film Professor Fired After Scandal Unfolds
What began as a scandal involving a student and three professors has taken a new stunning turn—one that has left the community reeling.
Dr. Constance Squires, the long-standing member of the Film Department and mentor to many of the campus’s prestigious, award-winning film students, has officially been terminated for breach of university policy, invasion of student privacy, and misconduct.
Squires, who initially made headlines for exposing an alleged inappropriate relationship between a student and multiple faculty members—a revelation that rocked the end-of-year Film Club presentation—has now found herself at the center of a much bigger controversy.
According to university officials, Squires violated privacy laws by distributing footage of the student’s thesis project without consent. Not only did she use the footage to “out” the student's private relationships in a public setting, but she did so without going through university channels.
But the twist no one saw coming?
“It seems that Dr. Squires was herself engaging in an improper relationship with a sophomore student attending one of her lecture courses,” said the Dean of College of Fine Arts and Design. “The hypocrisy is staggering.”
The unnamed student has since confirmed the relationship, citing coercive dynamics and an ongoing pattern of boundary-crossing behavior. University ethics review boards are investigating whether this constitutes abuse of power under Title IX guidelines.
The fallout has been swift.
Squires’ office was cleared out late last night.
The university president issued an official apology to the student body.
Legal counsel has confirmed that civil suits are coming.
Meanwhile, the parties at the heart of the original controversy declined to comment—but sources say the original “scandal” involved consensual relationships between adults, none of whom violated university grading or supervisory boundaries.
I skim the last section filled with a few comments from students and faculty about Squires’ behavior, but I can’t hold it in any longer.
A laugh bursts out of me, so full and loud that it takes up all of the air in my lungs, leaving me gasping. Tears burn my eyes.
“God. This is perfect.” I swear I’m cackling like some old hag—like Squires herself. But I’m delighted that Karma was so swiftly served.
Braxton kisses the side of my head and murmurs, “You know what they say. What goes around, comes around.”
I grin back at him. “Damn straight, it does.”
Cedric slides his hot hand up the side of my thigh. “You know, this gives me an idea.”
He leans in closer to whisper in my ear, breath hot enough to make me shiver against him.
“What do you say we break out those camera glasses for a little celebration? I’ve rather missed them.”