Page 52 of The Final Straw

Kipp's calm voice comes through the speaker. "Sure, what's going on?"

I take a deep breath, preparing myself for the conversation. "Kipp, after you left, I talked with Van. He told me he still loves me and that he was going to propose. I’m so confused. I don’t know what to do."

There’s a pause on the other end of the line before Kipp speaks again. "Olivia, we all care about you deeply. If you want to be with Van, we’ll understand. But if you want to try to make this work with all of us, we need to have an honest conversation about what that looks like."

His words echo Grady’s, and I feel relief knowing they’re both willing to talk about it. "Thank you, Kipp, I don't want to hurt any of you. I just... I need to figure out what my heart wants."

"Take your time, Olivia. We’re here for you," Kipp reassures me.

After we hang up, calm washes over me. This won’t be easy, but at least I have the support of Kipp and Grady. We’ll figure this out together.

Grady stays with me for a while, holding me and talking through my feelings. His presence is comforting, and I’m grateful for his understanding. I feel a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, we can find a way to make this work.

The next day, I wake up to the sound of my phone buzzing. I groggily reach over and grab it from the nightstand.

Van: I miss you.

My heart aches at his words. I want to see him, but I’m also terrified of what a conversation with him might bring. I set my phone back down without replying and take a deep breath. Today, I need a distraction. Today, I need to focus on anything but the tangled mess of my heart.

I pull on an oversized shirt, barely covering my panties, and head to the living room. The apartment feels empty, a stark contrast to the millions of thoughts racing through my mind. I decide to start with cleaning. Maybe if I can bring some order to my surroundings, my thoughts will follow.

I put on my favorite playlist, turning up the volume until the music vibrates through the walls. The familiar beats fill the air, and I get lost in the rhythm. I start in the kitchen, wiping down the counters and washing dishes. Each scrub feels like an attempt to clean the clutter from my mind.

As I move to the living room, dusting and straightening, my mind wanders back to Van's message. I miss you. I need to see him and have another conversation, but I'm not ready. Not yet. I shake my head. The music still blares, but it’s not enough to drown out my thoughts anymore.

I pick up my phone and see Van’s text again. The words stare back at me, insistent and demanding an answer. I can’t avoid this forever.

I type out a quick reply, my fingers trembling.

Me: I miss you too.

I hit send and let out a long breath. It’s not much, but it’s the best I can do right now. I set the phone down and close my eyes, letting the music wash over me.

As the day turns into the evening, I find myself in the kitchen, cooking a simple dinner. The act of preparing food is soothing, a small routine that grounds me. I chop vegetables, boil pasta, and let the repetitive motions calm my mind.

When the meal is ready, I sit at the small kitchen table and eat slowly, savoring each bite. After dinner, I clean up and head to the bedroom. I crawl into bed, pull the covers up to my chin, and stare at the ceiling. My thoughts drift to Kipp and Grady, to Van, to the impossible question I asked myself yesterday.

Can one woman love multiple men? Can one woman be in a relationship with more than one man, long term? I don’t have the answers, but I know I need to figure it out. Not just for them, but for myself.

As I lie there, my eyes grow heavy, and I drift off to sleep, the music still softly playing in the background, carrying me into a restless dream.

Chapter 27

Olivia

It’s been a few days and I’ve decided that even though Grady and I talked, I still have a few questions. This is a big step; I’m going from a one-man woman to multiple. I never dreamed this would be my life.

Well, if Van gets on board, that is. Otherwise, we’re back to square one.

I can’t leave any stone unturned. There are too many hearts on the line.

Picking up my phone, I dial Kipp’s number, my heart pounding like a drum. It rings for what seems like an eternity before he finally answers.

“Hello?”

“Hey, Kipp. Can I come over?” I ask.

“You don’t have to ask, Ollie. We’re at the house.”

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