30. Bianca
30
BIANCA
S unlight filters through the thin hotel curtains, bathing the room in a soft, golden glow. I stretch and yawn, savoring the rare luxury of waking up with no immediate obligations. My moms words from last night replay in my head. She said she’d try. It’s better than nothing, and if it doesn’t work, then at least I still have the guys. That’s what matters the most.
I stretch again, shaking those thoughts from my mind. It’s Christmas I think as I roll over, half expecting to find an empty bed. Instead, I’m met with the delicious aroma of fresh coffee and something sweet.
“Morning, sleepyhead,” Alex says, grinning as he balances a tray overflowing with breakfast foods. His light brown hair is tousled, but his dark eyes sparkle with mischief.
I sit up, rubbing my eyes. “What’s all this?”
“Christmas morning surprise,” Liam replies from behind him, holding another tray. He places it on the bed, revealing a spread of pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon, and even a small stack of wrapped presents.
James follows, carrying a steaming pot of coffee and a plate of pastries. “You deserved a special breakfast,” he says, his hazel eyes locking with mine for a moment and holding my gaze before he looks away and pours a cup of coffee.
“This is amazing,” I say, my voice tinged with awe as I take in the feast before me.
Liam smirks. “It’d better be. We woke up at the crack of dawn for this.”
Alex chuckles. “More like Liam dragged us out of bed because he can’t function without breakfast.”
“Hey, I just know what’s important,” Liam retorts, giving Alex a playful shove.
I laugh, shaking my head at their antics. “You guys are unbelievable.”
James hands me a cup of coffee. “Merry Christmas, Bianca.”
“Merry Christmas,” I say softly, taking the cup from him letting the warmth seep into my hands.
Alex plops down next to me and grabs a pancake. “Dig in before it gets cold.”
I don’t need any more encouragement. We eat together in comfortable silence for a few moments before Alex nudges one of the wrapped gifts toward me.
“Open it,” he says, his grin widening.
I tear off the wrapping paper to reveal a sleek leather planner embossed with my initials. “Wow,” I breathe out. “This is beautiful.”
Liam leans over to inspect it. “Thought you might need something fancy for all those important meetings.”
“It’s perfect,” I say sincerely.
James pushes another gift toward me. “My turn.”
Inside is a delicate necklace with an intricate pendant that catches the light beautifully. “It’s stunning,” I whisper.
“I’m glad you like it,” James says simply.
Alex waves his hand dramatically. “Now for the pièce de résistance.” He hands me the final gift—a small box tied with a ribbon.
I open it to find an elegant keychain shaped like a tiny house. “For when you get your own place,” Alex explains.
Tears prick at my eyes as I look around at them—these incredible men who’ve come back into my life and turned everything upside down in the best way possible. “Thank you,” I say, my voice thick with emotion.
“That’s not all,” Alex says, his excitement barely contained. He exchanges a glance with Liam and James.
James clears his throat, looking at me with pride. “I’m now officially co-owner of the company with them. Murphy-Olsen and Eriksen.” He pauses, then grins. “We might need to shorten it, though. It’s a mouthful.”
Laughter erupts from everyone, the sound mingling with the soft music playing in the background. I can’t help but beam at them. “That’s a wonderful surprise,” I say.
James holds up a finger, his expression playful. “But that’s still not all.”
I look between them, curiosity bubbling inside me. “What else could there be?”
James clears his throat. "Bianca, we have a business proposition for you. A real one."
I blink at him, surprised. "A business proposition? On Christmas?"
Alex smirks, leaning back against the headboard. "We know it’s Christmas, but we’re really excited about a property we found. We want to show it to you."
Liam nods enthusiastically. "It's perfect for the new project we’ve been discussing."
I set my coffee cup down and cross my arms, intrigued but cautious. "Alright, spill. What’s so special about this property?"
James pulls out his phone and taps a few buttons before handing it to me. "Here, take a look."
I take the phone and look through a series of photos of a stunning waterfront property. The house itself is modern yet inviting, with expansive glass windows and sleek lines that blend seamlessly with the surrounding landscape.
“Wow,” I breathe out, scrolling through the images. “This place is gorgeous. And huge.”
“And that’s just the exterior,” Alex says, leaning closer to peek at the screen with me. “The interior has endless potential for your design expertise.”
Liam gestures to the phone. “Keep scrolling. There are some floor plans and more details about the location.”
I do as he says, my excitement growing with each new image and piece of information. The possibilities for design are endless, and I can already see how I’d transform the space.
“This could be huge,” I say, looking up at them with wide eyes.
James nods, his expression serious but tinged with excitement.
Liam leans back, a thoughtful look on his face. “We’re sure you’ll make our new home perfect.”
I pause, mid-bite of my pancake, unsure if I heard him right. “Excuse me?”
Alex and James share a look, their eyes twinkling with mischief before they turn back to me, grinning like Cheshire cats.
James finally speaks up. “The place you’re looking at is ours. We already bought, for the four of us.”
My jaw drops, the pancake forgotten on my fork. “You... what?”
Alex nods, his grin widening. “Yeah, we figured it’s time we all have a place together. And who better to design it than you?”
“Wait, wait,” I say, holding up a hand as if trying to physically stop the flood of information. “You bought this place for us? All four of us?”
Liam shrugs nonchalantly, but there’s a glint in his eye that tells me he’s been dying to share this news. “We wanted a home that reflects us—our relationship, our future.”
I stare at them, my heart pounding in my chest. This is huge. Monumental. My mind races with possibilities and doubts.
“You’re serious?” I ask, still trying to wrap my head around it.
James reaches over and takes my hand, his touch grounding me. “Dead serious, Bia. We want you to create our dream home.”
I leap out of bed, nearly spilling the trays of food in my haste. “You guys! I can’t believe this!” My voice is breathless with excitement.
Alex catches me around the waist, lifting me slightly off the ground as his grin widens. “Believe it, Bia. It's happening.”
I plant a quick kiss on his lips, then spin to face Liam. “You’re all crazy, you know that?” I say, pressing my lips to his. His hands grip my hips, pulling me closer.
James is next. He chuckles as I reach up to kiss him. “We prefer ‘visionary,’” he teases, his fingers threading through my braids and grasping the back of my head..
I can’t stop smiling. My heart is so full it's going to burst from sheer happiness. “You have no idea how happy this makes me,” I say, bouncing between them, kissing each one in turn.
“We might have an idea,” Liam murmurs against my lips before pulling me into another deep kiss.
I pull back slightly, looking at all three of them with shining eyes. “You guys make me so happy,” I say, my voice trembling with emotion.
Alex nudges James playfully. “I think we did good.”
“Damn right we did,” Liam agrees, his grip tightening on my waist.
James’s hand cups my cheek, and he kisses me again, this time more possessive and intense. “Merry Christmas,” he whispers.
“Merry Christmas,” I reply breathlessly, switching back to Alex for another kiss.
Their hands are everywhere—touching, caressing, holding me close as if they can’t get enough. And truthfully, neither can I.
“I’m so excited to design our home,” I say between kisses. “It’s going to be perfect.” I laugh, light and free and so incredibly loved. This is everything I’ve ever wanted and more.
My eyes widen as I remember the keychain Alex gave me earlier. It’s more than just a cute gift; it’s a symbol of the home we’re building together. Overcome with gratitude and affection, I lean in and kiss Alex again, harder this time.
Liam’s eyes meet mine, and there’s a soft intensity there that makes my breath hitch. He pulls me in, his hands firm on my waist, and kisses me deeply. His lips are demanding, but there’s a tenderness beneath it all. My fingers find their way into his hair, tugging slightly as I lose myself in the sensation.
“Damn, I love this,” Liam murmurs against my lips before diving back in for another kiss.
Before I can respond, James pulls me away from Liam and into his own embrace. His kiss is different—slower, more deliberate—but no less passionate. His hand cups my cheek, tilting my head just right as he deepens the kiss.
I’m barely aware of Alex slipping his arms around my waist from behind, pressing kisses along my neck and shoulder. “We make a pretty great team,” he whispers against my skin.
“You have no idea,” I gasp out as James’s lips move to my jawline.
Alex’s mouth on my neck combined with James’s kisses sends shivers down my spine. My knees are weak, and I’m grateful for their steadying hands.
I’m surrounded by them—hands caressing, lips exploring—and it's like coming home after a long journey. The taste of coffee lingers on their tongues. My senses are overwhelmed in the best way possible.
Liam tugs me closer for another lingering kiss. “Merry Christmas, Bia.”
“Merry Christmas,” I whisper back before getting lost in their embraces once more.