Chapter 54
The aroma of sizzling bacon and freshly brewed coffee envelops me as I enter the cluttered kitchen. Noah dances around the stove, spatula in hand, while Jayden and Killian lounge at the table, cradling their mugs.
“Morning, sleepyhead,” Noah chirps with a grin. “Saved you a seat.”
I slide into the empty chair between Jayden and Killian, their shoulders brushing mine in a familiar, comforting way. On the laptop screen, Kai’s pixelated face comes into focus. He looks different for some reason, but I can’t quite put my finger on it. Maybe the wi-fi is just acting up.
“There she is,” he says, voice crackling over the speakers. “Thought you were gonna sleep through breakfast.”
“And miss Noah’s famous scrambled eggs? Not a chance.” I bump Jayden with my shoulder. “Scoot over and give me some room, would ya?”
Jayden chuckles but obliges, making space for me at the crowded table. As we dig into the feast Noah’s prepared, the conversation flows easily, punctuated by laughter and playful jabs.
“Seriously, Dylan’s the only one who can make my scrambled eggs just right,” Noah says. “Y’all burn them every time.”
“Hey, I make a mean omelet,” Jayden protests.
Kai’s pixelated head bobs in agreement. “Dude makes a killer omelet.”
I spear a bite of perfectly fluffy eggs, catching Noah’s gaze. “Gotta side with them on this one. Your eggs are unbeatable.”
Noah winks, and warmth floods my cheeks. Even after all this time, his attention still makes me blush.
As the plates empty, Jayden clears his throat. “Okay, serious talk time.” He meets my gaze. “We’ve been doing some thinking...”
Noah reaches across the table, clasping my hand. “We put you in a tough spot, Dylan, making you choose. That was wrong of us.” His thumb brushes my knuckles.
On the screen, Kai nods. “And none of us want to go on without having you in our lives. We’ve realized that much.”
My breath catches, pulse quickening. After weeks of agonizing over an impossible decision, could they really be suggesting...?
I take a deep breath, gathering my thoughts. This could change everything.
“I’ve been doing some thinking too,” I say slowly. “And I realized I don’t want to choose. I love you guys, all of you.” I look from Noah to Jayden, to Kai’s pixelated face. “And I want to try to make this work. On all our terms.”
They all look at me, and everyone nods except Noah.
“Each of you gives me something different. Something that I need.”
Noah frowns. “So what, you think you’re so special no individual person is good enough for you? That you need three…four… of us to give you what you require as a person? That sounds a bit egotistical, doesn’t it? What if we need three, four, women of our own?”
“Do you?”
“Well… no.” His brows knit together.
“You have to let your ego go. You have to think about our situation and what it means for you, for us, without worrying whether it makes you look less… big and strong and alpha. The fact I am in love with multiple men doesn’t take away any of my love for you. It doesn’t detract from the quality of our relationship, it enhances it. Can’t you see that?”
“I guess so… is this the law of abundance you’ve been speaking about?” He quirks a brow.
“Yes, precisely. Law of abundance. There is enough Dylan Morgan to go around without you feeling deprived, or your money back. Does that sound like a deal?”
Noah’s gaze meets mine, and he nods slowly. “It does.”
Jayden’s eyes widen. “For real? You’d be up for that?”
I nod, a grin spreading across my face. “Yeah. I mean, it won’t be easy, but if we all communicate and respect each other’s boundaries...”
“We can figure it out,” Noah finishes. His eyes shine, and he brings my hand to his lips, pressing a soft kiss to my knuckles.
“I’m game if you are,” Kai says. Even through the glitchy connection, I can see his smile.
Killian leans back in his chair, tattooed arms crossed over his chest. His lips quirk up. “Well, looks like we’ve got ourselves a very modern relationship.”
Laughter ripples around the table. As we begin to discuss logistics, ground rules, all the practicalities, Kai’s screen abruptly goes dark.
“Kai?” I ask. No response.
Killian frowns. “Did we lose him?”
“His connection was fine a second ago,” I say, glancing between their puzzled faces. Unease prickles my skin. Where did he go?
The doorbell rings, interrupting our speculation about Kai’s sudden disappearance.
“I’ll get it,” I say, rising from my seat. I’m not sure who’d be stopping by this early.
I open the front door and freeze. Kai stands on the doorstep, a duffel bag slung over his shoulder and a huge grin on his face. He’s slightly out of breath, like he just sprinted here.
He gestures at the two large suitcases beside him, which I didn’t even notice, mesmerized by his sexiness. “Room for one more?”
“Kai!” I cry. “What are you—how—“
“Surprise,” he says. “I’m here. In person.” His eyes twinkle with amusement and something warmer, deeper. “Couldn’t miss out on all the fun.”
My heart swells even as my brain spins with questions. I launch forward and hug him fiercely. He chuckles, dropping his bag to return the embrace.
“You’re really here,” I murmur into his shoulder. I feel his lips brush my hair.
“I’m really here.”
The others appear behind me, crowding the entryway.
“No way!” Jayden crows. He pulls Kai into a one-armed bro hug.
Noah grins ear to ear. “Welcome back, man.”
“Good to have you,” Killian adds with a genuine smile.
Kai’s eyes sweep over us, his expression softening. “Thanks. It’s good to be here.”
Noah claps his hands together. “Well, this is new territory. But I think we’re ready for it.” He meets my gaze. “Together.”
The atmosphere turns celebratory as we usher Kai inside, helping him stash his things in my room for now. With his arrival, it feels like the final piece has fallen into place. The five of us, together. All in.
My heart swells with hope. With Kai here in the flesh, this crazy, wonderful relationship feels more possible than ever.
We gather around the kitchen table, the morning sun streaming in through the windows. There’s a new energy in the air - a sense of optimism and togetherness.
“Alright,” I say. “Ground rules. This is all uncharted territory, so communication is key.”
Killian nods. “We need to keep the lines wide open. Check in with each other. Be honest.”
“And make sure everyone feels heard,” I add. “No one should feel left out or unwanted.”
Kai reaches over and gives my hand a squeeze. “We’re in this together. All cards on the table.”
Jayden leans forward, expression earnest. “I think we set up a schedule. Make sure everyone gets one-on-one time, too.”
Noah smiles. “Good idea. Balance is important.”
I take a deep breath. “Okay. We can figure the details out as we go. Today, let’s just enjoy each other’s company.” I glance at Kai. “We’ve got catching up to do.”
He grins. “I want to hear everything I missed.”
Noah stands, clapping his hands together. “Alright, sounds like a plan. I say we head out, soak up the day.”
The others chime in agreement. As we gather our things, I feel a swell of gratitude and love for these amazing men in my life. With open hearts and open communication, we can make this work.
Kai sidles up next to me, slipping his arm around my waist. “Lead the way,” he says softly. “I’ve got a lot of lost time to make up for.”
I smile up at him, heart fluttering. With his reassuring warmth at my side, I know we’ve made the right choice. Together, anything is possible. This is our fresh start.
Ready for more right now? Here’s a complimentary spicy bonus scene featuring Dylan and all the guys.
Ready for more RH/why choose with surfing? Check out my Blood and Sand series.