36 Francesca
“I don’t understand,” I say. My heart is going to fast I’m a little afraid I might pass out. , stepping away from Christian. “You and Jamie just said you guys are-“
“Frankie,” Jamie cuts in, “we’re not choosing each other over you.”
I blink at him, then at Christian, then back again, waiting for one of them to say something that makes this make sense. When they don’t, I swallow hard and try anyway. “So okay. What exactly are you saying?”
Ryan steps forward, his calming presence helping to slow my racing heart. “We all love you. We all want to be in your life. Be with you.”
I blink. “Like, at the same time?”
“Well,” Jamie starts, then pauses, frowning slightly. “Not at the same time-” He stops, shakes his head. “Actually… that sounds pretty fucking great.”
“Jamie,” Christian says, sharp but controlled.
I stare at him for a second, jaw slack, then shift my focus back to Ryan. “We’re just starting to figure this out,” I say, gesturing between us. “And now you’re saying what? That I just… add them into it?”
“Not add them in,” Ryan says, steady as ever. “They’ve always been there. All of us have always been in this.”
I scoff. “And you’re okay with that? With just… sharing me?”
“I’m not okay with losing you,” he says simply. “I’ve known for years I’d have to share you.”
I pace a few steps, trying to burn off the pressure building in my chest.
I let out a short, disbelieving breath and turn to Christian. “This is- - that’s crazy. I mean… maybe you two should just be together,” I gesture at Jamie. “Make it easier.”
Christian closes the distance between us without hesitation. “Hey, love. Look at me.”
The word love hits hard. I think I’d given up hope he’d ever call me that again.
“You’re the center of this,” he says, voice low, steady. “What’s between Jamie and me doesn’t take anything away from you. It only exists because of you. Without you coming back, we probably would’ve kept ignoring it. Pretending none of it was there.”
I glance at Ryan, needing something solid, something familiar.
He’s already watching me. Steady. Certain. Not going anywhere.
I let out a slow breath. I don’t understand all of it. Not even close.
But I understand enough.
“So…” I say, looking between them, “I just… have three boyfriends now?”
Jamie’s mouth twitches. “If you’ll have us… yeah.”
A short, almost hysterical laugh slips out of me. “I’ve never even had one. I mean- I hadn’t even kissed anyone until Ryan-”
“What? No fucking way- ” Jamie blurts.
“Wow. Okay,” I shoot back, immediately defensive.
“Shit- no, that’s not- ” he drags a hand over the back of his neck, already backtracking. “I didn’t mean it like that. I just- ” he exhales, frustrated. “I can’t wrap my head around it. Not in a bad way, just- ”
He glances at Christian. “Help.”
Christian’s mouth curves slightly before he reaches for my hands. “He’s trying to say he can’t believe no one ever tried to win you.”
My face heats even more. “Oh. Well… I wasn’t looking to be won,” I mumble. “I’ve only ever been interested in you guys.”
The words are barely out before a new thought hits me, hard and fast.
“I just…” I look between them, something tight in my chest. “I can’t be enough. For all of you. How am I supposed to make everyone happy?”
“By being you,” Ryan says easily, like that’s a super clear explanation.
“And this is just… public?” I press. “We tell people I’m the girl with three boyfriends? People aren’t going to accept that.”
“Who fucking cares?” Jamie says.
I make an exasperated sound, but he just shrugs, more serious now. “I mean it. I’m done letting other people’s opinions keep me from what I want. From what makes me, makes us, happy.”
“Baby, we’ve been following you around like lost puppies since you were fourteen,” Ryan adds, a grin tugging at his mouth. “I don’t think anyone’s going to be shocked.”
Christian meets my eyes. “If you want this, love- if you want us, all of us- then what anyone else thinks doesn’t matter.”
There it is again.
Us.
The four of us, messy and complicated and probably a little insane- but still… together.
“I- I don’t quite understand all of this- how it will all work but,” I clear my throat, “but I know I don’t want to lose any of you.”
Three beaming smiles immediately greet me and we all sort of just soak in what just transpired, what we all sort of agreed to.
Then Ryan clears his throat. “So,” he says, looking between Jamie and Christian. “I’m gonna need a timeline.”
Jamie groans immediately. “Oh, Jesus Christ.”
“Dude, I need information. This is altering my entire understanding of our lives,” Ryan says. “When did this”- he gestures vaguely between them- “start?”
“Last night,” Christian says.
“Wait,” I say, my head swiveling towards him. “Last night? Like I walked in on you- ”
“After our first time together? Yeah.” Jamie leans over and grabs a cold piece of bacon off the table. “See, Frankie? Chris and I really aren’t a thing without you,” he says with a wink.