Page 83 of The Final Straw

The day passes in a blur of unpacking and arranging, and by the time evening falls, we’re all exhausted but content. We gather in the living room, the last of the boxes pushed to the side, and order takeout to celebrate our first night together.

We’re doing this. We’re really doing this.

Later, as we settle into bed, Van pulls me close. "I’m proud of us," he whispers, his breath warm against my ear.

"Me too," I whisper back. "I love you, Van. So much."

"I love you too," he says, his voice thick with emotion. "We’re going to make this work. I know we are."

The next evening, we’re all sitting on the back porch, the sky painted in hues of pink and orange as the sun sets.

"This feels right," I announce, leaning my head on Kipp’s shoulder. "Like we were meant to find each other and create this life together."

He nods. "We’re building something beautiful," he says. "Something worth fighting for."

Van, sitting across from us, smiles. "And fight for it, we will."

Grady raises his glass, a mischievous glint in his eye. "To us," he declares. "To love, and to the incredible journey we’re on."

We all raise our glasses, the sound of them clinking together ringing like a promise in the air.

Our first trial month flies by in a whirlwind of everyday life: shared meals, stolen kisses, late-night conversations, and the occasional argument. Each day brings us closer, strengthens our bonds, and solidifies our commitment to making this work.

We’ve developed routines that work for us, balancing our individual needs with our collective ones. Communication remains our strongest tool, and we continue to navigate any bumps in the road with honesty and compassion.

Grady and Kipp, ever the pragmatic ones, start looking at real estate listings, dreaming aloud about the kind of home we could all buy together. The idea of owning a place that’s truly ours excites me, and we spend many nights discussing our future home, the garden we want to plant, and how we would decorate it to reflect all of our personalities.

My pictures begin to fill the walls, transforming the house into a colorful, vibrant space that feels uniquely ours. Each one filled with passion and emotion, serving as a daily reminder of the love that binds us together.

We’re all gathered in the living room after dinner; Van and Grady are working on a puzzle, and I’m curled up with a book. Kipp sits beside me, his hand gently squeezing mine.

Van clears his throat, drawing our attention. "I’ve been thinking," he starts, his tone serious yet filled with hope. "I know we agreed on a three-month trial, but… I don’t need more time. I’m all in. I don’t want it to end. I want this forever."

Tears spring to my eyes as I look around at the faces of the people I love most in the world. "Forever sounds perfect.” My heart swells with love and pride, knowing that we’ve all reached a point of unwavering commitment.

"This is everything I’ve ever wanted," he says softly, his eyes filled with love.

"Me too," I reply. "We’re building something amazing here."

The once-clouded uncertainty in Van's eyes is replaced with a confidence that makes my heart soar. Seeing him so invested and happy reassures me we made the right decision.

“I think we need to celebrate. So I did a thing.” He looks around at us, rubbing his hands against his pants.

“What?” Grady asks.

“I rented a cabin in the mountains, where we can disconnect from the world and just be together. A little weekend getaway. We deserve it.”

“When?” I wiggle in my seat, excited at the prospect of a weekend with my men.

“We leave Friday afternoon.”

My eyes widen. “Shit! That’s soon.” I turn to look at Kipp. “Can you get time off that soon?” I look to Grady. “Can you?”

“Yeah, baby. We own the company, we can leave whenever. I like this plan. A weekend away will be good for you, especially Ollie. You’ve been stressing about work and money, so maybe this will give you some clarity and peace.”

“I guess,” I murmur.

“I checked your calendar, Livvy. I didn’t see anything for this weekend. Did I mess up?” Van asks and I hear the worry in his tone.

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