Page 87 of Eternally Devoted

He looks at Sterling then back to me with a shrug. “Why were you looking at us like that then?”

I laugh, shaking my head. “I’m just excited for the day, so go get dressed!”

Sterling pokes Dash in the ribs as they saunter back down the hall toward my bedroom. Today, while we’re out, I’m having an armoire brought in. It’s a surprise. I also had keys made last week while Sterl and Dash were working—after today, we’ll have nothing left to check off the list.

“You said we’re picking berries for a new jam?” Dash asks as I pull into a parking spot behind the diner, in the alley.

I nod. “Yeah, but I thought we could get some stuff to go. I called ahead, and if we go in through the back we can avoid getting caught in chitchat,” I say, throwing the car into park before unclipping the seat belt at my waist.

“I would have packed us food at home,” Sterl says from the back seat, where his head nearly hits the top of the van roof. I peer at him in the rearview in time to catch his shrug. “But I’ll never pass on Goode’s.”

My nerves skip as their doors shut after mine, the three of us trudging through the back entrance like only lifetime locals do. Dash is an honorary lifetime local since he’s so beloved in the community, and fits right in so well.

Gina and Rex, the line chefs, each lift a hand to say hello as we carefully poke our way through the narrow passage leading from the alley to the restaurant.

Bless them for not hollering over their massive skillets of breakfast food to tell us that my family is waiting in the restaurant. I stop right before the swinging doors, and smile at Sterling and Dash. “Ready?”

Dash nods with a smile. “Sure.”

Sterling studies me, and I’m pretty sure that he now realizes this is a ruse. But before he can say anything, I push through, stepping aside to let them enter. Sitting at three tables pushed together is everyone I love and care for: Ivy, Trace, Dolly, Hudson, Bear, Honey, Deuce, Ev, Ace, and the ones I’m most proud of? Sterling’s brother, Troy, and Dash’s beat partner, Keanu.

Everyone gets to their feet. Dolly rushes over in a pregnant waddle and throws her arms around Sterling’s neck first, then Dash’s. “Surprise,” she greets, grinning ear to ear. I spin to face them, surprise carved into Sterling’s face as he stares at his brother who makes his way toward us.

They don’t see each other too often, but for what I have in store, it felt important that he was here.

“Sterling,” his brother says, as they share a back-pat-heavy man hug, chest to chest, followed by a solid handshake. “It’s so good to see you. You look… different.”

Sterling smooths his hand down the stubble tracing his jaw, then through his soft curls, a little longer than usual but otherwise, normal. He shakes his head. “I’m the same as always.”

Dash digs his elbow into Sterl’s ribs. “You’re happy.”

Squeezing between them, I pull Troy into a hug, faintly remembering him from years ago. “Troy, hi, it’s so good to officially meet you. Thank you so much for taking my call and coming out.”

He smiles, looking between the three of us before he hooks a thumb back toward the table full of people. “They were spitballing the reason we were all brought here,” he says, speaking directly to me. “But I get the sense that maybe you’re the only one that knows.”

He looks at his brother, then over at Dash, both of their focus pointed toward me.

I clear my throat. “You may be onto something.” Linking my arm with Dolly’s, we lead the way to the table, each finding open chairs wherever we can. Once we’re settled and Lucy has come to deliver the crispest, best Cokes to the three of us, everyone falls into a comfortable silence.

I clear my throat, glancing at everyone I love over their plates of partially eaten meals, the comfort of my favorite diner humming all around me in casual conversation, clinking plates and hushed laughter.

“As you all know, I’m a fairly private person.” I chew my lip as nervous energy stains my cheeks, heat radiating around the collar of my hoodie. “But, I thought it would be best to have everyone we love and care about come together at one time, to prevent the telephone game.”

“You created a new jam using four berries,” Trace hollers from the end of the table. Hudson knocks him in the arm with his hat, scolding him with a dirty glare.

“Cute,” I say, “but no.” I clear my throat, hoping to dislodge the rattle lingering. Part of me wonders if I should’ve asked their permission before I did this but as I find their faces among therest, my worries are assuaged by tender smiles, and a wink from Sterling.

“As all of you know, Sterling and I have been very close friends for many years,” I say, finding Ivy’s eyes for comfort. She smiles, and I continue. “And Dash moved in with Sterling after Troy moved out, and they became as close, and in turn, Dash and I became as close, too.”

“Four berry jam, I’m tellin’ ya,” Trace mumbles. Ivy tweaks his nipple through his flannel. “It’s because you already knew, so shhh or else,” she hisses, turning back to give me a million-dollar smile lined in black lipstick.

“Anyway, recently I think we all realized that… Well, we care about each other more than just friends.” After studying the butter on the porcelain dish on the table, I lift my eyes, working my way around.

No one looks surprised. No mouths are agape. No one is whispering.

“In the last month or so, we’ve explored that and… well, last week, we decided to begin living together.”

Again, I peer around, finding everyone waiting as if the hook hasn’t come. “And I just thought it would be good to let everyone we love know all at one time that, yes, it is a little different but… we’re together, all three of us.”

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