We raise our glasses, the crystal catching the late afternoon light. Outside, Lily's laughter rings out as Rory shows her how to throw a proper spiral. The kid's got natural talent, even at nine.
"Come here," Blake says, his voice dropping to that rough tone that makes my cock twitch. He pulls Mia onto his lap, her legs straddling his muscular thighs. His hands find her waist, fingers splaying across her ribs.
I move closer, settling on the arm of the couch beside them. Jack takes the other side, his hand sliding into Mia's dark hair. We kiss her slowly, taking turns. Blake's mouth claims hers first, his tongue sliding against hers while his hands slide beneath her sweater. I can see the movement of his fingers, the way her back arches slightly.
When Blake releases her mouth, I take over. My hand finds her breast through the sweater, feeling the weight of it, the way her nipple hardens beneath my palm. Jack's mouth finds her neck, sucking and biting the sensitive skin there.
"I love you," Mia gasps between kisses. "All three of you. Equally. I don't know how I got so lucky."
"We're the lucky ones," Jack murmurs against her throat.
Blake's hands slide lower, beneath the waistband of her jeans. I can see the movement of his fingers, the way Mia's breathingquickens. My own hand moves to her other breast, squeezing gently.
A shriek of laughter from outside makes us all freeze. We're so focused on Mia that we forgot about the children playing in the backyard. Children who could walk in at any moment.
"Rain check," Blake says with a groan, his hands retreating from Mia's jeans.
"Definitely rain check," I agree, adjusting myself discreetly.
Mia climbs off Blake's lap, her cheeks flushed and her lips swollen. She looks thoroughly kissed and absolutely beautiful. The sight of her like this, knowing we all contributed to that satisfied expression, makes pride swell in my chest.
"I should check on the kids," she says, smoothing her sweater down.
"I'll start the grill," Blake announces, standing and adjusting his jeans. The bulge there is obvious, and I catch Mia's eyes tracking the movement before she looks away with a small smile.
Outside, the temperature has dropped, but the kids don't seem to notice. They're running around with the kind of manic energy only children possess. Blake fires up the grill while Jack pulls out hamburger patties and hot dogs from the cooler.
I settle into one of the patio chairs, watching Maya teach Lily and Sophie some kind of hand-clapping game. Ethan sits beside me, his rabbit clutched to his chest.
"Noah?" His voice is quiet, almost lost in the noise of the other children.
"Yeah, buddy?"
"Are we going to live with you forever?"
The question hits me square in the chest. I pull him onto my lap, feeling his small body relax against mine. "Would you like that?"
He nods against my shoulder. "Mom keeps saying we're going to get our own place, but we never do. I like your apartment better."
"I like having you there." I press a kiss to the top of his head. "And I'm working on making it more permanent. Would that be okay with you?"
I laugh despite the emotion clogging my throat.
Blake flips burgers with the practiced ease of someone who's grilled a thousand meals. His muscular forearms flex with each movement, and I notice Mia watching him with heat in her eyes. Jack stands beside him, the two of them talking quietly about something. The sight of them together, comfortable and easy, makes something settle in my chest.
This is what family looks like. Not traditional, not what any of us planned, but real and solid and ours.
"We should tell them," Blake says suddenly, loud enough for all of us to hear. "The kids. About our arrangement."
Mia's head snaps up from where she's helping Sophie with her shoelaces. "Tell them what exactly?"
"That we're all together. That this isn't just adults being friends." Blake sets down his spatula and faces us. "They're smart kids. They're going to figure it out eventually. Better they hear it from us in a way that makes sense."
"He's right," I say, even though the thought terrifies me. "Honesty has always been the foundation of strong families. The kids deserve to know the truth."
Jack nods slowly. "But we need to present it carefully. In age-appropriate ways that don't confuse or upset them."
"Rory and Corey already know something's different," Mia admits. "They've asked why you're all around so much. Why you all kiss me goodnight."
