Epilogue
Charlotte - Six Months Later
Drafted from the Lexington Crown Royals in May, the Jets' new running back, Ethan Clarke, and the Giants' new wide receiver, Logan Hayes, never once tried to hide their relationship with college student Charlotte McCarthy.
Although Taylor, Hunter, and Laila paved the way for this style of relationship, we were quite surprised by the news that it didn't hold the athletes back on their road to the pros, since the NFL isn't exactly known for its inclusive stance.
But the throuple didn't seem the least bit worried about breaking the sports world's unspoken rules.
Maybe the players' talent was just too much to ignore, since they were drafted as early as the third round.
Based on the two of them's game history in college, that may well be the case, but we'll only know for sure once they start playing for their new teams. Invited for an interview, none of the three agreed to talk to this outlet, but Logan's social media brings us frequent updates on the throuple, who are always together.
We know Charlotte has at least one more year of college in the little town of Frosthaven, where she's studying Computer Science.
Will this polyamory survive the distance now that her two boyfriends are moving to New York as soon as they graduate?
This outlet has serious doubts, but we'll definitely keep our eyes glued to these three so we don't miss a single detail!
I roll my eyes as I finish reading the story published by one of the biggest gossip outlets in the sports world.
I couldn't care less what people thought of our relationship, but it was still strange being in the middle of national-level gossip.
Then again, that was what I'd signed up for when my loves asked me to be theirs.
Even at Lexington itself, things weren't easy at the start.
People judged, made nasty comments, and Professor Whitman even let me go from my assistant position, claiming I'd started drawing negative attention and that her students might end up avoiding coming to me for help.
I thought about asking her exactly how getting railed by two guys affected my mathematical knowledge, but I decided it wasn't worth the effort.
I told her to have a nice life and went off to start developing my own software, which I'd be launching next month in partnership with Flora, a friend from my program, and Jamie, my sister-in-law.
It was talking to her that I got the idea to create a platform for recommending doctors and health treatments with professionals aligned with the LGBTQIA+ cause.
On the site, which we named Iris Care, people could register as professionals, or submit a recommendation, providing the location, specialty, and other contact details.
We'd start with Boston and New York, for now.
And we'd have a rigorous process to verify these doctors before they could receive the seal of approval in LGBT-inclusive care.
I'd fallen in love with the project and dedicated myself exhaustively to it over the past few months, and it was in the beta testing phase. Soon we'd be presenting Iris Care to some investors, and I was really anxious about it.
Still, that was a topic that could wait a few more days to take up my full attention. Tonight I had one more evening of peace and college fun alongside my boyfriends. And I was going to enjoy every second.
Their graduation would be tomorrow, but tonight there'd be a costume party at Gamma Delta Pi, as an informal send-off.
And I was almost ready, just one detail left.
"Babe! Come here!" I shout from our bedroom bathroom, and I laugh when they both answer me, appearing together through the door.
Ethan is holding Katniss, as always. He's her favorite person, no doubt about it, and Logan and I were just the backup humans.
Logan liked to call her an ingrate when she wriggled out of his hug, since he was the one who found her.
"Tan, you're going to get covered in fur and we're about to leave," I scold him through the mirror, and he shrugs apologetically and sets the cat on the counter. I fish a lint roller out of the bathroom drawer and hand it to him.
Then I hold out to Logan the green ribbon that's part of my Daphne costume, and lift my hair so he can fasten it around my neck.
"Fuck, you look hot, princess," he compliments as he does what I asked, placing a kiss on the nape of my neck.
"Seriously, Peach. We're going to love tearing that little dress off you later," Ethan chimes in, winking at me.
I break into a big smile, blow them a kiss, and study us in the reflection, completely in love with the sight of all of us together.
I was the one who'd picked the Scooby-Doo costumes, and they came out perfect.
Ethan is wearing Fred's white shirt with the blue collar and orange scarf, and Logan the classic brown Shaggy T-shirt.
The purple Daphne dress shows off my shoulders and accentuates my waist, so I really am feeling myself.
To top it off, I'd had a collar made just like Scooby-Doo's for Katniss.
Good thing she had no way of knowing she was dressed as a dog, or she'd definitely never look at my face again.
When Ethan finishes getting the fur off his clothes, I grab my phone and take a series of photos.
Since the outlets wanted so badly to keep up with our lives, I could feed them photos of us being amazing.
"Everyone ready, then?" Ethan asks, and I nod.
"Great, I'm starving. I hope there really is pizza there," Logan remarks, taking my hand so we can leave the bathroom.
I let myself be guided as I scroll through the photos and pick my favorite, smiling hugely when I find the one that came out perfect.
In it, Logan holds Ethan and me by the waist, and my loves are looking at each other lovingly.
Even Katniss had looked at the mirror in that moment and completed the scene.
It was the essence of us. Hopelessly in love with one another.
I post the photo as soon as I get into the car on the way to the party, with the caption: "Defying the rules today and always. Don't even bother trying to stop us."